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6 January 2010
My dear ANiC Family:
Greetings from Newfoundland where I am enjoying a pleasant respite from travel and like most of you, feeling invigorated by the joy of the Holy Season we have celebrated.
Looking back at last year, I recall that one of several events that made history in our Movement took place in June at Plano, Texas, when the Anglican Church in North America was formally launched in a moving and memorable ceremony. In his initial Charge to this new Province, our Primate, Archbishop Duncan, challenged us to establish 1000 new churches in the next five years.
ACNA exists not primarily as a lifeboat for disenfranchised Anglicans but as a fishing boat for those who need new life in Jesus Christ. Church plants – new congregations – have always been integral to the spread of the gospel.
Now, six months after this challenging call, we are ready to see how we can go about making it a reality. It was a topic of discussion at our own Synod and our national Church Planting Team is in place and ready to work with ACNA to channel our resources and enthusiasm to make this goal a reality.
You will find attached to this message a copy of a document entitled the 1000 Churches Proclamation which I hope will become a clarion call to every parish, large or small, in the Anglican Network in Canada.
To help make this vision fully operational, a two day ACNA church planting SUMMIT will be held on February 22 and 23 in Plano, Texas. This will be a key gathering place for potential and current church planters in the Anglican tradition from across North America. I would like to see many faces from ANiC at this conference. It promises to be a catalyst for people who may sense God moving them into church planting. There are three ways to respond:
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If you know someone who you think should attend, direct them to the Rev. Ray David Glenn. |
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If you think you should attend, contact Ray David Glenn. |
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Pray for God to birth new congregations and to equip them with qualified leaders. |
You can contact Ray David at rdglenn@stgchurch.ca.
In Christmas, we rejoiced in the birth of our Saviour. Now in Epiphany, like the Magi, “with exceeding great joy” we must manifest that love to a world that aimlessly is searching for the truth that we can provide. The star that led the Wise Men is leading us to “fields that already are white unto harvest”. The challenge is ours and I commend this great project to your care – and to your action!
Faithfully,
+Donald
The Right Reverend Donald F Harvey
Bishop and Moderator
Feast of the Epiphany 2010
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