July 4th, Dear Friends in Christ, Grace and peace to you in Christ, our Lord!

Transcription

1 July 4th, 2016 Dear Friends in Christ, Grace and peace to you in Christ, our Lord! I am writing to you from 30,000 feet above the Atlantic on the way home from the consecration of the Most Rt Rev Jackson Ole Sapit, the 6th Archbishop of Kenya. June was filled with lots of travel. After our ADNE delegation joined

2 the rest of the ACNA at our annual Provincial Council in Charleston, SC, Sally and I joined the other bishops and bishops' wives for our College of Bishops meeting. From there, we made our way to Duke University in Durham, NC, to see our children, Ryan and Joanna Epling Murdoch, and our newest grandchild, Matilda Rey Murdoch, just threeweeks old at the time. Then after traveling home and spending one day at the office, I was off to Africa. The honor of attending the historic event of Archbishop Jackson's consecration with our Archbishop, Foley Beach, was capped off with the pleasure of greetings from so many of our Kenyan friends. All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi, is now an enormous campus and center of ministry gatherings, not only for Nairobi and all of Kenya, but also for the Global Anglican Communion. More and more it is becoming a center for global Anglican gatherings of all kinds. Among the many archbishops from across the Communion, most of the GAFCON primates were at the consecration, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The dean and provost of the cathedral, The Rev Sammy Wainaina, did an outstanding job of coordinating the event, with both the diocesan and provincial Staff assisting the All Saints' Cathedral staff in pulling together the service, security, and hospitality of this consecration for an estimated 8,000 in attendance. We are beginning conversations with The Rev. Sammy and the All Saints' Cathedral team to consider increasing our partnership in ministry with them. The retired Archbishops of Kenya send you their greetings: The Most Rev Benjamin Nzimbi and The Most Rev Eliud Wabukala. We remember that both have preached and celebrated in our All Saints Pro Cathedral. The President and the Deputy of Kenya (the equivalent of the United States Vice-President) were in attendance; the partnership of church and state was clear but still very separate. The newly elected and consecrated Archbishop of Tanzania was our preacher, and the music by multiple choirs was a remarkable blend of traditional hymns, classical pieces, and contemporary praise. The service was more than five and a half hours, without Holy Eucharist. We will be receiving a number of international visits over the coming months. Bishop Hannington Mutebi, assistant to the archbishop of Uganda, will visit St Peter's Belmont; Bishop Samson Mwaluda of Taita Taveta, Kenya will be with us this Fall; and in February, at our Cathedral, we will have a conference available to all, with Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Jos, Nigeria, on a SOMA mission to us. The ADNE is part of a worldwide communion of Anglican Christians committed to the proclamation of the Gospel, the care of all God's children, and the witness of the beauty of the Faith, expressed in the Great Tradition of the Church. These visits are connections and celebrations of that great global family. I am also happy to report that we have filled two of the vacancies we have had in the ADNE churches this Spring. We welcome The Rev Micah Thompson, along with his wife Jennifer and family, as the new rector of St Timothy's Burlington, VT. His institution will happen this Fall. Good Shepherd Anglican Mission in Forestdale, MA has also found its new vicar, The Rev Jeremy Phelps, along with his wife Jaime and family. They have just begun serving at Good Shepherd. We will profile these new clergy families in our diocese later this Summer. We all look forward to Summer, not only for its change in weather and long days here in New England, but also for a season of more leisure. One of the most extraordinary quotes that I have heard regarding a life of contemplative prayer is one by a Sister who was in a cloistered order of nuns. She said that she had a life of "extraordinary leisure, because I have regular long periods of time to do nothing but be with the Lord in prayer and holy silence." My hope is that this Summer we will all have times of extraordinary leisure, not only for fun, family, and rest but also for the holy leisure that comes with being with the Lord. A blessed Summer to us all, +BILL

