Keith Ackerman has been the bishop of Quincy Illinois for 10 years. He is known for his abundant energy, positive outlook, and encouragement of "timeless Christian spirituality." His diocese is one of 11 Episcopal Church USA dioceses which has joined the Anglican Communion Network to ensure a continuing Anglican Communion presence in the United States at a time when the Episcopal Church USA appears to be walking away from its historic partnership in the third largest Christian body in the world. The new position of President coincides with the national and international work that Ackerman has been doing the past ten years. It does provide "a visible face for our discussion and participation with the Primates of the Anglican Communion, the Anglican Communion Network, and the "Continuum". Pastoral care is at the forefront of Bishop Ackerman's leadership in the Diocese of Quincy (Illinois).

Bishop Ackerman said, "We are committed to remaining in the worldwide Anglican Communion" which holds the Bible as a relevant moral guide for Christians today. "We are continuing and building up our relationship to the historic Canterbury, England." The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has suggested this be actualized in the Anglican Communion Network, with the cooperation and "blessing of our brothers and sisters of worldwide Anglicanism." While saddened by many Episcopal Church leaders choosing to walk apart from Anglican unity, Ackerman sees an opportunity for many to hear the message of the "new life of hope" so strongly proclaimed by Anglicans around the world. "We have to not only hear the Windsor Report and feel the pain the decisions of the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada has caused to Anglicans throughout the world, we need to embrace their words that we have gone astray, repent, and return to the Lord." Forward In Faith holds dear, in word and action, our continued status, relationship, and future as part of the Anglican Communion."

The Forward In Faith organization has an important role in this Anglican coalition, gathering many who left the Episcopal Church when the Episcopal Church ordained an openly practicing homosexual to its leadership in 2003, but also many who left during the past three decades when historic faith has been eroding. Ackerman said, "Jesus called us all to be one in Him, and we are working together in partnership to bring together Christians who have more in common belief and practice than those that separate us. Unlike many modern dialogs which water down our belief in the Gospel, we are working at open honest discussion of our belief in God and the saving work of Jesus Christ. We are working together to bring the Christian message of life and hope to people who find that materialism and a self-focused life leaves them unfulfilled."

Forward In Faith has been gathering Anglicans of a like understanding of historic faith and order. Together these Anglican Christians have joined in common cause as a continuing presence of the Anglican Communion in the United States at a time when the Episcopal Church (with 2 million members) has distanced itself from the worldwide church body of 78 million Christians. Forward In Faith has endorsed, supported, and thanked the worldwide leaders for their statement on unity called the Windsor Report and their statement release from Ireland last week.

Ackerman succeeds David Moyer, who was consecrated a bishop for the Traditional Anglican Communion, a member Church of Forward In Faith. Bishop Moyer will remain a member of the Forward In Faith governing body and furthering the unity of the Church both within the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion, the wider Anglican fellowship, and all catholic Christians. Photo for This Press Release

END

MOYER PASSES TORCH TO ACKERMAN

Friday, March 4, 2005

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace be unto you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ whose Resurrection in the Church we will soon celebrate and affirm with great gladness.

I pass the torch of the FIFNA presidency to our dear Bishop Keith Ackerman after a number of challenging and fulfilling years in that office. At the request of the majority of the Council, I submitted my resignation with mixed feelings but in thanksgiving for the trust that had been placed in me. Bishop Ackerman possesses apostolic zeal for the present and the future of the church.

The challenge before FIFNA and FIF internationally is to mean what we have said and solidified in terms of communion relations, and to the commitment of common cause, mutual support, and deepening affection for all who work for the Gospel and for the faith and order of the Catholic religion as Anglicans.

The lines that have held us apart in terms of ecclesial structure and jurisdictions with fully Catholic Anglicans who are serving and teaching people faithfully and planting new churches, and the lines of theological disagreement with Rome and Orthodoxy need to be further opened and examined to bring about the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer in John 17 that "they all be one." I am firmly committed to this Gospel mandate.

My status as both a bishop in the Traditional Anglican Communion and the Anglican Communion symbolizes (as it does for Bishop David Chislett of Australia) new realities.

Praise God for those who have been given the vision of the necessity of broadening and deepening relationships. I especially commend at this time Archbishop John Hepworth, Primate of the TAC, Bishop Ross Davies and Bishop Maternus Kapinga of the Anglican Communion, as well as my other consecrators from the Anglican Church in America - a vision and desire for greater witness and ministry as Catholic Anglicans.

Clearly FIFNA must work diligently with all those who are centered in the Christ of biblical revelation and taught by the Church Fathers. And that means that the Faith and Order of the Church Catholic and Apostolic must be upheld in its fullness. We have a moral obligation to teach and live out the whole counsel of God, rather than having one crisis point dominate the agenda.

I pray that you are as thankful as I am to live in such complex and challenging times. It's exciting and demanding to be apostles and disciples in this time of Church history. Our focus must be first and foremost that of holiness with a spirit of self-sacrifice for Jesus who is the Second Adam, and the Alpha and Omega.

Again, thank you entrusting to me the presidency of FIFNA for a time and season. I and the former First Lady, Rita, have had so many blessings near and far through my time at the helm of the FIFNA ship. Lots to write about someday in the book that must be written, and lots to tell our grandchildren.

God bless you for your love, prayers, concern, care, and support.

In the Cross of Jesus,
(The Rt. Rev. Dr.) David L. Moyer