Anglican Conference Themes at 'Hope and a Future' echo those of Gathering IX By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Monday, November 14, 2005 PITTSBURGH, Pa. – As differences over Christology, Biblical authority and other theological issues continue to threaten the peace, unity and purity of the Protestant mainline denominations, the two main themes permeating the "Hope and a Future" conference last weekend – "Who do you say that I am?" and "Choose you this day" – echoed themes expressed earlier in the week during Gathering IX sponsored by the Presbyterian Coalition. At the gathering in Orlando, Fla., Gerrit Scott Dawson said the peace, unity and purity of the Church "lies in the great resources of the Church: the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures and the historic confessions." In an appeal repeated in various ways in Pittsburgh, Dawson said that "the Church is the Creation of the Triune God, called into being and sent into the world as Father, Son and Holy Spirit to glorify one another in dynamic love." All of us, he said, "have our life together always and only as recipients of grace that is not of our devising or deserving. We are the outworking of the divine love as it was and is expressed in the field of our humanity, in the world where we live." The work of Dawson and Mark R. Patterson were published in a book distributed to all Gathering IX participants. In it, Patterson is just as emphatic about the grace of God: "The loss of peace, unity and purity [in the Church] are inevitable wherever and whenever the church misunderstands, rejects, annuls, or redefines the grace of God made ours in Christ. Within the Catholic, Protestant and Reformed traditions, grace is the defining characteristic of both God's act on our behalf and the character of our relationship with him. "Grace is the singularly precise description of God's work of redemption and our response of repentance and faith," Patterson says. "Grace is a concrete reality flowing from the nature of God and manifesting itself precisely and efficaciously in the person and work of the Son. Grace, having its source in the being and will of the Father and manifesting itself in the Son, becomes, by the act of the Spirit, a transformative reality by which our relationship with God is restored and our lives redeemed." The more than 2,000 people who crowded into the hall Thursday through Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center heard those themes repeated, with slight variations, over and over again – in sermons, addresses, hymns, question-and-answer sessions, discussions and presentations. The Rev. Dr. Leslie P. Fairfield, a professor of church history at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Penn., said, "Our institutional arrangements with the Episcopal Church will take whatever shape they may. The process will be painful. But let's not get bogged down in that mess. It's a choice between morass or mission. We need to make the mental shift now, and lean into our future." Episcopal Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr. opened the conference by saying that "Jesus Christ is our hope. He is the whole of it. He is the sum and substance of it." The reason for the conference, he said, is "because we need Jesus and one another more than ever. In times of storm and struggle, it is our support for one another, with God's grace, that gets us through. "The way forward for Biblical and missionary Anglicans – and Christians – is increasingly clear and involves all of us together," Duncan said. "Because you have been called. No matter where you are or how insignificant you believe the contribution you have to make, come claim your part and come understand what is your hope and your future." The Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, primate of the Anglican Church of Uganda, said that the people in his church answered that call. "We preached the Gospel, and we were not afraid," he said. "You also must not be afraid when voices of your culture go against you. We encourage you to be faithful. Together, we know the way of the cross. Jesus Christ died, but he also lives, and we are duty bound to remain faithful to that living Lord. The Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola, Primate of all Nigeria, said that, "The Word of God is implanted in us. We cannot hold it, we must give it up…. We believe very strongly in the fact that he who gave us that Word has all authority – not just on earth, but also in heaven. He told us the imperative – go therefore and make disciples. Jesus Christ had been given all authority – not just power, but authority, and because we cannot but go and do it. We must then do what he says and proclaim his Word." The Rev. John A.M. Guernsey, dean of the Mid-Atlantic Convocation of the Anglican Communion Network, said that, "it is a great joy and privilege to be here at this conference with so many who know that it matters a great deal what you believe." "In the Scriptures, hope is not some vague wishful thinking, as in, 'I hope things work out for our Church, but they probably won't.' No, hope is a sure expectation, a confident looking to the future because of the victory won on the cross by Jesus, who is called our Hope."

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