3 QUICK LINKS ADNE Website ADNE News ACNA Website St. Aidan's Institute Provincial Council 2016 Gallery Give to the mission! BISHOP'S CALENDAR Bishop Bill is on vacation and will be back to work in August! We wish him and his family a happy and restful break! Any inquiries or concerns during this time, please the main office at ad-ne@ad-ne.org or call , and we will be glad to forward your message to him. This year, we sent three delegates in the company of our Bishop to Provincial Council, 2016, which was held at St. Andrews' Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June We are grateful to The Rev. Leah Turner, Jill Kallsen, and Bill Harper for representing us this year at a well-run, inspirational, and significant conference. For more information on the issues and initiatives discussed, please read the Provincial Council address below by Archbishop Foley Beach. Bishop Bill also attended the College of Bishops meeting, which took place right after Provincial Council. This gallery includes photos from the Council, College of Bishops, and worship at St. Andrews Church. They were provided for us by The Rev. Turner, Jill Kallsen, and the ACNA Communications office. Click on the photo below to check out the 2016 Provincial Council gallery! PRAYER CORNER Continue to pray for the ADNE and the resources we need

4 to do the work God has given us to do. Pray for Bishop Bill, for rest during his vacation and time to read, pray, and spend time with his family. Pray for the Council of Canons: Alex Cameron, Ross Kimball, Andrea Mueller, and Susan Skillen. Pray for All Saints Anglican Church (Attleboro, MA) as they begin their search for their new rector. Praise God for answered prayer! St. Timothy's Anglican Mission (Burlington, VT), and The Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd (Forestdale, MA) have both found priests, who will be installed this Fall. As always, refer to the ADNE Cycle of Prayer each week. EVENTS Apb. Beach Addresses Provincial Council New Launch at Grace, Bridgewater! Saturday, August 13 Grace Anglican Church Bridgewater, MA STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS! Billy Graham's Decision America Tour, 2016 Tuesday, August 30 Massachusetts State House Boston, MA Visit decisionamericatour.com for more information on how you can get involved! JOB OPENINGS Council delegates, laity, clergy, and bishops of the Province, and our esteemed guests who are here: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Eph.1:2,3 ESV) I stand before you today at the end of my second year as your Archbishop and Primate, and I thank you for your prayers for me and for Allison. This sacred stewardship is a privilege, but also a huge responsibility - and your prayers make all the difference! This has been a good year for the Province. We continue to grow in membership, attendance, churches, church plants, conversions, baptisms, giving, and mission. As

5 we have continued to attempt to be faithful to our God and the teaching of His Word, he has blessed us and honored us, and continued to pour out his favor. Our mission as a Province is to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ, which he has demonstrated by his death on the cross, his resurrection from the dead, and the personal transformation he brings to all who come to him in faith. The Apostle Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers might comprehend this love in all its breath and length and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." Eph.3:18,19. Oh, that the people of North America would know His love as well!! Worship Leader Redeemer Anglican Church Franklin, MA More Information Be sure to pass this on to anyone qualified in search of a job! For more information, ad-ne@ad-ne.org. Continue reading the full transcript of his address here, containing updates on the College of Bishops, Provincial affairs, Ecumenical affairs, and the marks of modern Anglicanism! Watch the video below for an Anglican Perspective on this year's Provincial Council! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT The Summer Season begins on Cape Cod! The ADNE is pleased to announce that The Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd has found a new vicar, The Rev. Jeremy Phelps (Stay tuned for more details!). With that in mind, below is our recent reminder that with Summer and trips to Cape Cod, our two Cape parishes are important connecting points for traveling Anglicans! Check it out! Cape Cod is one of New England's premiere destinations for Summer vacations. Whether it's cozy coastal villages like Woods Hole, Barnstable Harbor, or Yarmouthport; the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard; or the miles of sand and surf at the National Seashore, Cape Cod has plenty to see and due in the Summer months. We want to remind the ADNE of our two locations for worship... Bishop Bill Attends Kenyan Consecration

