PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC: Statement from Network Leaders Gather Support for New NA Province

Via VirtueOnline:

September 25, 2008

The Network Leaders affirm, support and encourage the resolve of the Council of Bishops to actively work toward the establishment of a new Province, even while pressing on with the work and mission that Christ has given us to do.

As Network Leaders, we commit to:

* Use whatever opportunities the Lord provides us to humbly serve our Common Cause Partners in the establishment of a New Province;

* Not be distracted during this ongoing process of Reformation, but rather to:

* Trust the leadership of our Bishops and encourage their ministry among us and their leadership and work in Common Cause; - Faithfully, passionately and humbly press on with the particular mission and leadership with which we have been entrusted in our Anglican Mission; - Be faithful stewards of any opportunity the Lord provides to partner with any Common Cause Partner for the cause of Christ and the expansion of the Kingdom;

* Personal prayer and fasting, and to encourage our Networks to join with the leadership of our Anglican Mission intercessors in a coordinated period of prayer and fasting for our common Life and common Mission and for the New Province between now and the end of December; and

* Honor, serve and encourage one another in the Anglican Mission, and those with whom we are in Common Cause, for the sake of mission, through our actions, words and prayers.

* We believe that future structures in the New Province will be best discerned and established if they flow from the Word of God, from God-honoring relationships and from actual mission partnerships in the Mission field.

We thank Jesus for the privilege to live, lead and serve His Church at such a time as this. To God be the glory and honor, now and forever.

Faithfully,

The Network Leaders include the following:

The Rev. Dr. M. Keith Andrews
The Rev. Allen Kannapell
The Rev. William Beasley
The Rev. Canon Doc Loomis
The Rev. Mark Booker
The Rev. Peter Matthews
The Rev. Dr. Steven Breedlove
The Rev. Barclay Mayo
*The Rev. Carl Buffington, Jr.
The Rev. Canon Michael Murphy
The Rev. Phil Eberhart
The Rev. Silas Ng
The Rev. Mark Eldredge
The Rev. Dr. Victor Oliver
The Rev. Gabe Garcia
The Rev. Dr. Paul Walter
The Rev. Canon Michael Hesse
*The Honorable David Young
The Rev. Chris Cairns, Emerging Network
*Indicates Network Leaders who were not present for the meeting but have signed the statement.

Others in Attendance Representing Their Networks:
Waldo Garza
The Rev. Canon Allen Hughes
The Rev. Clark Lowenfield
The Rev. Gerry Schnackenberg
The Rev. Dr. Jon Shuler

END