Anglican clergymen from as far away as Uganda and Newfoundland visited Newport Beach on Saturday to ordain a new bishop in the fledgling Anglican Church of North America.
Formed in 2008, the church is made up of congregations in the United States and Canada that have broken away from the Episcopal Church over differing views on homosexuality and the Scriptures.
The movement includes Newport’s St. James Church on Via Lido.
“This is an important, historical day for the whole church,” said Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church of North America, who presided over the incense-drenched ceremony at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday. “You can see the excitement in the people today.”
Bill Thompson is a good man. May God richly bless his ministry with much fruit.
Praise God!
“…incense drenched ceremony…”, hmmmm?
Nominated by Western Anglicans, chosen by the ACNA HOB.
“incense-drenched ceremony”
Why is this important?
[Comment deleted by Elf – uncorroborated ad hominem allegations. If you can provide evidence to back up your claims please feel free to contact Canon Harmon or the Elves by email]
“For as incense goes up, so our prayers fill his temple”.
He was drenched in the prayers of the people, as symbolized by the incense.
Bill C,
If you have to ask why this is important, what more need be said?
“…the incense-drenched ceremony…” is clearly an unsolicitated,
prejudiced and non-“inclusive” remark made by somebody who is most likely well-disposed toward the secularist agenda of ECUSA’s leadership.
The best reaction to this comment is to “consider the source.”
AnglicanFirst,
You could not be more incorrect in your assumptions.
I frequently say that there are two non-negotiables in Liturgy:
One is Incense, the other is noisy children.
The first honours the past saints; the second honours the future saints.
“…incense drenched…”?
Thanks be to God!!
RM Bruton, You misread #9 above, I believe. AnglcianFirst is quoting the newspaper reporter – not you. You are not the source, the news reporter is. You, on the other hand, would appear to be a good old fashioned Evangelical in the Anglican tradition who sees crypto-Papalism behind every puff of incense. I’m sure you would have been REALLY upset had there been mention of sanctus bells in the article too. In any case, I take BOTH the incense AND your skeptical comments about it to be a VERY healthy sign that ACNA has indeed got the genuine genetic code of Anglicanism! I found your opaque comments as reassuring as I’m sure you found mention of the incense troubling! The struggles of the English Reformation continue. Praise the Lord! Without both you AND the Anglo-Catholics under the same tent fighting out those ancient battles, there is NO reason for Anglicanism. When all the fuss over heresy dies down a bit more, I’m quite sure that the ACNA will return to these ancient and still critical and unresolved struggles that provide Anglicanism with it raison d’etre. Your concern about incense is as essential to Anglicanism as those who are burning it! Without you both we might as well all either swim the Tiber or become Presbyterians! Your comments and the responses to them made my day. Thank you and may the Lord bless you all!
Video will be up on http://www.AnglicanTV.org on Monday
Fr. Mark #6- The Ugandan clergy assisting included The Rt. Rev. Evans Kisekka from the diocese of Luweero and it was a pleasure to see him again as he was our bishop for the 5 years after we disaffiliated from TEC.
I really had no reason to make the comment in my #5. I am a low church evangelical and as such, am far more comfortable without the ‘bells and smells’ of my high church/anglo catholic brethren. So my sincere apologies and I am sorry if I have given offense to anyone.
#6, that would be UGANDA where there are martyrs to God’s provision for human sexuality, martyrs for the inital missions to the area, martyrs under Idi Amin, martyrs for the faith today, and many saints made in the process – both daily and exceptional sorts. Your point was……..?
#11 I love your comment about children…what a great perspective.
My problem with the “incense-drenched” phrase is that it is poorly-written. One “drenches” something with liquids. Incense is smoke, and it rises.
The wise men brought incense to the Christ Child. There’s no particular reason, really, to object to its use in worship — except for my family member with asthma who must either leave or use an inhaler and struggle to breathe.
One thing I found during my three years ‘drenched’ by the good folk at Saint James: When they have a special occasion, such as Easter or a Consecration, etc., they really really know how to do High Church. I find it to be most wonderful this way, as an occasional offering, rather than repeated weekly as the run-of-the-mill service.
I really wish I could have been there. I can see the Verger leading the procession now. And just how many Anglican churches have their own Verger?
The Rabbit.
Br_er,
I just sent you a picture of the consecration.
Wow. Like I said, St. James really knows how to do it up right.
Thanks, Keith
#17. “Drenched” means the incense was so generous that what rose began to come down! Glory to God!
Chris Taylor,
I’m not in the AC/NA. I am afraid that it is not nearly as comprehensive as some of you seem to think that it is.
It was a glorious service – one I will remember for a long, long time. Just the right blend of traditional and contemporary music. Great choir, instrumentalists and hundreds of voices. I can’t wait to see the video, Keith. Thanks for being there.
Br_er,
This consecration was the work of many in Western Anglicans, especially folks from All Saints Long Beach which is Bishop Bill’s church. Also, many thanks to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Newport Beach who let us use their large and beautiful church for the service.
Keith, thanks folr the correction.