6 <<Continue Reading>> Reading Scripture in Anglican Worship Anglicans read four passages of Scripture during Sunday worship. Out loud. So do some other traditions, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutherans and others. We're not competing with our fellow believers in other traditions, but we do read a lot more Scripture in our worship than most Bible churches do (intentional friendly barb). Why do we do this? How do we select the readings? How can other churches start doing this? <<Continue Reading>> GAFCON 2018 The Chairman and fellow Primates of the GAFCON Council are pleased to announce that the third GAFCON conference will be held in Jerusalem in Jerusalem has a special place in the hearts of the GAFCON movement as it was the location of the first conference in Moreover, Jerusalem stands as a constant reminder of the birth of the Gospel and the movement's determination to remain true to the teachings of our Lord and his Holy Word...<<Continue Reading>> This past weekend, Bishop Bill traveled to Kenya with Archbishop Foley Beach, who was one of the Primates participating in the installation of Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit on 3 July 2016 in Nairobi. They were in the company of the Archbishops of South America, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan, Canterbury and Burundi. Bishop Bill Murdoch was invited as a distinguished guest and witness of the installation. This gallery includes first photos of Archbishop Emeritus Eliud Wabukala's retirement service and then photos from Archbishop Jackson's enthronement service. Click on the photo below to see photos of Archbishop Wabukala's retirement service and Archbishop Jackson's enthronement service, attended by Bishop Bill!

7 The Consecration of Abp Jackson Finding the Real Anglican Communion The following, written by Andrew Symes, was originally published on Anglican Mainstream on June 21, 2016: Not long to go now until General Synod in July. The first part will involve normal business, and then the members will move into a closed session of Shared Conversations on sexuality and mission, guided by facilitators. I am not a member of General Synod and so will not be there, but I took part in the regional version of these Conversations and my report of my experience, the process and its implications can be read here...<<continue Reading>> The following account of the service is taken from Anglican Communion New Network, originally published July 4th, Thousands of Anglicans from Kenya and beyond yesterday (Sunday) attended the enthronement of their new archbishop, the Most Revd Dr Jackson Ole Sapit at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi. Archbishop Ole Sapit becomes the 6th archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and the 4th Bishop of All Saints Cathedral Diocese. The service was a cocktail of colours and vibrancy characteristic of the church in Africa and saw choirs drawn from across the province take turns in joyful singing and dance. In attendance was the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta; his Vice President, William Ruto; the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; other primates from Africa and beyond, ambassadors, Mothers' Union representatives, various clergy and laity, and many other notable guests and dignitaries. "The Anglican Church in Kenya has always been at the forefront in the fight against corruption in Kenya and has never compromised in rebuking corrupt leaders in the country," said the preacher of the day, Archbishop and Primate of Tanzania the Most Revd Jacob Chimeledya. "As a leader you cannot remain quiet because being in the top leadership of the church means you have to rebuke and correct whenever necessary." Archbishop Chimeledya reminded Archbishop Ole Sapit that he has to be prepared to preach the word at all times. "You cannot choose, whether it's a good season or bad one you still have to preach. Remember that the kingdom of God is near but it has not fully come because of all the evil that is still happening in the world today," he said. "Therefore the Church under your leadership has an important role to play. You have to safeguard the Christian faith by safeguarding the orthodox Christian teachings." After his recognition and enthronement, accomplished after taking the necessary vows and undertakings, Archbishop Ole Sapit gave his charge which covered a wide range of

