AMIA CONFERENCE DRAWS INTERNATIONAL PRIMATES

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue

January 14,2004

DESTIN, FL-In what is a sign of the growing influence of the Anglican Mission in America, four Primates of the Anglican Communion appeared at the 4th Annual Winter conference here yesterday to add support though not officially endorsing the mission.

Prior to this, only two Primates, Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda) and Yong Ping Chung (South East Asia) have recognized the Anglican Mission, consecrating six AMIA bishops to the American scene over the last four years. The appearance of four more Primates, including Bernard Malango, (Central Africa); Fidele Diropka (Congo), Mtetemala (Tanzania) – his representative the Rev. Francis Npiruka was present,  Benjamin Nwankiti (Nigeria) as well as the Primate of the Church of South India J. K. Samuels who met earlier with Bishop Murphy and gave the mission his endorsement; another African bishop, John Rucyahana, and several ECUSA bishops, demonstrates the growing influence and public recognition the AMIA is receiving from a number of Anglican Communion leaders.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has still not recognized the Mission, but sources tell Virtuosity that he will see their leaders, Bishops Charles Murphy and John Rodgers later in the year.

When the AMIA first sprang into existence, ECUSAs Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, fearful that the AMIA might be recognized in his own backyard, raced across the Atlantic and implored then Archbishop George Carey not to recognize them. His trip was successful. Carey condemned the movement as schismatic and pled with all parties not to break rank with the Episcopal Church.

The AMIA has more than 50,000 members with some 60 parishes plus missions, with new parishes coming on board and start-up parishes opening every few weeks.

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