The contrast couldn't be more stark

Most of the posts this week have been about the inaugural assembly of the new province in North America, the ACNA. These posts are consistently upbeat and enthusiastic. The post previous to this one is about pecusa. The contrast between the two churches could hardly be more extreme.

On the one hand we have the Anglican Church in North America, a province for the United States and Canada, that is made up of lay people and clergy who are excited by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On the other hand you have pecusa, an old, graying church that is beset with financial problems, unrecognized (by them) theological problems, and above all, led by persons who for the most part don't believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sure, they would dispute that last statement, but look at their public statements and their record.

The ACNA is youthful, growing, mission-oriented and already endorsed by the primates who represent over half of the Anglican Communion members. Is it 28 of the provinces of the Anglican Communion who have declared themselves either out of communion or in impaired communion with pecusa? It's something like that. At the ACNA Assembly the Metropolitan for the Orthodox in the U.S. stated that ecumenical conversations with pecusa are suspended but that he very much is supportive of ecumenical conversations with the ACNA. So, pecusa is rebuked from within and without the Anglican Communion and the ACNA is already supported by the Orthodox, the second largest portion of Christendom. If it hasn't already happened, I would expect the Roman Catholic Church to also support the ACNA given the support already given by Pope Benedict, who was Cardinal Ratzinger when he encouraged the formation of the Anglican Communion Network.

The contrast couldn't be more stark. The ACNA is the province with a bright future in North America; pecusa and the Anglican Church in Canada will continue to decline.