Anglican 1000 Begins in Plano, Texas
March 6, 2012 Cheryl M. Wetzel reporting from Plano, TX
Anglican 1000 opened today with just under 400 people in attendance at Christ Church, Plano Texas. Noonday Prayer, led by the Most Rev. Bob Duncan, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) began the afternoon. Fifty percent of those in attendance have not been to a Church Planting Summit before; and 50% have.
Addressing the assembled, Archbishop Duncan said, “We have changed the subject in the discussions about Anglicanism in North America. We are reaching North America with the Good News of Jesus Christ by planting 1000 new churches. This is an extraordinary gathering of extraordinary people. We learned in January 2012 that we had achieved the 200 mark of new churches. As of today, there are a record number of 2011 with 35 more on the boards, but not yet official. With this news, I bid you peace and the grace of the Lord during these three days together.”
As we moved into prayer and praise, the rich tones of many male voices echoed through the hall. This is a broad gathering of young and older, some gray, but not dominant. More men than women. Black and white and Asian. A smattering of purple shirts as the CANA (Convocation of Anglicans in North America) and ACNA bishops arrived.
I have known many of these people for most of my adult life. There are very familiar faces here – and many new ones. This is going to be an exciting time of seeing old friends and hearing about their new lives as they left TEC and joined other jurisdictions. Most have had experiences that I have not had. I have lost contact with many as our paths diverged. As the workshops and “reports from the field” proceed, I will keep you informed.
May the Lord bless and encourage all of us in our work and choices of parishes and jurisdictions in the world of Anglicanism in North America. Cheryl M. Wetzel
Anglican 1000 opened today with just under 400 people in attendance at Christ Church, Plano Texas. Noonday Prayer, led by the Most Rev. Bob Duncan, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) began the afternoon. Fifty percent of those in attendance have not been to a Church Planting Summit before; and 50% have.
Addressing the assembled, Archbishop Duncan said, “We have changed the subject in the discussions about Anglicanism in North America. We are reaching North America with the Good News of Jesus Christ by planting 1000 new churches. This is an extraordinary gathering of extraordinary people. We learned in January 2012 that we had achieved the 200 mark of new churches. As of today, there are a record number of 2011 with 35 more on the boards, but not yet official. With this news, I bid you peace and the grace of the Lord during these three days together.”
As we moved into prayer and praise, the rich tones of many male voices echoed through the hall. This is a broad gathering of young and older, some gray, but not dominant. More men than women. Black and white and Asian. A smattering of purple shirts as the CANA (Convocation of Anglicans in North America) and ACNA bishops arrived.
I have known many of these people for most of my adult life. There are very familiar faces here – and many new ones. This is going to be an exciting time of seeing old friends and hearing about their new lives as they left TEC and joined other jurisdictions. Most have had experiences that I have not had. I have lost contact with many as our paths diverged. As the workshops and “reports from the field” proceed, I will keep you informed.
May the Lord bless and encourage all of us in our work and choices of parishes and jurisdictions in the world of Anglicanism in North America. Cheryl M. Wetzel
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