Our Job is Not to Look Back
by Robert Lundy, AAC
Communications
The Anglican Church in North America's newest bishop has
ambitious and
challenging goals ahead of him. The Rt. Rev. Mark Zimmerman is
the first
bishop for the Anglican Diocese of the Southwest and began his
Albuquerque-
based ministry in February of this year. The bishop immediately
faces the
challenge of growing and expanding the ministry of the 14 small
congregations
that make up the new diocese. Zimmerman is simultaneously
learning Spanish
as his goals include reaching out to the large Hispanic
populations in the area
which includes Northern Mexico.
Bishop Zimmerman told the
American Anglican Council he welcomed the challenge and was prepared for it
by his years of service in smaller Episcopal and Anglican congregations. Specifically,
the challenge of leading a congregation out of The Episcopal Church and into
temporary buildings while at the same time positively responding to new
ministry opportunities was formative and helpful to the 57-year-old new
bishop. St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Somerset, Pennsylvania
was a special place for Bishop Mark. By 2008, he had spent nine years leading
the parish and taking it from a small, 30-member congregation to nearly 100
on a Sunday. He also led the church to be free of debt for the first time in
its history.
Nevertheless, un-biblical teaching, practices and leadership
in the national church compelled him to make a decision of conscience.
Zimmerman says he first announced his decision in front of the entire parish.
"I simply got in front of the pulpit on a Sunday and told the
congregation that I had to make a personal decision to leave The Episcopal
Church. I told them I would be preaching the next Sunday at the local mall in
what used to be a men's clothing store and gave them the address." A
week later, Father Zimmerman and 80 percent of the members of St.
Francis-in-the Fields Episcopal Church met for worship at the local mall,
effectively leaving their building and past behind them...Read more.
|
News and opinion about the Anglican Church in North America and worldwide with items of interest about Christian faith and practice.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment