MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop
Many seeking conservative alternative to Episcopal faith
By David Waters
The Commercial Appeal
January 15, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/yyq9gv
January 15, 2007
Delegates from a dozen churches in Memphis and across the South will ask the Anglican Church of Kenya to form a diocese and appoint a bishop for them in America.
The unprecedented request was given to Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, who was in Memphis over the weekend for meetings and services hosted by St. Peter's Anglican Church in East Memphis.
The archbishop said he will discuss the request with worldwide Anglican leaders in February and he hopes to have an answer by April.
"We must go slowly and assure that in every step we are giving honor and glory to God," Nzimbi told delegates from Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina and Missouri.
St. Peter's is one of 18 U.S. churches that have affiliated with the Anglican Church of Kenya, joining a growing nationwide movement to establish a conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church. All Saints Anglican in Jackson, Tenn., is another.
In recent years, dozens of other congregations across the country have cut their ties to the Episcopal Church and affiliated with more conservative Anglican communions in Africa, Asia or South America.
The exodus began in 2003 when Episcopal bishops consecrated an openly gay bishop. That year, Faith Anglican Church of Memphis joined the Nigerian-based Anglican Mission in America, which includes more than 100 U.S. congregations.
With 2.5 million members, the Kenyan church is the fifth largest branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a bit larger than the Episcopal (U.S.) branch. So far, all of the Kenyan Church's 29 dioceses and more than 40 bishops are in Kenya.
The formation of the first American diocese would include the appointment of the first American bishop and could encourage more Episcopalians to leave the fold and join the U.S. Anglican movement.
"Our goal is for the Episcopal Church to sort of see the error of its ways and reunite with all of us," said Rev. Steve Carpenter, a former Episcopal priest and now associate pastor of St. Peter's.
"But if that doesn't happen, the goal is to establish a single Anglican communion in America. Right now, all of us who have joined the Anglican movement are sort of free-floating. Establishing an Anglican diocese with a bishop here in America would give all of us a new home."
The Anglicans who met in Memphis said they feel more spiritual kinship with their Anglican brothers 8,000 miles away than they do with their Episcopal cousins next door.
"This isn't just about homosexuality or same-sex unions. This is about the authority of Scripture," said Jeff Garrety, a member of All Saints Anglican Church in Jackson.
"The Episcopal Church and its leaders have diminished that authority."
Nzimbi cautioned the U.S. delegates not to expect too much too soon. The next step might be to form an American deanery, a less formal collection of parishes, which could grow into a larger diocese headed by a bishop.
Meantime, he asked delegates to be patient.
"We are here to say we stand with you, we encourage you, and we love you," Nzimbi said.
END
| Poster | Thread |
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| MichaelA | Posted: 2007/1/15 20:56 Updated: 2007/1/15 20:56 |
Home away from home   Joined: 2006/5/29 From: Posts: 869 |
 Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop"But if that doesn't happen, the goal is to establish a single Anglican communion in America. Right now, all of us who have joined the Anglican movement are sort of free-floating. Establishing an Anglican diocese with a bishop here in America would give all of us a new home."
Amen. I pray that this will happen, that through all of this we do see a uniting of faithful Anglicans throughout America. "The Anglicans who met in Memphis said they feel more spiritual kinship with their Anglican brothers 8,000 miles away than they do with their Episcopal cousins next door. "This isn't just about homosexuality or same-sex unions. This is about the authority of Scripture," said Jeff Garrety, a member of All Saints Anglican Church in Jackson. "The Episcopal Church and its leaders have diminished that authority."" Amen again. We should all be encouraged that so many Anglican Christians can see the issues so clearly, and are starting to act. "Nzimbi cautioned the U.S. delegates not to expect too much too soon. The next step might be to form an American deanery, a less formal collection of parishes, which could grow into a larger diocese headed by a bishop. Meantime, he asked delegates to be patient. "We are here to say we stand with you, we encourage you, and we love you," Nzimbi said." Wise words from a wise man. So will Satan's plans be thwarted and our God glorified in the Anglican church in America, as in all churches everywhere. Regards all Michael |
| Memphis | Posted: 2007/1/16 2:19 Updated: 2007/1/16 2:19 |
Just popping in  Joined: 2006/4/3 From: Posts: 3 |
Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop I am sure that the Bishop of West TN was not a happy camper when he caught wind of this. But he just sits around and does nothing. Alot of grumblings going on in the churches especially in the suburbs in Memphis. I personally think that West Tn will eventually come under the jurisdiction of the Nashville diocese because it is shrinking so fast. Only a couple of churches are actually growing. One out in the suburbs in Collierville and another one in town, St. John's.
