Duncan noted that 21 years ago he, Minns and Guernsey met with God and built this movement. "Now 21 years later I stand as your archbishop, Martyn who led so well in the Anglican district now resides in the UK as Executive Secretary for the GAFCON/ FCA. John is being invested here as the first bishop of this diocese.

"This diocese represents a maturing of this movement and is it comes together it is the largest diocese in the movement at its birth, that is because of God's favor and because of the faithfulness of you who have stood shoulder to shoulder with the laity of this region. What a great personal moment revealing God's faithfulness. His plans are better than our plans.

"This is a great moment of personal triumph in terms of what God does with us. We have been through so much, risked so much and God is faithful."

Duncan said he met this week with five church planters, future regional leaders, for church planting in Pittsburgh. He added, "When the gospel is preached people respond. Our task is to preach the gospel that is what we have been sent to do and nothing else.

"The message is Good News it is not moralism. What you hear in church today is moralism. We don't hear that we are sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is what people need to hear. That is what we have to offer. We are sinners saved by grace through Jesus Christ that is the reality and that is the message for the whole Christian body. That is what North America is desperate to hear and that is the good news that we have been sent to preach."

Bishop Guernsey later told VOL, "I was so moved by the sweetness of the Lord's presence among us in our worship. From the moment John Yates, the dean of our clergy, opened the door for me, the Lord filled my heart with new joy for serving Him and His people in this diocese. I've served in this region for all of my ordained ministry, and I know that only by His transforming grace will we be able to reach the lost with the love of Jesus Christ.

"We're now a diocese, a diocese that will be prayer-based and mission-focused, a diocese of growing and multiplying congregations served by clergy who walk in faith and holiness. We'll worship the Lord with a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and we'll be passionate to reach the next generations and disciple new believers to maturity in the Word. We've got a huge challenge before us, but, as the Archbishop challenged us today, it's the clear proclamation of the Gospel that will make all the difference."

Bishop John Guernsey has served in various clergy roles during his years of ordained ministry. He served as rector of All Saints' Church in Dale City, Va., for 29 years before serving as the head of the Diocese of the Holy Spirit in the Anglican Church in North America.

Since 11 Virginia congregations first came together five years ago, the Anglican tradition has spread quickly and organically throughout the Mid-Atlantic states to form the new Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. The new diocese consists of 31 member congregations and nine mission fellowships in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and northeastern North Carolina.

The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is now operational and fully a part of the Anglican Church in North America. Many of its congregations will continue to be in partnership with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). CANA is a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America.

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