FLORIDA: Alliance Forms New Anglican Diocese in the Southeast

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
3/8/2009

In an unprecedented move, a new Anglican diocese has formed outside of The Episcopal Church, but inside its jurisdiction. This is not a breakaway from the 100 Episcopal dioceses that make up TEC.

A meeting of seventy-three Anglican clergy and wardens in Jacksonville agreed to press ahead and form a new orthodox Anglican diocese. Also present were representatives of non-Alliance congregations interested in joining the Alliance.

The Vicar General, The Rev. Neil Lebhar proposed "The Anglican Diocese in the Southeast" during the discernment process. A Steering Committee was set up for the diocesan formation. A Working Group, headed by The Rev. Jim Hobby and The Rev. Eric Dudley, was formed to discern the issues that need to be addressed during the formation period.

Harris Willman, Anglican Alliance administrator, said the clergy and wardens from the twenty-one churches that constitute the Anglican Alliance met and agreed to form the diocese and ally themselves with the new Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) for the next six months, doing the detail work of developing mission and mission priorities and procedures as well as governance structures.

"We wrestled with whether we were to become a diocese now or to enter first into the diocese in formation process. After hearing many leaders voice their opinions and concerns, with God's help, we were able to find a plan that all could support.

"It is now our intent to move forward as a Diocese in Formation in the Anglican Church in America for the next six months, doing the detail work of developing our mission and mission priorities and procedures as well as our governance structures."

By September 1st, the diocese will apply for full diocesan status and nominate at least two priests for the position of bishop. "We also plan to have a duly constituted representative body in place by then. A permanent name for the diocese may be chosen at that time," said Willman.

During this formation period, The Rev. Neil Lebhar has been nominated to serve as Vicar General and to represent the diocese at the Provincial Assembly in June in Ft. Worth. The Rev. Shari Hobby and Mr. Rick Groves were selected by lot to represent them as well.

"It is our desire to avoid duplicating the old structure and many of the procedural limitations of our previous denomination (The Episcopal Church). As much as possible we hope to find ways to serve Christ together similar to those described in the book of Acts. At the same time, our confidence lies not in our creating the perfect system, but rather in the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church. We will also seek to define and describe the role of future episcopal leadership, emulating early church principles."

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