Sunday, December 09, 2007

Breaking News: Four Anglican American Bishops consecrated today inside the United States by bishops of the Anglican Communion

UPDATE: Here is the moment of consecration. I made it into a short video to try to express what it felt like the moment these men were made bishops on American soil. "Almighty Father, fill them with the grace and power which you gave to your apostles that they may lead those committed to their charge in proclaiming the gospel of salvation." Here it is:




It's a big weekend in Anglican news, that's for sure. We've just come back from the first consecrations of Anglican bishops inside the United States. Archbishop Akinola was the presider and chief consecrator, but other Anglican bishops also took part in the consecrations of four bishops for CANA, including Roger Ames (Rector, St. Luke's, Akron, OH) and David Anderson (President, American Anglican Council). Bishop Frank Lyons of the Province of the Southern Cone, Bishop John Guernsey, Missionary Bishop for the Province of Uganda, and Bishop Bob Duncan, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, Bishop John Ball, Diocese of Chelmsford, Church of England, Bishop Ben Kawshi and many other bishops from the Province of Nigeria, and other bishops all took part in the consecrations this afternoon at Church of the Epiphany, Herndon, VA.

We did some live video blogging from the consecrations, sort of hiding behind the organ (we do what we can). The music was very robust and we can see it might have blasted out our trusty iSight recording (even though we turned it down, it's hard to turn down joy). We've asked for a zoom for Christmas so we'll see what Santa brings (along with the ABC teddy bear), but you may be able to get a sense of what it felt like, especially from the organist's point of view.

We do want to send out a special tip of the tinfoil to Sheila Crawford who helped us find a spot for the trusty iSight. You are awesome, Sheila - thank you!

Here's my first entry, as the service ends, live from the consecrations (sorry about the bad hair day, we were basically flying by our wits as we recorded and the hair shows it):



He is Exalted and the Gospel Reading. The music was extremely joyful and though we turned it down, it still was expressive! But you get the sense that it's standing room only and in fact, there is another room nearby where folks were watching it by closed circuit.



The Collects followed by the Old Testament Reading from Numbers 27:



The Examination of the Candidates for Bishop followed by the Litany:



The Nicene Creed:



Greetings from Bishop Lyons of the Province of the Southern Cone, Bishop Duncan of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, and Bishop Ball of the Church of England:



The Recessional:

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

The first? What about the AMiA consecrations in Denver in June 2001? Don't they count?

Unknown said...

These bishops are consecrated today by the authority of an entire Anglican Province and its Primate and House of Bishops with a sitting Episcopal Diocesan bishop participating. Bishop Duncan makes a big difference, matthias. God bless him. He is a courageous man.

bb

Anonymous said...

It was a great day for North American Anglicanism. The outpouring of joy was amazing!!!

What a difference between the bishops present and the increasing numbers of imperial bishops of TEC.

I listened to the charge made to the bishops during their consecration. It described what a bishop should be. Hard to imagine KJS and her ilk ever fitting the role...

RalphM

Anonymous said...

So Matthias, does that answer your question? In BB's mind no because of some Frank Griswold-ish manner, these are the first and those don't count. I'm sure she'll justify it farther if we keep confusing her with facts.

Unknown said...

Did I miss something? Were there sitting Episcopal Diocesan bishops taking part in the AMiA consecrations in 2001? I don't recall an Episcopal Diocesan bishop taking part in non-Episcopal Anglican consecrations in the United States lately.

Would someone please pass a chai to Anon who seems a bit cranky this evening. But let's hold the cream pies for now.

bb

Kevin said...

Wow, I guess your AMiA bashing still continues BB!

I'm just on the Internet after a long weekend, so catching up on DioSJ or your consecration and etc. I'll say congrats on the party, however you CANA people sure know how to strain Common Cause before it begins, don't you!!

Now that left CANA (due to professional neglect and outright rebellion of the God's Word [but note not about homosexuality, the Book of James maybe {whole thing, 1John as well}] I must confess how prideful you all look.

