Message from Bishop David Anderson  Bishop Anderson Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, During the last several weeks, the American Anglican Council staff and I have read the letters from the Primate of Rwanda, other Rwandan bishops, AMiA Chairman Bishop Chuck Murphy, AMiA members in Washington DC, and other assorted news postings. We have refrained from commenting until more of the story emerged, and even now there is the sense that there is still more to be put on the table. From our perspective this is so very sad, and with personal friends in AMiA, and a long time acquaintanceship with Bishop Murphy and retired Archbishops Kolini and Yong Ping Chung, the pain that so many are feeling is real and has faces that I recognize. At this point it is hard to know what to make of this - well, let's call it what it is, a spiritual mess - and to know exactly how to unring the many bells that have now already been rung. I will note for the record that I am a bishop of CANA/Nigeria and of the ACNA, and that as President of the AAC, my organization is comprised of AMiA and non-AMiA members, and I will further note that at GAFCON, MaryAnne and I chose to ride on the bus that had all AMiA (except us) members on board, because we enjoy their company. When AMiA decided to move from ACNA member status to "mission partner" status, I was disappointed in the distancing that I felt. With all of this said, I first sensed alarm when the letter of the Washington, DC AMiA members was posted publicly, as it gave evidence that all was not well in the Anglican Mission, as it is currently called. Then additional letters, most of which have been posted on Stand Firm in Faith or TitusOneNine websites began to come in, some from Rwanda, and some from Chairman Murphy in response. There has been a communications train wreck unfolding in slow motion. It would seem that Rwanda is not pleased with the new direction that +Chuck Murphy wishes to take the Mission, and in taking it out of Rwanda proper. They told him to stop his action and repent or resign from the AMiA chairmanship.

Some also questioned where a large sum of money ($1,200,000) went that was allegedly sent to Rwanda, but is not accounted for. +Murphy was told to bring his financial people with him and explain to the Rwandan House of Bishops, but when he arrived, he was not permitted to make the presentation that had been requested of him. I can understand how that made +Chuck feel. On the other hand, when +Chuck responded to the Rwandan House of Bishops contrary to their instructions, keeping the AMiA chairmanship butresigning without permission from the House of Bishops itself, and then in a another lettermaking the unfortunate comparison of the AMiA departure from Rwanda to Moses taking the Israelites out of Egypt and thusly comparing the Primate of Rwanda to the Egyptian Pharaoh, things went from bad to worse. When I was consecrated as a member of the House of Bishops of Nigeria, I signed an Oath of Canonical Obedience which placed me under the authority of the Primate and House of Bishops of Nigeria. I cannot resign or retire on my own. The proper approach in most Anglican provinces is to request permission to ask for either retirement or resignation; this is the Anglican Communion way of doing things. It appears that most of us are observers watching a seemingly beautiful relationship come undone, and it is just sad. Some pundits are connecting the dots and surmising one thing, others saying something else. I just want to encourage all involved to "do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God," (Micah 6:8) and we will continue to lift up the situation in prayer. May all of us receive our Lord's blessing and peace as we move to Gaudete Sunday and light the rose-colored third candle of our Advent Wreaths. Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus, +David The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr. President and CEO, American Anglican Council