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"The Anglican Province of America Empowered for Faith and Mission"
by Walter Grundorf
June 2006
The Anglican Province of America (APA) Provincial Synod joyously and harmoniously concluded their recent Synods further empowered by the Gospel and the Sacraments for "Faith and Mission" to America and the world. The Synods of the three Dioceses and the Province were held at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Andrew in Merrillville, Indiana from June 20-23, 2006.
The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, Presiding Bishop, APA, charged the laity and clergy in the opening comments that they should stand firmly on the authority of the unchanging Word of God in a rapidly changing world culture. The Province was charged to work to fulfill the "faith and mission" of the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church united with other faithful Anglicans in this country and beyond. The Bishop also reiterated the necessity of working in unity with other faithful orthodox Anglicans in making common cause for the Gospel. "We are all painfully aware of the scandal caused by disunity in the body of Traditional Anglicans in this country. It is critical that we continue to persevere in this worthy effort of bringing the Christ's One, Holy, Church together..."
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola, in his written epistle to the Synod, stressed the importance of Christian unity but not at the expense of the abandonment of the centrality of the Word of God and Catholic Order in the faith and mission. As faithful Christians of the Anglican tradition, we are charged by Our Lord Jesus Christ to carry the precious gift of Salvation in Christ to others as the primary work Our Lord has called us to do. Archbishop Akinola quoted David Livingstone who said "God had an only Son and He made Him a missionary." Fr. Amos Fagbamiya of the CANA Mission in Indianapolis, Indiana, a long time friend of the APA delivered and read the letter from Archbishop Akinola.
More than 90 clergy and 120 laity along with bishops of the APA Dioceses of the Eastern United States, the Diocese of the West and the Diocese of St. Augustine worked together to better organize and streamline the Province for more effective ministry and outreach. The APA is one of the fastest growing Anglican jurisdictions in America with nearly 70 congregations and 125 clergy. Since the 2004 Provincial Synod more than 25 clergy joined the APA.
The Right Rev. Royal Grote, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America, Reformed Episcopal Church (REC), was the preacher at the Synod Eucharist on June 21. The APA continues a prayerful pilgrimage towards full unity with the REC and their orthodox Anglican "Common Cause" partners.
The next Anglican Province of America Provincial Synod will be a joint Synod with the REC in Victoria, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 2008.
For additional information about the APA, please visit the APA website at www.anglicanprovince.org.
---The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, D.D. is Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province of America and Bishop of the Diocese of the Eastern US