It was very nice of +Duncan to show up even after you dismissed the threats made to him with "was George Washington on the vestry of Diocese of Pittsburgh?" {Hmm somewhat reads like "we are the children of Abraham"}

It sound like it was a fun party, but you may want to watch your words before you alienate people. I'm sure +Duncan would be quite annoyed and truly regret coming if CANA manages to divide his efforts due to their own pride.

Anonymous said...

It will be just a matter of time before these guys take over the Episcopal Church. It is what the Episcopal Church needs is a new identity and some fresh faces who are true believers. ECUSA will go broke suing everybody.

Anonymous said...

BB, Sorry the cranky ones have taken over this thread. I'm sure there are many many others who would join me in saying thank you for making and posting these videos. Looks like it was a glorious time!

see you later,
KC

Anonymous said...

BB, I don't know about TEC bishops participating in non-TEC consecrations, but I do know that a non-TEC archbishop (mine) participated with +Robert Duncan in the ordination of Michael Baba Yemba.

In other news: Also consecrated as a Bishop in the Church Catholic on Sunday was Dr. Robert Henry , joining the Charismatic stream converging into the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (theCEEC). There were some 60 ministers in the procession (I was the Bishop's Chaplain) and 700 or so in attendance.

The application for theCEEC to join in the Common Cause Partnership is in process.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the offer of chai. I'm not that cranky. I'll confess to being curious how you would answer.

Unknown said...

I forgot to mention - it was great to see good friend Ellis Brust, President of AMiA yesterday at the Consecrations as well. He and his wife Cynthia are dear dear friends - again, friendships go way back and those friendship deeply connect CANA and AMiA together, thanks be to God.

bb

Anonymous said...

Well, the level of arrogance not only comes out in condemnation of AMiA by BB, but also in that CANA and +Minns wants to ordain women, which effectively splits the Common Cause before it begins! Why he wants to do this is his business (it's unbiblical and sacramentally impossible, of course, but it's his business), but why would he want to do this NOW? This is a communion breaking issue for most of us in the Common Cause.

And who is this Bishop of Pittsburgh anyway that makes him so necessary to valid consecrations? His hands are soiled from laying them on women (purporting to ordain them) and not repenting!

We in Forward in Faith are not amused by the arrogance coming out of CANA as of late.

Anonymous said...

RE: "This is a communion breaking issue for most of us in the Common Cause."

Right -- but not "communion breaking" not to sign on to this little statement: "The Articles of the Common Cause Partnership, Article II, Appendix 3:
- “How we will live together with bishops and congregations and dioceses that do ordain women and others that do not ordain women, affirming that we will not violate anyone’s conscience on this matter”

If an Anglican entity has signed on to Common Cause -- in integrity, that is, and honesty -- then they have agreed "not to violate anyone's conscience on this matter."

It seems that all the "communion breaking" is relative with regards to people who have entered Common Cause.

Unknown said...

Ah, "Andy" - it appears you may be from Pittsburgh.

You seem to have had a sudden conversion to Forward in Faith - quite remarkable, really.

Especially since you do not sound like anyone from Forward in Faith, certainly not the Forward in Faith I know from Bishop Ackerman who shows respect and kindness to women clergy and to those bishops who ordain them, like the Bishop of Pittsburgh - Bishop Ackerman's method of evangelism is through kindness, not condemnation.

In fact, if I might be so bold, you sound quite like a progressive's stereotype of someone from Forward in Faith.

Whatever the case, this is the equivalent to throwing cream pies in the Cafe. Regulars of all theological persuasions here at the Cafe know what we think of pie throwing.

Oh, and it looks like Hagrid's gone to get his little brother Grawp. Just so you know. And if you don't know who he is, I am sure there are Cafe patrons - liberal and conservative - here who will be glad to tell you.

bb

Kevin said...

Well, BB, I have to support Andy. Not for any other reason than your own words. I'm glad Burst+ showed up to support his old boss.

However the slights against AMiA are coming from you! I heard them last year and see them on this very thread. Pity for the videos look like a pretty service.

I find sometimes when I'm excited or mad that I may make an overstatement. There are times when with a friend of another ethnic group I make statements that hurt. Recently statements from you or how CANA opening statement contained, one wonders how much there is a desire to work with others or if there is a personal kingdom being built. How much that is true or how much is loose things spoken time will tell.

