Do Not Lose Heart Dear Brother and Sister Anglicans, What I'm writing may be "news" to you but I'm sure it won't be surprising. