“We have a vision of a mission-driven, renewed church
that cares whether a person knows Christ personally,
and reaches out to the least, the last and the lost.”

We heard these encouraging words during the closing moments of the AAC gathering in Dallas, TX. As we sang the final hymn, Graham Kendricks’ stirring “Go Forth in His Name,” there was a sea of hands raised in adoration and thankfulness. It was a deeply moving sight -- one of great hope, freedom and joy.

I was among the throng of orthodox Christians who came to formulate a response to the actions taken at the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. I left feeling not only a sense of anticipation and promise about the next chapter of our spiritual lives, but also a keen awareness of the courage and sacrifice that will be asked of so many during the coming months.

The encounters with God were extraordinary -- like the Tuesday evening service of repentance where all of the bishops, priests and deacons went forward for prayer, or the power and exhilaration of the worship each day. No doubt each person has a different story about the profound impact of the conference. I am providing highlights of the meeting by sharing some of the more memorable quotes. I have tried to faithfully represent these quotes from my notes, but I may have paraphrased in some places.

“ECUSA has drifted from its Apostolic tradition and Biblical teaching.
One way we could respond would be to do nothing, to pledge allegiance
to a church that we do not believe, or we could take this opportunity to open
the door to a new mission to all the world.”

With that challenge, the AAC meeting opened October 7 in Dallas with nearly 2700 in attendance, including 46 bishops--24 from the Episcopal Church--807 priests, 46 deacons, and 105 seminarians. People from 600 parishes in every state and diocese attended. It was an unprecedented gathering of the leaders of our church, called together to fashion a bold and decisive response to the apostate direction ECUSA is taking.

Each morning, Rev. John Yates, of the Falls Church, led us in a thought-provoking Bible study. On Wednesday he said,

“If it is our claim to submit to the authority of Christ, we MUST submit to the Scriptures as well. We have no freedom to disregard Scripture. We bow to Scripture because we bow to Him. There are difficult Scriptures, some offend, some are hard to understand, but we cannot twist the Scripture toward our own ends. Every generation is tempted to turn away from Scripture and embrace the doctrines of the day. Sadly, the Episcopal Church has decided to take itself outside the authority of Scripture and we renounce that.”

John’s words were greeted by a lengthy standing ovation.

Rev. David Anderson, AAC President -- “We are going to be called upon to take some action – to move. AAC is a coalition of Biblically orthodox groups within the church. We are not without tensions, and we do not minimize our differences. But we will work together and live together under Christ. Our future must respect these differences and offer a safe place to dwell. We are prepared and poised to help organize the future of Episcopal Anglicanism in the US.”

Rev. Martin Minns, rector of Truro Church, Fairfax, VA -- “The actions at General Convention showed no theology; only personal feelings, political correctness, adherence to protocols followed in New Hampshire, and so-called tolerance. The Primates world-wide have said that there is an unprecedented crisis in the Anglican Communion, a conscious and deliberate attempt to establish a new faith. The majority are in total disagreement with ECUSA action.”

“How much of a cost are we willing to pay for our own freedom? Commitment means to act on our faith. We must stand for missions. We cannot expect the Anglican Church to help unless we reach out to them. This is not just a one-way reaching. I challenge you to give fifty percent of your income to the mission work throughout the world. Not a one-time deal, but a covenant -- A place to stand with our brothers in Christ.”

Bishop Bob Duncan, Diocese of Pittsburgh -- “At General Convention, I felt like I was heading toward my own execution. I was lead to my own execution, but it is in dying that we live.”

