The Rev. Tom Foster of Modesto was a delegate to the historic inaugural provincial assembly of the Anglican Church in North America held June 22-25 in Bedford, Texas. He called the meeting “a gangbuster operation” and said the spirit of the gathering “was absolute joy.”
The 29th province in the worldwide Anglican Communion was established to oversee U.S. churches and dioceses that have left the Episcopal Church, as well as those in Canada that similarly have split over doctrinal issues, primarily the interpretation of Scripture. ACNA will oversee 700 parishes four U.S. dioceses and about 100,000 people, organizers said.
The new province, which still must garner approval from two-thirds of Anglican leaders around the world, is not recognized by the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Robert Duncan, bishop of another U.S. breakaway diocese, was installed as ACNA’s archbishop during the assembly, which included the adoption of a constitution and canons, or laws. That would put him on equal footing with Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, and the other 27 primates, or leaders, around the world.
A very sympathetic report in the local paper. Too bad it’s marred by getting the number of Anglican provinces wrong not once, but twice (somehow the reporter got the idea there were just 29, instead of 39).
It’s great to see a veteran priest, who could easily be just enjoying retirment, still so eagerly ministering in Jesus’ name. This Rev. Tom Foster sounds thrilled with the adventure of starting a new church at age 78, after over 50 years of ordained ministry. Way to go!
David Handy+
The Modesto Bee reports regarding ACNA … The 29th province in the worldwide Anglican Communion…
ACNA might hope to be the 29th province … but it isn’t. That is a fact.
This “article” is either wishful thinking (Op Ed?) … or the reporter is out of touch with reality. Of course, I suppose it’s also possible he’s been fed bad information. In any event, this reporter would better serve the public were he to stick to a familiar subject. It would benefit the reporter — and his public — were he to strive to report the truth.