Anglican Conference 'Road out of the Episcopal Church USA is a one-way street,' conference told By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Monday, November 14, 2005 PITTSBURGH, Pa. – "The road out of the Episcopal Church USA is a one-way street," the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson told more than 2,000 participants Friday at the first-ever international conference "Hope and a Future." "No one seems to be going in the opposite direction," he said. "Once people are out, they are free." That, in a nutshell, was one of the themes prevalent during the conference, which organizers said focuses on the renewal of North American Anglicanism and "the rebirth of a Biblical, missionary and united Anglicanism." The Anglican Communion Network, which sponsored the conference, was created by conservative bishops after the denomination's decision in 2003 to accept an openly gay bishop and give tacit approval to same-sex blessings. Since then, there have been signs of fragmentation of the denomination. Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council and secretary of the Anglican Communion Network, said that, "in looking at the largest strategic picture, if you are in the Episcopal Church USA and you can stay in at least for now, try and stay and work for us because every soldier who leaves the Episcopal Church USA field of battle is not available to us to continue the battle. Stay as long as you can. However, when the time comes when you feel time to leave, we stand with you to work on a means of strategy to make an exit." He said the major task facing the American Anglican Council and the Anglican Communion Network, as well as everyone in the hall, "is the upcoming General Conference - to call the Episcopal Church USA to the question, 'Choose you this day.' That is the issue for General Convention '06. Walk with the Anglican Communion or walk apart. Make up your mind." His comment was greeted with thunderous applause from the convention hall. "We have entered a pivotal area of realignment," Anderson said. It is a "spiritual battle for the soul of the church." He then talked about the progress that has been made since the network was organized in January 2004 – progress, he said that "successfully birthed the network." The two-year-old movement now is comprised of 10 Episcopal dioceses – Albany, Central Florida, Dallas, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy, Rio Grande, San Joaquin, South Carolina and Springfield – and more than 800 parishes, constituting about 10 percent of the Episcopal Church USA's 2.3 million members. He briefly went over why the organization was formed. In a series of questions and answers posted on the network's Web site, more details are provided to some of the reasons for the formation of the organization: Why is ACN necessary and why should dioceses or parishes affiliate with it? Following the egregious decisions made at General Convention 2003 in which the Episcopal Church abandoned 2000 years of biblical teaching and historical church order, there was a disconnect between the beliefs of the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. As a result, 21 Provinces have declared either impaired or broken communion with ECUSA, and 14 Primates have recognized the ACN as the legitimate Anglican presence in North America. The ACN, therefore, provides a means for remaining connected with the Anglican Communion. At a time when Church leadership is failing, ACN will provide a way for dioceses and parishes to remain under orthodox leadership. What is the distinction between the American Anglican Council and ACN, and what role does the AAC play in the ACN? ACN is an ecclesial body, whereas the American Anglican Council is an advocacy organization dedicated to reforming the Episcopal Church. While they share a dedication to biblical authority, the Great Commission and the historic faith and order of Anglicanism, the two are separate entities. ACN is a link for dioceses and parishes. The AAC is an advocate for renewal of the Episcopal Church. How is ACN a "missionary" organization? As the Structural Charter explicitly states, the first and foremost goal of the ACN is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to carry out the mission of the Great Commission. ACN will work to bring into fellowship, with each other and with the Anglican Communion, "those who have left ECUSA and those who wish to explore the tradition and worship of Anglican orthodoxy." Clergy and laity alike will be sent into often unwelcoming territory to offer orthodox leadership and the truth of the Gospel to those who are isolated or lost. New congregations, partnered with the ACN, are being formed regularly. ACN will also continue to build its relationship with Anglican Global Mission Partners, which serves as its missionary arm. Why affiliate with the ACN? Affiliation with ACN gathers dioceses and congregations as a true and legitimate expression of Anglicanism. Affiliation with ACN restores communion with the majority of the Anglican Communion who have severed ties with ECUSA. Affiliation with ACN allows dioceses, parishes and individual clergy to stand in solidarity upholding 2,000 years of Christian teaching, as well as Anglican faith and order. Fourteen primates from around the world, the leaders of more than 45 million people – well over half of the world's Anglicans – have backed the network. The complete text of their letter of endorsement is as follows: We, Primates of the Global South, greet you in the name of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The actions of ECUSA in the election, confirmation, and consecration of Canon Gene Robinson have created a situation of grave concern for the entire Anglican Communion and beyond. Their actions are a direct repudiation of the clear teaching of the Holy Scriptures, historic faith and order of the church. They also constitute a clear defiance of the Primates of the Communion, who warned at their October meeting: If his consecration proceeds, we recognize that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognized by most of the Anglican world, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). This will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division on this and further issues as provinces have to decide in consequence whether they can remain in communion with provinces that choose not to break communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). The world needs to know that the rebellious and erroneous actions of ECUSA are contrary to the teaching of the Anglican Communion and represent a departure from five thousand years of Judeo-Christian teaching and practice. By their actions, ECUSA has separated itself from the remainder of the Anglican Communion and the wider Christian family. We appeal to all the faithful to be diligent in prayer and faith and call upon Anglicans across the communion to engage in loyal witness to the risen Christ and to resist and confront the false teaching undergirding these actions and which is leading people away from the redeeming love of Jesus into error and danger. We ask you to join in our repentance for failing to be sufficiently forthright in adequately addressing this issue in the past, and we invite you to stand with us in a renewed struggle to uphold the received truth found in Jesus and His word. We reaffirm our solidarity with faithful Bishops, clergy and church members in North America who remain committed the historic faith and order of the church and have rejected unbiblical innovation. We offer our support and the full weight of our ministries and offices to those who are gathering in a "Network of Confessing Dioceses and Congregations" now being organized in North America. We regard this network as a hopeful sign of a faithful Anglican future in North America. We invite those who are committed to the preservation of historic Biblical faith and order, to join that work and its essential commitment to the Gospel. Finally, we appeal to you to sustain us in prayer, and to intercede especially for Anglicans in North America. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21) Rev. Peter Akinola, Nigeria; Rev. Drexel Gomez, West Indies; Rev. Greg Venables, Southern Cone; Rev. Joseph Marona, Sudan; Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi, Kenya; Rev. Livingstone Nkoyoyo, Uganda (retiring); Rev. Henry Orombi, Uganda; Rev. Fidele Dirokpa, Congo; Rev. Donald Mtetemela, Tanzania; Rev. Bernard Malango, Central Africa; Rev. K.J. Samuel, South India; Rev. Alexander Malik, Pakistan; Rev. Yong Ping Chung, South East Asia; and Rev. Ignacio Soliba, Philippines.

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