SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
As a missionary movement, theAM has learned the value of flexibility in leadership. To effectively fulfill our vision for evangelism through church planting, the individual roles of our bishops are still being shaped and clarified. Bishop Todd Hunter, consecrated as a missionary bishop in September 2009, leads Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO), a church planting movement and Mission Network designed to develop leaders committed to planting Kingdom-based Anglican Mission churches located primarily, but not exclusively, on the West Coast of the US. C4SO is guided by a vision for planting 200 churches in 20 years. Since its launch in January 2009, C4SO has focused on identifying and recruiting some 25 church leaders and five area coordinators to work with church planters. Over 12 new works are currently in formation, strategically located in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and C4SO leaders are in early conversations with several other individuals or groups.
“I’m an Anglican bishop and a Kingdom-minded guy,” explains Bishop Hunter. “C4SO provides a great vehicle for drawing others to our work in theAM. Our focus is always missional.”
This mission priority influenced Bishop Todd’s recent decision to assume oversight for the Anglican Coalition in America (ACiA). In 2007, the Anglican Mission expanded its structure at the request of Archbishop Kolini by creating the Anglican Mission in the Americas as an umbrella organization which includes the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), the Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC) now under the leadership of Bishop Silas Ng and the Anglican Coalition in America (ACiA). This structure embraces two countries (the U.S. and Canada) as well as two theological positions on the ordination of women to the presbyterate. Both the ACiC and the ACiA ordain women to the priesthood, as does the Province of Rwanda, while the AMiA maintains its policy of ordaining women only to the diaconate. This structure provides a way to maintain the integrity, and honor the consciences, of those with differing positions and policies on women's ordination, which mirrors the period of reception within Anglican Christianity.
“I am looking for individuals who have the calling, capacity, courage and character to plant and pastor churches,” Bishop Todd explains. “It’s not about ordaining a particular gender or an issue of social justice for me – ordination is not a ‘right’ for anyone. While I recognize and celebrate the differences between genders, I want to raise up human beings gifted and called to Kingdom ministry…I guess you can say I’m an egalitarian of the complementary sort.”
“I am excited about the potential for women to be part of our church planting movement on the west coast and am already seeing fruit of such ministry in C4SO,” he adds. “This is all about facilitating a missional commitment.”
In addition to his episcopal ministry within theAM and leadership of C4SO, Bishop Todd is founding Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, California, which launched in September 2009. Under the auspices of Holy Trinity, Bishop Todd offers consultation and coaching to assist leaders planting news works that may not choose to follow the Canterbury Trail to become Anglican churches. This ministry offers a form of outreach or gift to the broader church, a high value for him. Bishop Todd also continues to speak at national and international events and is the author of several books, including Accidental Anglican scheduled for publication in December 2010.
Bishop Todd captures the essence of serving as a missionary bishop – working to reach the 130 million through church planting and a broad-spectrum ministry within Anglicanism and beyond…all for the sake of others.
Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Hat tip: Fr. Ed Hurd
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