The crisis, while focused upon the consecration of a divorced, non-celibate homosexual having been consecrated bishop (the Church leader responsible for maintaining the teaching and witness of the Church), is only the flash point. "When you abandon one part of Holy Scripture you open the whole to be a matter of individuals picking and choosing the parts that suit their liking" said Vice-President William Ilgenfritz, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The Episcopal Church (TEC) has clearly demonstrated its unwillingness to walk with worldwide Anglicanism. This same day as Forward In Faith met at the retreat center, Our Lady of the Snows, near Belleville IL (St. Louis metro area), the Executive Council of TEC rejected the plan offered by the world leaders to walk together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world leaders had agreement for maintaining the Christian faith and practice with an affirmation of TEC (USA) leader Katherine Jefferts Schori. The Episcopal Church is cutting itself off from the third largest worldwide church; plans are being implemented to establish a new Anglican church in the USA. FiFNA has actively worked for the formation of a new province of the Anglican Communion, so as to remain part of the worldwide fellowship of Christians.

Bishop Ackerman, the president of FiFNA, challenged its members to "further the mission and unity" of Anglicans by avoiding the temptation to say, "So what have you done for me today?" We have the courageous and faithful witness of the past decades where individuals have lived the gospel call to personal holiness. Faithfulness requires setting aside the barriers of our focusing upon ourselves instead of focusing on moving "Forward in Faith."

"Orthodox Anglican is not a relative term, but at the heart of being Catholic" enjoined Bishop Ackerman. Right faith, right belief is a gift from God which we demonstrate in our manner of living; by our weekly presence at Sunday mass, by our praying the daily Office, by attending Holy Day Masses, by our prayers and encouragement of others to follow Jesus. As elected representatives younger Christians look to you as "models of orthodoxy." Scripture reminds us, "to whom much is given, much is required." The mission and evangelism of FiFNA is orthodox Anglican behavior which shines brightly in the eyes of those looking to see "holiness of life."

We must overcome the barriers, the temptation to settle for something less than meeting together on the local level because it is inconvenient or requires driving to one more meeting. Running the race as Saint Paul described it is not about self or convenience. Bishop Ackerman called its members to greater "discipleship, training, and preparation for spiritual warfare." These must occur for each member to be informed of the battle plan. We must overcome the barriers created when our failure creates broken relationships and broken trust. We are modeling not a gloss, a quick fix, but "the depth of love and charity where our concerns aren't aired in the parking lot and back corners, but placed upon the table that we might be informed by our mutual respect and mutual accountability. Orthodox hearts must be open to have their lives touched with prayer and with spiritual discernment."

Speaking from personal experience, Bishop Ackerman said, "We are all under pressure, under stress, in this battle zone. We must guard against shooting at our friends, shooting our wounded, or returning evil for good or even good intentions." We must remember it is "our adversary, the devil, who prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Orthodox Anglicanism will fall into the trap of the enemy if we use his tactics. It is the love of Jesus Christ which has brought together the various organizations of the Common Cause Partnership, to make a way forward for us to walk with our brothers and sisters in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"We find ourselves standing together with many friends" in these days of an emerging orthodox Anglican province. We can't be asking one another, or asking others of FiFNA "What have you done for me today?" "Are we not forgetting who gets to ask faithful disciples the question?" posed Bishop Ackerman. "It is the question Jesus asks you, 'What have you done for me today?'"

The evening of festive prayer and encouragement on the opening night of the three day Assembly was highlighted with the testimony and performance of Duncan Holmes, who became an Episcopalian in his teen years. Duncan uses his singing and piano talents to relate his story as a blind man struggling to come to faith in Jesus.

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