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| iceworm | Posted: 2007/1/16 6:49 Updated: 2007/1/16 6:49 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/3/21 From: Anchorage, Alaska US Posts: 152 |
The Exodus has been going on for a long time. The exodus began in 2003 when Episcopal bishops consecrated an openly gay bishop. That year, Faith Anglican Church of Memphis joined the Nigerian-based Anglican Mission in America, which includes more than 100 U.S. congregations.
In another thread I UECNA revealed himself as a member of the United Episcopal Church of North America (www.united-episcopal.org) which broke away from PECUSA in 1960 (or the 1960's the exact date is not given). Here is a sentence from their history page: We are in all things determined to continue unchanged that which we were as Episcopalians before the moral weakening of that church during the 1960's when it began to replace the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with the heresy of the social gospel of humanism. Yup! The exodus has been going on for some time. |
| Wilhelm | Posted: 2007/1/16 16:07 Updated: 2007/1/16 17:18 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2006/6/19 From: The Colonies Posts: 172 |
Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop I offer a strong word of caution and urge great restraint in promoting binding overseas affiliations or the hasty formation of a new Anglican province on these shores. Establishment of one, that isn't vulnerable to the worst mistakes of the past could take a full generation. Instead promote strong associations, affiliations, Councils and their subcommittes. Our Leaders are largely right-minded individuals who've comitted their lives to the church. I am highly suspicious of potential "would-be-dictators", regardless of who's name they appear in.
There's nothing I'd like less than to see my own small Traditional Anglican Church become subject to a large body that overly dictates our conduct. We've got a Bishop and an Archbishop of our Province in addition to alert parishoners. While our Priest is dedicated, Godly and a true Holy Man and always forthcoming about his views, the safeguards are in place to ensure that we stay on path. Why we truly need more than that is beyond me. I'd lose sleep over this but I already have a game plan for myself and loved ones in the event the whole church as we know it goes kaboom and we're forced to scatter. Don't forget our early Christians. They made it, yes? |
| Anonymous | Posted: 2007/1/17 12:32 Updated: 2007/1/17 12:32 |
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Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop Wilhelm wrote:
"I offer a strong word of caution and urge great restraint in promoting binding overseas affiliations or the hasty formation of a new Anglican province on these shores." ++Akinola has said that his oversight of CANA is a temporary arrangement--until North America can get its act together--but I share your concerns. Wilhelm wrote: "Our Leaders are largely right-minded individuals who've comitted their lives to the church." That statement bothered me because I thought you were referring to TEc, but then you wrote: "There's nothing I'd like less than to see my own small Traditional Anglican Church become subject to a large body that overly dictates our conduct" and I understood that you meant the TAC leaders. I think I agree with where you're coming from. Blessings, wopriest+ |
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| rmcclain | Posted: 2007/1/17 14:25 Updated: 2007/1/17 14:25 |
Just popping in Joined: 2004/1/26 From: Memphis, TN, USA Posts: 14 |
Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop A couple of errors in the Commercial Appeal article, according to a Kenyan priest who was there:
The Kenyan Anglicans are over 4 million, and the meeting on Friday clearly asked for a diocese and not a rural deanery. Also, over and over we have been told by our AFrican bishop, and AB Nzimbi last weekend, that THIS SITUATION IS NOT PERMANENT!!! They are offering us their help until such time as we have our own orthodox province in NA, and until such time, I thank God, and have NO desire to be part of TEC as it is today. |
