DOBBS: The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) continues to endow the Convocation of Anglicans in North America with a great gift - direct and unimpeachable membership in the Anglican Communion. As, the Communion does not yet recognize a 39th Province in North America and the other constituent jurisdictions of the ACNA are not members, only the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) through CANA offers an authentic, orthodox connection to the Anglican Communion. We hold two passports; remain effectively 'dual citizens,' of both the ACNA and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). If by the grace of God I am elected as the Diocesan Bishop in May, I will serve as the ACNA Diocesan Bishop while maintaining Standing Orders in the House of Bishops in Nigeria [Anglican Communion]. A number of ACNA bishops serve under the authority of Archbishop Duncan with identical connections to the Communion: Bishop Bill Attwood is the ACNA Bishop of the International Diocese and a member of the House of Bishops of Kenya and Bishop Roger Ames is the ACNA Bishop of the Great Lakes Diocese and a member of the House of Bishops of Nigeria.

VOL: Why is connection to the Anglican Communion so important?

DOBBS: It is important for spiritual, evangelistic and legal reasons. The Convocation of Anglicans in North America is irrevocably committed to a cross-cultural vision of ministry. Our 'Nigerian passport' dynamically underscores our vital engagement with global Christianity and specifically, global Anglicanism. With Courts examining the nuances of 'who was invited to the last Lambeth Conference and who was not' when ruling on parish property rights, it is not prudent for those congregations engaged in litigation to cut the ties that grant our parishes 'clear credentials' within the Communion. At best, it is premature at this point in our continued growth through this contentious process; at worst, it seems irresponsible to voluntarily surrender internationally recognized, relevant credentials in the midst of legal appeals. There is also the question about our history. We are Anglican Christians and as such, we cherish and value our unbroken connection with 77 million Anglicans around the world through our relationship in the Anglican Communion which is the third largest Christian communion in the world.

VOL: Does "dual citizenship" between ACNA and Nigeria ever cause a conflict of interest?

DOBBS: Dual citizenship' is not 'divided loyalty. Since its foundation, our bishops, clergy and congregations have energetically supported the foundation and growth of the ACNA while remaining faithful members through CANA of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). The establishment of the new Diocese in Virginia neither substantially alters nor addends this relationship.

VOL: So your immediate superior then is Bishop Martyn Minns who is accountable to Nigerian Primate Nicholas Okoh. Does this mean that Minns is in any sense accountable to Archbishop Duncan?

DOBBS: Everyone in the ACNA is accountable to our Archbishop Robert Duncan. This is one of Archbishop Duncan's greatest responsibilities and, undoubtedly, one of his greatest challenges - to be daily held to account for the 100,000 souls accountable to his Office.

VOL: To many outsiders this will seem very confusing. Will there come a time when the need for "dual citizenships" will cease and there will be one entity with one archbishop and House of Bishops?

DOBBS: May I answer this question as Amos answered King Amaziah, "I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I am a shepherd" (Amos 7:14). To this point in my ministry, God has not seen fit to grant me the gift of discerning the future. I have been called to be a shepherd and, by His grace and in His mercy, a shepherd I will be. Beyond this truth, I cannot speak.

VOL: At age 42, you, your wife, Brenda and your three children who are natives of New Zealand, have resided in the U.S. since 2006. Some might say you are rather young to be wearing a purple shirt. What is your educational and parish background that leads people to think you can manage the job?

DOBBS: I am firmly of the opinion that no man is humanly prepared for the episcopacy. While the strength to shoulder the task has both its source and fulness in the grace of Almighty God, we are still very frail human instruments. The 'Potter' may have done a remarkable job in forming His vessels, but we are still living clay. The explosion of electronic communication in the past two decades with the increase in volume and the rapidity of information flowing every second of every day, I believe, has radically changed the demands upon men called to stand in the Apostles' place. Attempting to compare the clamor and cacophony that will surround the first Anglican Bishop of Virginia to almost any earlier epsicopacy will undoubtedly fall woefully short in both accuracy and essence. The new Bishop will receive more 'correspondence' in his first month than most 20th century bishops collected in their entire episcopacy. The level of energy, attention to detail and stamina necessary to the task will be astounding. While the 'job' can be done by any qualified, godly, committed, orthodox, Spirit-filled priest...on a very practical, human level I truly believe that my relative 'youth' is one of the reasons why the Lord has called me to this place at this time. In September, I will have been ordained 20 years. 11 of those years I served as a parish rector in what was New Zealand's fastest growing Anglican Church. I have had the privilege of planting 3 new congregations and have served as a Regional Dean and later Canon and Archdeacon. I hold a Licentiate in Theology and a Masters in Theology.

VOL: You were born in NZ and you were a parish priest in the Diocese of Nelson before coming to the US. You have only been in the US five years. By any stretch of the imagination, you have moved quickly through the ranks. Can you explain that?