8 issues including the importance of peace in the country, his vision for the Anglican Church of Kenya and the need for the church to "remain true to her calling." "A lot of questions are being asked about the role of the church in the world today. If Christians form 80 percent of our population, why the corruption, the environmental degradation?" he asked. "These vices compromise our future as a church. We need to reach out to the poor and outcasts and help them meet their various needs because this is the essence of mission and the core business of the church." He added: "In order for the church to remain true to her calling she must remain accountable to all her endeavours. But prior to creating a robust strategy for mission, the church must redefine its role and also look at our capacity for mission." The Archbishop reiterated the huge manpower that ACK is endowed with. "Taking stock of this manpower is key for us to utilise it," he said. Abp Ole Sapit also expressed his concerns for the violence which usually ensues during electioneering periods. The audience gave a loud applause when he urged the Kenyan President, his deputy and other key officials to take a retreat and envision the kind of Kenya that they want to handover to future generations. "Only then will our beloved country be healed and cry no more." The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby also spoke during the occasion when he brought greetings and blessings from the Church of England. He said: "Your Grace, you will find a church that has been loved, served and taught by your distinguished predecessor and indeed those before him. It is a church springing in its strength, full of the life of Christ, full of the truth of the scriptures and the love of God." He added: "In the world we live in there is tribulation, and as Archbishop you will find tribulation from the world around you, and one which this country is very familiar with - suffering, terrorism, cruelty and brutality. But you're the voice of peace and hope against such troubles, and we are of much cheer because Christ has overcome the world." The President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto also greeted congregants during the service. President Kenyatta talked of a long relationship that has existed between the Anglican Church and the government dating back to independence days. He later shared: "Kenya is a Godly nation but we also have to be a prosperous nation where every single citizen feels that they are part and parcel of the Kenyan society. "Therefore, we have to work together to eradicate poverty, we have to work together to combat diseases and we have to work together to fight corruption and other social vices." Young people were present and showed up in large numbers. Edward Kireti is a praise team member for the All Saints Cathedral Youth Service. "It was a glamorous occasion and the attendance itself was overwhelming," he said. "Despite having so much people from all over the world, there was so much order and all I can say is that it surpassed my expectations. However we expect the new archbishop to stand for and support the youth especially in the area of evangelism so that the church can grow and accomplish its purpose." Another young person, Valid Mwalukuku said that his hopes were very high and that it was good to hear that Abp Ole Sapit will endeavour to support the young people economically. "I hope he follows through with his plans especially in youth

9 programmes through tertiary education and others," he said. IN OTHER NEWS Becoming Whole: A Healing Conference at Christ the Redeemer As we grow older, the closer we get to others and to God, the more we see ways in which we have kinks (or sometimes, giant knots) that need to be worked out in our relationships - with God, with others, with myself. Of course experts tell us there are many causes for these obstacles to healthy relationships - the parenting we did or didn't receive, other dynamics in the families in which we grew up, non-family relationships we've had, and our life experiences in general. And then there's the wiring with which we were born. Tragically, some of the barriers in our hearts prevent us from fully experiencing God's love and joy, and from giving and receiving more love in our human relationships. Peter Scazzero, author of "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" writes, "it is impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature." To address some of these issues in a new way, Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Danvers, MA is hosting Canon Alex Cameron and the Isaiah 40 Foundation ministry for a "Becoming Whole" seminar October 6 - October 8 (Thurs night, Friday night, all day Saturday). The workshop is designed to provide us the tools needed to address some of the broken places in our souls, especially those that affect our relationships. It is our hope that everyone who calls CTR home will attend this important time of teaching and personal prayer ministry; non-ctr guests are also welcome! Check out CTRnorthshore.org for further details, cost, details about child care, and to register. Location: Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

10 188 Elliott Street Danvers, MA Schedule** Thursday, October 6 Sign-in 6:20-6:50 PM Seminar 7:00-9:30 PM Friday, October 7 7:00-9:30 PM Saturday, October 8 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Lunch will be provided. **Plan to attend the entire seminar as each session builds on the ones before. About the Seminar Leader: Alex Cameron has been an ordained Anglican pastor for more than 25 years. He has also worked as a business leader for organizations such as General Electric and has his own consulting company. He has been involved in the ministry of healing and wholeness with the Isaiah 40 Foundation for more than 20 years, and is currently their President and CEO. Alex takes delight in seeing people realize that Jesus is bigger than they thought and that the Holy Spirit can bring lasting transformation in their lives. He has a particular passion to see Christian leaders whole and healthy. He and his wife Tamara have four children and one grandson. They live in Colchester, Vermont.