| Reactionar | Posted: 2007/1/17 15:22 Updated: 2007/1/17 15:22 |
Just popping in Joined: 2006/6/20 From: Posts: 13 |
Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop Wilhelm,
The problem with what you are describing is that it is a congregational church, not a church that is catholic and apostolic as professed in the Nicene Creed. If we are to be anything more than atomized, individual Christians with our Bibles (and remember, the Church's Tradition predates the Bible), here is what we need for starters: 1. No more female ordination. It was and always will be an awful, awful idea. The women clergy who remain can serve out their tenures as deacons, but not as celebrants. 2. The 1928 BCP, if not the 1662 BCP. 3. A curia, or magisterium, to establish a formal catechism and bibliography of approved teachings. This canon could only be changed by unanimous consent of all bishops, and with an eye toward ecumenical dialogue with the other Sacramental Churches. 4. An archbishop, whose seat would remain in his diocese, to serve as first among equals. Anything else and we are wasting our time and, when my particular line in the sand is crossed, I'll head to Rome or the Orthodox. |
| Wilhelm | Posted: 2007/1/17 16:05 Updated: 2007/1/17 17:19 |
Home away from home Joined: 2006/6/19 From: The Colonies Posts: 172 |
Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop Perhaps I did a poor job of describing the situation in my church, but I did mention an Ordained Priest, a Bishop and an Archbishop. I wouldn't call that congregationalist. We do recite the "Old School" Nicene Creed and it does reflect my beliefs. We do use the 28 BCP and women aren't ordained. The curia as you call it could be debated and established by our cadre of Bishops and Archbishops. I'll confess that part is church business in which I have no expertise and only minor intellectual interest - provided it doesn't insult my ideas of our faith. The few Anglican Bishop's in this country whom I've met, impressed me as men I could trust.
In the view of a strict RC, and they'd gladly deny me the sacraments anyday, I suppose that could make me a congregationalist. I don't believe that "one holy catholic and Apostolic" precludes having more than one Godly and credible organization. I'd never assert that my RC, presby, methodist, lutheran or baptist friends are getting any less than we in their church experiences. The hand, foot, head and kneecap are all part of one body, though they aren't all the same either. Seriously, if that sounds too "atomized", what is keeping you from the RC Church? They'll provide all of the authority you could ever ask for.I'd go oppositely. If we became subjected to Non-Western foreign ecclesiastical authority, I'd probably find something more in keeping with protestant traditions. It seems prepostorous that we'd need to go looking to other shores and I'd hate to even explain it to George Washington if we meet in the next world. |
| rmcclain | Posted: 2007/1/17 18:47 Updated: 2007/1/17 18:47 |
Just popping in Joined: 2004/1/26 From: Memphis, TN, USA Posts: 14 |
Re: MEMPHIS, TN: Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop From our Friday Evening Service Leaflet:
The Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya Provides oversight for many here in the United States including: St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Memphis TN All Saints, Jackson, TN All Saints, Tallahassee, FL St.Peter's Anglican Fellowship, Macclenny, FL Church of Nativity, Jacksonville, FL Holy Cross, Tallahassee, FL Servants of Christ, Gainesville, FL Holy Apostles, Flowood, MS Christ the Savior, Jackson, MS Anglican Church of Resurrection, Brewster, MA Anglican Church of Good Shepherd, Forestdale, MA St. Michaels Church, Rochester, MA All Saints Anglican Church, Springfield, MO Anglican Church of the Resurrection, Newington, NH The Church of the Redeemer, NC Anglican Community Church, Batavia, NY St Andrew, Coventry, RI St Philip, Coventry, RI All were invited, but basically, RI, NY,NH,and MA did not attend. |