DOBBS: I was a candidate for the Episcopacy in New Zealand before the Lord called my family to ministry in the United States. Our sole purpose in coming to America was to do whatever small part God granted us to further His Kingdom and proclaim His Gospel. No one is more surprised by the challenges and opportunities Almighty God has placed before us than Brenda and me.

VOL: What other work have you done in the US?

DOBBS: In 2006, I was invited to serve as the Executive Director of the Barnabas Fund, based in McLean Virginia. Barnabas Fund supports Christians in areas of the world where they suffer discrimination and persecution as a result of their Christian faith. Through this ministry I had the opportunity to be a voice for voiceless Christians. I represented the Suffering Church at the United Nations, on Capitol Hill and travelled extensively to Muslim majority countries to support our brothers and sisters in Christ. While raising awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians I also had the privilege of raising funds for their tangible support and voicing their needs in the often unsympathetic arena of national and international media.

VOL: The Anglican Communion is trying to come to grips with the growing tensions and widening schism between the liberal Western Anglican churches and provinces and the orthodox provinces of the Global South. Won't your election and consecration just ratchet up those tensions?

DOBBS: I firmly believe that the new Anglican Diocese of Virginia [the actual name of the new diocese has yet to be determined] will be one of the fulcrums of biblical Christianity in North America for both the immediate and the long-term future. Without dwelling on the obvious geographical fact that the Diocese will surround the nation's capital, the Diocese stands in the nexus of 'influence growth' - population increase in the demographic that governs and guides cultural trends, political power and economic influence - for the next several decades. We have the unique opportunity to express our fundamental and unwavering commitment to the historic Christian Faith as expressed in Holy Scriptures to our communities, our nation and the world from one of the most influential locations in our increasingly globalized world. With such abundant opportunity, however, comes great responsibility. Our prophetic voice must never vacillate. In word and deed; by proclamation and by the strength of a living testimony of holiness and righteousness, we must be - to the Church, the Nation and the World - a voice that heralds the Gospel and confronts a dying and sinful culture with the unchanging love and transformative power of Jesus Christ. What the Episcopal Church and their liberal colleagues in Canada and England say, or do not say, about my election, the growing strength of orthodox jurisdictions in North America, or any other subject is irrelevant to our task and our commission.

VOL: Do you see any hope of reconciliation between yourself and the Episcopal Bishop of Virginia, the Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, or are those days long gone?

DOBBS: If that great day comes when the non-Christian doctrines and immoral practices of the contemporary Episcopal Church are repudiated, we will once again be as brothers-in-Christ with open arms. Until that day, however, as a Defender of the Faith 'once delivered to the Saints' (Jude 3), I am bound to the clear instruction of Holy Scripture: "for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" II Corinthians 6:14 I will pray daily that Bishop Johnston and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia know the life giving truth of the Gospel message and that the life of every individual in Virginia will be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. This is the appeal of St. Paul, "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." II Corinthians 5:20. I believe that it is never too late for reconciliation between God and humanity. This reconciliation is only made possible through the sacrificial death of our Savior Jesus Christ. As we begin the Lenten season, may our Lord's sacrifice move us all to live more Christ centered lives.

VOL: There seems little likelihood that the Archbishop of Canterbury will recognize your status. Does that bother you?

DOBBS: As a Bishop with Standing Orders in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) I will be a Bishop in the Anglican Communion. For eight years, Dr. Williams has been defaulting to the concept of the 'autonomous integrity' of the Anglican Province to make Provincial decisions within the 'great diversity' of the Communion. Nigeria's House of Bishop made a Provincial decision last week regarding men they believe should join them in the Episcopacy. For the Archbishop to overlook or ignore this reality is the gravest form of hypocrisy. Does it bother me? No. I am being consecrated to serve the Body of Christ, His Eternal Bride - not to be served tea in Lambeth Palace.

VOL: Your election and that of the Rev Felix Orji of Texas capped a week of missional work by the Church of Nigeria's Standing Committee led by Archbishop Nicholas Okoh. You will now be rubbing shoulders with the largest and fastest growing province in the Anglican Communion. How does that impact your daily work in the US?

DOBBS: The Convocation of Anglicans in North America is irrevocably committed to a cross-cultural vision of ministry. Our 'Nigerian passport' dynamically underscores our vital engagement with global Christianity and specifically, global Anglicanism. Many claim to believe that the Holy Spirit is working mightily in our Post-colonial Age. In CANA, we 'live' this reality. Can there be a stronger statement to the world that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Spirit of the Living God is accomplishing might works in the Global South and the Emerging World than to be in organic solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

VOL: How many parishes and mission churches will you have under your authority? Are you growing in Virginia and do you anticipate starting parishes in say Maryland, West Virginia, even Pennsylvania?

DOBBS: The Anglican District of Virginia currently has 33 member congregation and 9 mission fellowships in Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC and North Carolina. Churches are being planted, clergy are being raised up and many lay people in our parishes are excited and enthused about the mission to declare the gospel once for all entrusted to the saints.

VOL: Thank you Bishop Dobbs.