Annual CANA Council opens

from BabyBlueOnline by BabyBlue

LIVE from the Annual Council for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). We're back in Herndon, Virginia this year at Church of the Epiphany for the gathering of churches that are affiliated with CANA, now enjoying dual citizenship in both the Anglican Church in North American (ACNA) and the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. The new primate of all Nigeria - the largest province in the Anglican Communion -Nicholas Okoh is here and Archbishop Bob Duncan of the ACNA will also be here.

Among the resolutions that will be up before council include two creating new dioceses coming from CANA and into the ACNA, the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes and the Anglican Diocese of the South. Work is now underway for the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) to join the ACNA as a diocese as well - the ADV meets in Synod later in the fall.

Another resolution gives thanks for "Anglican 1000," a vision to plan 1,000 new Anglican Churches across North America in the next five years and gives thanks to God for the vision and leadership of Archbishop Bob Duncan and Canon David Roseberry, who chairs the 1000 Steering Committee. "This Council expresses its full support for the ministry of Anglican 1000 and encourages the congregations and clergy under CANA's jurisdiction to pray and plan for their own participation in this exciting work of God," the resolution reads.

The Council will hear reports on both the the Anglican Church in North America as well as the Church of Nigeria. Later this afternoon, Bishop Martyn Minns will be giving a talk on "Dual Citizenship in the ACNA and Church of Nigeria: As a congregation or cleric in the jurisdiction of CANA, you have two passports for the ACNA and the Church of Nigeria."

In addition there are workshops on "What Christianity Becomes a Mile Wide and an Inch Deep," "Key Legal & HR Policies for Congregations 101," "ESL and Cross-cultural Evangelism 101," "80% of Christian Teens Become Unchurched," "Dr. Seuss' Lessons About Life and Unemployment," and "Anglican Action."

And that's just for Thursday. More workshops are offered tomorrow!

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Blogging live from the session on Dual Citizenship. Bishop Minns and the Primate of All Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, are making the presentations. The Bible does not know about the "Lone Ranger Christian" which is more of a mark of our post-modern world, Bishop Minns tells the CANA delegates and clergy assembled.

Among those here in the room are the deans of both Trinity School for Ministry and Nashotah House who are listening intently as well.

Bishop Minns is now giving a short history on how CANA was founded. Nigeria is not interested in setting up a beachhead in the North America but to provide a covering for orthodox Anglicans in this country. The challenge was for Anglicans not to fragment but remain together and over time. Reluctantly the Church of Nigeria recognized that a new province should be established and was the first province to recognize the ACNA.

The ACNA is not officially recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the ACC, it is recognized by nearly half of the provinces in the Anglican Communion.

Is it possible for people to be fully engaged in the United STates and yet maintain a canonical connection to the Church of Nigeria during this transition? Yes, it is possible to keep that dual citizenship, Bishop Minns said. He gives as his illustration that he carries two passports - the passport of the country of his birth, England, and several years ago he became an American citizen and carries an American passport. Bishop Minns is in both the House of Bishops of Nigeria and the College of Bishops in the ACNA.

While some Nigerian-born clergy in CANA want to retain dual citizenship, the dioceses that are being established in the ACNA will have citizenship in the ACNA. The individual churches in those dioceses can, if they wish, retain their membership in CANA if they wish. Once there is recognition of the ACNA, the Church of Nigeria will look again at CANA's dual citizenship.

"Walk patiently, eventually we will arrive," says Archbishop Okoh regarding recognition of the ACNA by the Archbishop of Canterbury.