However, sometimes retractions go farther than justifications. Pity for one sentence distracts from your intended post.

Anonymous said...

No, BB, I am not a newcomer to Forward in Faith or from Pittsburgh. I'm not so sure where you got all that or why you were so confident in trying to "label" me, as it were.

My point was to call you on the carpet. You say these things--CANA does these things--and the response (at least from you) is a reference to Harry Potter whilst avoiding the substantial objections posed here by others and myself?

With regards to Bp. Ackerman, I don't know him personally, but I've only heard the best about him. But it sounds like you misunderstand his position due to his charity. He too believes that women's ordination is impossible (otherwise why be in FiF?).

There is no reason for anyone to not be charitable to women who believe themselves to be priests, and if you misunderstand my strong words as uncharity, please forgive me. My tone is strong because many of us sense the arrogance of this post (and the past referenced comments) to be strong.

That all aside, could you please answer our objections without diverting to references to popular literature or coffee?

Anonymous said...

As I recall, neither the Archbishop of Rwanda nor the Archbishop of Singapore (at that time) crossed into the Diocese of Colorado to perform the AMiA Consecrations, nor did Episcopal Diocesan bishops cross into the Diocese of Colorado to take part in the consecration of those AMiA bishops. Is that not correct?

Mark Harris has comment at Preludium - http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2007/12/bishop-duncan-seems-to-have-crossed.html#links

This seems like a whole new ballgame, for better or worse depending on your point of view. That the Archbishop of Canterbury himself is not speaking out against the consecrations does not seem to bode well for the Episcopal province. It does seem that he knew they were planned.

Anonymous said...

That should read:

"There is no reason for anyone to not be uncharitable to women who believe themselves to be priests, and if you misunderstand my strong words as uncharity,..."

Anonymous said...

Scratch that...you know what I mean. haha, I just woke up, sorry. Haven't had my coffee yet :)

Anonymous said...

RE: "This seems like a whole new ballgame, for better or worse depending on your point of view."

I guess my question is it CANA's ballgame?

RMBruton said...

As a presbyter who has been accepted by CANA, I was troubled by the remarks of Bp Minns regarding women's ordination. I had no prior idea that this would come up based on our relationship with the Province of Nigeria. I consider myself to be a classical evangelical, in the sense that I use the 1662 BCP and the Articles of Religion contained therein, along with the Authorized Version of Scripture. I am sure that there are some others out there who might also identify themselves as classical evangelicals and are feeling somewhat isolated and estranged. Here I stand.

Kevin said...

1662 BCP,

Take your stand and work in the context God's lead you. We need presbyters inside CANA who are uncomfortable and doubt, just as we do in AMiA, FiFNA and ICON. You have a job to do, pray soft hearts and work in your context for unity of the Body.

Peace,
Kevin

RMBruton said...

Kevin,
Thanks, I am in conversation with a number of other clergymen from various other jurisdictions in what we call The Bishop Charles P. M'Ilvaine Society. I'd be curious to know where other classical evangelicals are and how they ministering? I know that there are some in AMiA, but don't yet know any from CANA. The impression may be drawn, by some, that bodies like CANA and AMiA are completely dominated by happy clappy charismatics, to the exclusion of classical evangelicals. I don't fancy being the last of the Mohicans.

Kevin said...

Hey 1662 BCP,

My first advise is to stay where you are and begin to pray. It could be you're the log in the stream at CANA that build a considerable subsection. Maybe not, but you're there now and hard to be still and listen to the Lord when moving (I felt 'chased' last year).

Second is look for other like minded where ever they are and build relationships. My rector is strange, Reform but kind of getting into this liturgical thing -- he passed me a contact of a definitely High Church (but unsure Evangelical or Tractarian) who basically dying up here because he's on his own. My rector developed a friendship but failed church plant with $30K of his money. Sad because of all the talk of ADV and I was attempting to connect him with more like minded. Blah!! That's what I'll say & any connections will help you and the other people break the isolation.

