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Mainline Renewal Leaders Support the Witness of the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem
Christian Newswire
une 23, 2008
A number of prominent Mainline renewal leaders affiliated with the Association for Church Renewal, voiced their support for the witness of the historic meeting of Anglican Bishops, led by those from the 'global south' who are calling for reformation of the Anglican Communion. In particular, we are voicing support for the foundation document of this historic meeting entitled, "THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE." The Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in the U.S. is scheduled to meet at Lambeth, England in a few weeks. The divisive actions of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. and the Canadian Anglican Church have caused a crisis that provoked the conference in Jerusalem.
According to Association for Church Renewal President, David Runnion-Bareford, "THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE," published by the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) of over 300 bishops from around the world, is an historic call to revival, renewal and reformation for the whole church. "God has surely raised up this leadership from Africa, Asia and South America to confront the dereliction of the western church in our time," says Rev. Runnion-Bareford.
Renewal Leadership Statement:
In the unity that is ours in the Holy Spirit, we stand in solidarity with the witness of you, our Anglican brothers and sisters gathered in Jerusalem for the Global Anglican Future Conference. We appreciate your call to reformation of the Anglican Communion in the unity that is ours in Jesus Christ alone and your rejection of the division caused by The Episcopal Church in the U.S. and the Canadian Anglican Church. We share your voice in calling the church to "The Way, The Truth and the Life." In the words of this historic document you have been inspired to publish, we too would say to our denominations of the apostolic ecumenical church,
"In the church of Christ different identities (of race, nationality, class, gender) are not merely included, they are transformed. And they are relativised by being included in the identity of the crucified and risen Lord. They then bear one message: the good news of Christ's death and resurrection, and his transforming power. Christians do not simply belong to a message, they bear that message in their lives." (from 'The Way, The Truth & The Life,' p. 26)
Rev. David Runnion-Bareford, President Association for Church Renewal
Rev. Mark Chavez, President Word Alone Network, ELCA (Lutheran)
Faye Short, Exec. Director Renew, United Methodist Church
Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, Bd. Chmn. Good News, United Methodist Church
Sara Anderson, President Bristol House Publishers
Rev. Robert Thompson, President Faithful & Welcoming, UCC
David Stanley, Chmn. Steering Comm. United Methodist Action
Rev. Vernon Stoop, Exec. Dir. Focus Renewal Ministries, UCC
Dr. Phil Corr, United Church of Christ
Rev. Chuck Huckaby, Reformationucc.org
---Rev. David Runnion-Bareford is President, Association for Church Renewal. Renewall.acr@gmail.com