“Courage breeds courage. Next week’s meeting in London will be the battle for the Anglican communion, which stretches 5 continents with 38 primates. It is the dynamic global South vs. disintegrating West. The South will seek a clear and unambiguous ruling by the Archbishop of Canterbury. For Archbishop Rowen Williams, the last great British Empire is his to lose. The West may seek compromise, but that will surely rend the baby into two pieces. The Primates are not being asked to approve a second or parallel Province in the USA, but rather to recognize the true ECUSA”

To the question, “What will the church in America look like in the future?” Rev. Duncan answered, “Financial trials will come, leaders and lay people will leave, court battles will ensue. A network of orthodox Dioceses and parishes will form, more Dioceses will join, and finances will be diverted for missions (this will happen in months, not years). The Church will be more international and ethnically diverse. It will be accountable and submitted to the Primates of the rest of the world. We will gather up the fragments of Anglicanism. We will be irrepressibly missionary – mission minded and mission centered, this alone should be the purpose.”

Rev. John Guernsey, All Saints, Woodbridge, VA -- “We must ‘redirect’ funds away from ECUSA, not ‘withhold’ them. ECUSA cannot reject Biblical authority with respect to homosexuality and then apply the Biblical mandate to receive our tithe. There is no mandate to participate in the ministry of those who have rejected the faith, order and worship of the church. When the church turns away from Christian orthodoxy, we are obligated to redirect our resources. We must consider these principles:

• Give it all away, outside the parish
• Be willing to give beyond your own personal relationships to those whom others know to be involved in faithful orthodox ministries
• Put funds where ECUSA has cut them off
• Invest in growth—support what the Lord is already doing
• 50-50 commitment challenge of giving for missions”

Sharon Stockdale, director of ECMC -- “The Great Commission is to make disciples of all nations. What would our church look like if this was actually our FIRST PRIORITY? Bold action must be taken immediately.”

Rev. Bill Atwood, Ekklesia -- “ECUSA is like an alcoholic family that refuses to recognize and address the problem. For the rest of the Anglican communion, this addiction to the world made it at first awkward, then difficult, and now impossible to share communion.”

“The Western nations say it’s no big deal. But, faith is evangelical in the Global South and now the unthinkable has happened—the church is complicit in leading people AWAY from the love of Christ instead of toward Him. In the South, you typically do not confront your host with problems. But now they MUST confront the church in America.”

“They in the Global South are willing to sacrifice, and we need to be willing to sacrifice as well. There is no overlap between the faith that we affirm, and that of the ECUSA. It is time to act. ECUSA must repent and become Biblically faithful or another ECUSA will have to emerge.”

An African bishop said, “We cannot be in a position of condoning evil … Much money has gone from the West to the South, but the Gospel is not for sale ... You cannot make a pile of money so big that it can insulate me from the flames of hell … In the West, they are threatening me with poverty, don’t they know that I have been poor all my life?”

CALL TO ACTION

At the end of the three day meeting, all of those in attendance were called upon to express our agreement to a six-point proclamation. It appeared that those in the hall were unanimous in their support for this statement, which will be sent to the Anglican Primates meeting in Canterbury, England this week:

• “We proclaim the Great Commandment and His Great Commission to be our life’s highest calling, and: (paraphrased)
• We repudiate the actions of the 74th General Convention
• We repent of our part in the sins of the church
• We call on ECUSA to repent and reverse its decisions
• We declare commitment to Scripture about human sexuality and to the principles established by the 1998 Lambeth Conference
• We redirect our financial resources toward Biblically orthodox mission and ministry
• We appeal to the Primates of the Anglican Communion to intervene:
  1. Discipline the ECUSA
  2. Guide realignment of Anglicanism in North America
  3. Encourage orthodox bishops as they extend oversight
  4. Support isolated and beleaguered parishes”

CALL TO PRAYER

“Now is always the appropriate time to pray,” said AAC President, Rev. David Anderson, in April, 2002. “Prayer is a profoundly unifying act that can transcend ideological and theological differences, including those that are threatening the unity of the Episcopal Church. Jesus teaches us clearly that the road to reconciliation and healing begins with prayer.”

That call to prayer is more urgent now than ever. We are on the threshold of a new beginning in the church. During the months ahead, please commit to pray with us that God will direct His plan and purpose for the church, and that He will give our leaders the courage to remain steadfast in their stand for righteousness.