If pride and ego battles do not rip Common Cause to pieces, then structures like REC will be very much to your liking, so I've heard. New of a friend is that REC (Evangelical) has been getting a stream of Anglo-Catholics for a while, each fighting for what they hold dear, and some are very High Church and Sacramental in practice and Evangelical in theology. I've not explored for myself and this is based secondary knowledge, primarily on parishes in PA. The more you connect with like minded people the less pushed around you will be.


Certainly pray the Lord will raise up friends, I'll keep this in my prayers this week. Until then the Lord probably has work for you in CANA since that is where you are found.

Peace,
Kevin

RMBruton said...

Kevin,
Thanks. It's funny you should mention PA, as we are re-locating from Biloxi, MS to Erie, PA where we have another home. I have very much appreciated the advice of people like Dr. Toon of the Prayer Book Society. I'm a member of both the PBS in England and the U.S. as well as Reform and Church Society. Those contacts help with the isolation factor, but I think it is time to find more like minded evangelicals here in North America. That is something that I hope will come out of being in Common Cause.

Kevin said...

I don't fancy being the last of the Mohicans.

Okay, 1662 was a long time ago. Somehow you fell in love with the style and continue in it.

Happy Clappy was started by Calvary Chapel. If you go to Truro happy clappy Saturday night service you'll mostly find aging Baby Boomers. On Capital Hill the growing churches are a conservative Baptist, PCA and my AMiA - so theologically conservative.

I can only speak for the music at mine, we're 'blended' but it'll sound contemporary because no organ, we have what ever talent the Lord has blessed us with (piano, guitars, French horn, tuba, violin), but when the PowerPoint didn't work we even knew the old hymn by heart so didn't need words, they were within us. Our service is two hours long, following liturgy came up before Dr Toon+ modern language 1662 became big in AMiA, but theologically it is similar. Three lessons and a psalm read responsively, sermon is 1/2 hour unless Tommy+ is preaching, Eucharist most Sundays (last week for Lesson & Carols we did not). There is a 'charismatic' portion in Prayers for the People, but I like the space given for people to call out their requests. Prayer of Humble Access before communion.

Basically, we're not following a growth model yet we don't have enough room in our rented space, so we're planting church(es)to divide down.

The secret ... evangelism and love.

I NEVER been in parish where there so much emphasis on that area. Also there a conscience effort to not develop cliques and have favored people, so all can be minister to. I was shock the first time I received an 'evite' with 250+ names (we're about 300 ASA). Dan+ is always seen helping someone, there is a clergy member at each event. They talk to people who no one else seems to and while desiring true holiness discourage 'happy-face good boys & girls' that is the charade in most churches.

I'm not always that easy to talk to and I've been shunned out of more church groups in my life. So grew up with those who'd accept me, which we're not the people you'd find in churches. CANA parishes played stupid games and I should not continue the tale less emotion over takes over. Lets say I'm not the ideal parishioner to walk through a parish threshold. When my sister died, I ended up on three parish pastoral care lists (not my choosing) two had broken relationships with the priest in charge of pastoral care, nothing was done to repair it but pretended to act as if all was well. One I get form letters with a booklet about grief (I'm dyslexic). In my new home for a month, the priest even emails my mom (must lifted her email from one of mine) to ask if there is anything he can do. Never too busy even though he always busy.

So my advice to keep from being the last of the Mohicans is replicate! Evangelize and love those others seem to disregard, build a folk of strip, speckled and spotted sheep. The one thing I Gen X & Y has often lacked is someone who has time for them. My parish is doing it all 'wrong' but it seems to be working.

Kevin said...

That is something that I hope will come out of being in Common Cause.

Me too!!

Well if this way on a Sunday evening you should stop by, with my long hair I'm not hard to find.

Kevin said...

build a flock of strip, speckled and spotted sheep.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... 1662BCP, this particular cleric is contemplating relocation from Long Beach, MS to Ambridge, PA. I also know another local cleric who will soon be packing his bags to head north. Meanwhile, I'm still in the Briar Patch,

RMBruton said...

br_er rabbit,
One and the same.

Anonymous said...

Ah.

...still in the Briar Patch (at least until December 21).

Anonymous said...

In one of my posts above, I dyslexically identified our new bishop as Dr. Robert Henry. He is Dr. Henry W. Roberts Jr.
My apologies.