Reflections on the 2008 CANA Council

What would possess 380 persons to travel to Akron, Ohio from as far away as Nigeria? Only a movement of God's Spirit.

Towards the end of our annual council, Jim Oakes of the Anglican District of Virginia quoted an archbishop who attended GAFCON (the Global Anglican Futures Conference). That archbishop said that he believed that GAFCON was not only a moment in time, but more importantly, a movement of God's Spirit.

GAFCON and the new, emerging Anglican province in North America are genuinely a movement of God's Spirit. Both are the result of God's people hearing God's word and responding in faith. As in ancient days, the GAFCON primates, archbishops and bishops have responded to a crisis in God's Church by accepting the mantle of leadership for the health of the church.

Beginning with the opening keynote address by Archbishop Nicholas Okoh of Nigerian and running through the closing Festival Eucharist, the CANA delegations from 70 churches heard the message of Christian discipleship. I was personally inspired not only by Archbishop Okoh's address, but by the State of the Church address of Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns and the breakout session on the ministry of healing.

We also received an update on the work that CANA supports in Africa to combat HIV/Aids, Malaria and TB. We heard a stirring call to action from the Rev. Julian Dobbs, Director of the Barnabas Fund in his plenary address on "The Persecuted Church and the Challenge of Islam".

As I mentioned in a post on Saturday, this year's Council increased in size by more than 45% over last year's Council. In addition to the growth of Council, we have seen CANA go from 61 congregations last year to 70 this year, with 7 more congregations in development.

What began as the Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in America and morphed into
the Convocation of Anglicans in North America is growing as new churches are planted and existing congregations evangelize. CANA is a wonder-filled movement of God's Spirit and we look forward to not only the growth of CANA but the growing cooperation of the Common Cause Partnership. As the CCP grows we look forward to the emerging new Anglican province of North America going from strength to strength in the service of our Lord.