The first Plano conference, "A Place to Stand: Declaring, Preparing” sponsored by AAC, was held in Dallas, Texas in October 2003 and was attended by more than 2,700 individuals. AAC-Virginia hosted “Plano East: A Place to Stand, A call to Action” in Woodbridge, Virginia in January 2004 and drew more than 2,600 participants.

Plano West will focus primarily on evangelism and mission, and the keynote speaker is one of the world’s leading evangelists, the Rev. Canon Dr. Michael Green, a senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, England. The Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council, will also be a featured speaker. Canon Anderson has ably lead AAC through the challenging period of General Convention 2003 and the subsequent crisis facing the Episcopal Church.

Additional speakers include the Rev. Canon Dr. Kendall Harmon, one of the church’s leading theologians and recognized as a key spokesman for the historic Christian faith; the Rev. Canon Dr. Alison Barfoot, co-rector of Christ Church, Overland Park, Kansas and soon-to-be assistant for international relations to Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda; and the Rev. Chuck Reischman, vicar of New Life Episcopal Church in Littleton, Colorado, just blocks from Columbine High School. Fr. Reischman ministers primarily to young people, their parents and youth leaders.

A number of leaders in local Episcopal communities in Los Angeles and San Diego are organizing the conference including the Rev. Dr. Ron Jackson, rector of St. Luke’s, La Crescenta, CA; the Rev. Bill Thompson, rector of All Saints, Long Beach and Dean of the Western Convocation of the newly formed Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes; the Rev. Dr. Tony Baron, rector of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Oceanside, CA; and the Rev. Praveen Bunyan, rector of St. James Church in Newport Beach, CA.

"It’s time to move forward. This conference is about providing a place for faithful, orthodox Episcopalians to minister in the power of Jesus Christ. We’re focusing on the Great Commission – Jesus’ command that all believers share the Good News with the world,” said the Rev. Dr. Ron Jackson, head of the Los Angeles Chapter of the AAC. "It is also another opportunity for orthodox Episcopalians to take a strong and unified stand against the recent grievous actions of the national Episcopal Church. I am convinced this conference will change the lives of those who attend."

The Plano-West conference has four goals:

1. To declare our faith and steadfast commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Anglican Communion.

2. To encourage faithful Episcopalians and help us understand and prepare for the emerging realignment of an orthodox and vital Anglicanism in the United States.

3. To prepare and strengthen ourselves and those whom we serve to become a missionary church dedicated to the Great Commission.

4. To inspire the next generations to seek the face of God and to equip them to stand on His Word and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Youth ages 15-21 will be the focus of Thursday evening’s plenary session with Fr. Chuck Reischman. Special music will be provided by the Justin Fox band.

The conference is $70 for adults, $10 for youth ages 15-21 and for seminarians. Participants may also register to attend only the Thursday and Friday evening plenary sessions for a cost of $30 for the two nights.

For more information on the conference or to register, visit the AAC-Los Angeles website at www.aacla.org.

Media who wish to attend the Plano-West gathering should contact Cynthia Brust, AAC Director of Communications, to register for the event (202-296-5360, 202-412-8721 or cbrust@american.org). There will be a press availability scheduled for Friday at the conclusion of the afternoon session.

EVENT LOCATION:

The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
300 E. Ocean Front Blvd.,
Long Beach, CA
Phone: 562-436-3636
For directions, visit: http://www.longbeachcc.com/maps.htm

SCHEDULE

Thursday, June 3, 2004

7:30 - 9:30 am: Registration
9:30 - 10 am Opening Worship
10 - 11:45 am Plenary Session
11:45 am - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm Plenary Session
3:45 - 5:30 pm Workshops
5:30 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Plenary Session
Evening Prayer

Friday, June 4, 2004

8 - 9 am Worship
9 - 11 am Plenary Session
11:15 am - 12:30 pm Workshops
12:30 - 2 pm Lunch
2 - 3:15 pm Workshops
3:30 - 5:15 pm Plenary Session
5:15 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9:30 pm Festival Eucharist
Closing Remarks

The American Anglican Council is a network of individuals, parishes, specialized ministries and Episcopal Bishops who affirm Biblical authority and mainstream Anglican orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church. For more information on the AAC, please visit http://www.americananglican.org.