An umbrella group for about a dozen former Episcopal congregations in Northern Virginia has grown larger as the national church continues to “alienate” its members, a top official with the splinter group said Thursday.
The Convocation of Anglicans in North America, or CANA, has expanded to 60 congregations and more than 100 clergy in 20 states, Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns said during a speech at the Church of the Epiphany in Herndon. CANA, which is affiliated with a conservative archbishop in Nigeria, plans to consecrate four new bishops at the church Sunday.
“We have grown at a remarkable rate,” Minns said. “We have done so in the face of relentless opposition and some of the largest lawsuits ever mounted by the Episcopal Church against its own clergy and congregations.”
A spokesman for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia declined to comment Thursday.
+Martyn Minns continus his fine leadership.
By the way, what are the names of the four bishops-elect?
The bishops-elect are the Rev’d Canon Roger Ames (Akron, OH), the Rev’d Canon David Anderson (Atlanta, GA), the Ven. Amos Fagbamiye (Indianapolis, IN), and the Rev’d Canon Nathan Kanu (Oklahoma City, OK).
There is another major precedent that will be set with these consecrations on Sunday. The nuance has not been widely recognized. Comments and pics coming.
From Herndon,
Fisherman
So many bishops for 9,000 people? Making more bishops doesn’t make the church grow (that’s a misconception spread by bishops!).
There is a good interview of Bp Minns at Anglican TV. In particular, the reporter asks whether Bp Minns is the ghost writer for the GS primates. That alone is worth the watch.
As Bishop Minns stated in his [url=http://www.canaconvocation.org/]address[/url] to the CANA annual Council, each of these missionary bishops-elect will continue to serve in their current ministry after their consecration:
[blockquote]”They are about to become Suffragan Bishops for CANA …
… Bishops are called to “guard the faith, unity and discipline of the Church†and “to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ. The 1988 Lambeth Conference describes the bishop as “a leader in mission and an initiator of outreach to the world” and the 1998 Lambeth conference, which acknowledges the bishop as a fellow presbyter with the others, draws attention to the distinctively apostolic nature of the bishop’s work as a witness to the Resurrection and the hope of Christ’s coming. It is the task of the bishop to make sure that the Good News is constantly heard in the wider community.”
CANA does not need additional bishops to simply maintain and manage settled structures – we need missionary bishops who are servant leaders committed to Kingdom growth. The bishops-elect have demonstrated their personal commitment to this vision of the episcopacy. Each of them will continue with their existing ministry responsibilities and initially they will serve without financial compensation from CANA… Their duties will include identifying and encouraging new church plants, visiting and strengthening existing congregations and building up the various structures of our common life. They will also participate as full members of the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).”[/blockquote]
Their current ministries:
Rev’d Canon Roger Ames – Rector, St. Lukes, Akron, OH
Rev’d Canon David Anderson – President and CEO, American Anglican Council, Atlanta, GA
Ven. Amos Fagbamiye – Vicar, Anglican Church of the Resurrection, Indianapolis, IN
Rev’d Canon Nathan Kanu – Rector, Christ’s Ambassadors Church, Oklahoma City, OK
Hmmm, Mark Johnson, they must be expecting [b]more[/b] explosive growth. Those “primitive” Africans sure know how to grow churches. The TEC sure knows to shrink churches.
May they be blessed with the Holy Spirit for their mission.
Additional comments on the number of bishops: Not only is there an expectation of growth but also a wide geographical dispersion of existing member parishes, and the bishops will not receive remuneration for their services. Travel expenses only.
They will truly be serving the Lord when carrying out their newly assumed duties.