11 New Bishops Admitted into the College of Bishops The bishops of the Anglican Church in North America met June 23-24, 2016 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. A part of that time was set aside to pray and deliberate about consenting to the addition of new members to the College of Bishops. The meeting was held in the historic church of St. Andrew's. Since their inception, the Bishops have spent a significant time in prayer and worship when they meet for these deliberations. The time also includes hearing the testimonies of how candidates came to faith in Christ. The following report on each one is taken from the ACNA provincial website. The Diocese of Pittsburgh, The Rev. Jim Hobby The Rev. Jim Hobby was elected bishop by the Diocese of Pittsburgh in a special convention held on April 23, The Rev. Hobby, who began his ministry in the Pittsburgh area, and most recently has been serving in Georgia, was elected on the 5th ballot. The College of Bishops met with Rev. Hobby on Thursday, June 23rd and joyfully confirmed the election. One bishop winsomely said, "Should we check his shoe size? He has big shoes to fill following Archbishop Bob," to which another warmly replied, "I know him. His feet fit perfectly." The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, The Rt. Rev. TJ Johnston Bishop TJ Johnston was originally a member of both the Anglican Church in North America and the Anglican Mission, but left the College of Bishops in 2010 when the Anglican Mission withdrew from full participation in the ACNA. Over the last three years, he has engaged a process of reconciliation and restoration. Bishop T.J. Johnson shared, "A little over three years ago the Holy Spirit urged me to take a journey. A journey to live a life worthy of the calling [ I ] have received (Ephesians 4:1). It has been a personal journey that has been marked by praying, living, and walking out Ephesians 4:1-6. It has been a time, when in humility, I have been led to seek restoration of relationship, to acknowledge that through "things done and left undone" that peace and unity had been broken, to ask for forgiveness, and to find grace and freedom to press on in the Kingdom Mission that Jesus has given His Church. Yesterday, through the grace and leading of the Holy Spirit, I received forgiveness and was re-instated as a member of the College. Last night, as I reflected and prayed, the remaining verses in this passage washed over my heart: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." With the blessing and welcome of the College I look forward to serving Bishop Todd Hunter-C4SO and to run with freedom the calling that the Holy Spirit has marked out for me. I am so grateful and thankful for this opportunity." The Diocese of the Carolinas, The Rt. Rev. David Bryan The Rt. Rev. David Bryan is an existing member of the College, but at this meeting the College considered his election as Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of the Carolinas, concurrent with his appointment as an Assisting Bishop in Gulf Atlantic and the Anglican Diocese of the South. When the PEAR-USA churches were released by the Anglican Church in Rwanda, Bishop Bryan's network considered becoming a diocese in the Anglican Church in North America. However, after prayer and discernment, the churches chose to merge into the local existing dioceses, with Bishop Bryan continuing to provide episcopal oversight to each congregation under the authority of the respective diocesan bishops. Bishop Bryan said, "Given our context in the Southeast, we discerned that this was the right thing to do in these three dioceses to build unity and the strengthen the church for mission moving forward." The College gave thanks for Bishop Bryan's willingness to help ease the challenge of overlapping jurisdictions, and confirmed his new appointment by the Carolinas. Bishop Wood commented, "This is a kairos moment in the life of our church. Bishop David along with the clergy and lay leadership of the Southeast PEARUSA network have long demonstrated a commitment gospel ministry. Now, they have

12 set an example for us all as we move towards the unity in the church for which our Lord prayed. I am excited about the possibilities ahead." Two New Liturgies Released The bishops of the Anglican Church in North America met June 23-24, 2016 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and approved new working texts for liturgical use in the Church. The following report is taken from the ACNA website: The bishops of the Anglican Church in North America met June 23-24, 2016 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and approved new working texts for liturgical use in the Church. In particular, the College approved two new liturgies (Holy Matrimony and the Burial of the Dead) and two calendars (an overall calendar of the Church Year, as well as a calendar of Holy Days and Commemorations). In addition, a set of Proper Prefaces for use with the Commemorations is set to be released. "The matrimonial and burial rites are the two great pastoral liturgies the Church has been anxiously awaiting," said Archbishop Duncan. "They will be readily received all across the province, I am sure. Moreover, the calendar of Church-wide Observances ('Red-Letter Days') and of two cycles of Optional Commemorations (Anglican and Ecumenical) represent a 'win-win' for all three streams of the Anglican river." In the development of the rite of Holy Matrimony, The Liturgy and Common Worship Task Force worked closely with the Task Force on Marriage, Family and the Single Life. Consequently, the liturgy will be released with a theological commentary that provides clergy and laity with direction on pastoral issues surrounding marriage. The approval of these texts brings the Anglican Church in North America one step closer to being able to release a complete Prayer Book, currently scheduled for In January of 2017, with the exception of the Psalter, all remaining materials proposed for inclusion in a new Prayer Book (among which will be the Lenten and Holy Week services) are scheduled to be presented to the College.

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