You are here
PITTSBURGH: Anglican Mission in America Chairman Endorses Common Cause Partnership Statement
by the Rt. Rev. Chuck Murphy
September 29, 2007
The Common Cause Partnership of orthodox Jurisdictions and Ministries in North America (CCP) gathered this week in Pittsburgh as a "College of Bishops" committed to exploring together the creation of a more unified life and witness in the service of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Serving with me in the Anglican Mission delegation were Bishops Sandy Greene, TJ Johnston, John Rodgers, and retired Archbishop Yong of S.E. Asia.
Together, we all sensed that this meeting served to provide another important step in the ultimate creation of that "separate ecclesiastical structure" called for by the Primates that met together in Kigali, Rwanda back in September 2006.
The decision by the Common Cause Partners (CCP) to enter into this federation commits us to meet together regularly in the coming months as an ongoing "College of Bishops" in order to work through the many challenging issues that presently confront us. As a federation, each of the member groups, organizations, and missionary initiatives involved will now be united in a formal alliance designed to strengthen the level of our cooperation, collaboration, and communication together. At the same time, we clearly understand that each Common Cause Partner will maintain its own distinct autonomy, "culture", and strategic vision. Indeed, as is stated in the federation Articles that we have now adopted, "The autonomy of the individual Jurisdictions and Ministries, and their constituent bodies, is in no way restricted or superseded by membership in the CCP."
Having said this, I believe that the formation of this federation, and the "College of Bishops" that will guide it, is not only consistent with the ancient and honored conciliar tradition of the church in providing church "order" and leadership, but that this is much needed in this present hour as we face into the many challenges and issues now before us in North America.
I believe that this development represents a faithful response both to the Global South Primates' request to all of us that we begin working more closely together to overcome those things that have often caused division among the orthodox, and that it reflects the prayer and teaching of Jesus in John 17:21, and the plea of St. Paul for unity in I Corinthians 1:10-13.
As the Common Cause Partnership enters this new phase of unity in faith and order, the Anglican Mission remains unwaveringly committed to its purpose, call, and mission - reaching the 130 million unchurched in the USA and Canada with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. We also rejoice in the possibility of a higher level of unity as we move forward with this vision.
---The Rt. Rev. Chuck Murphy is Chairman of the Anglican Mission in the Americas based in Pawleys Island, SC
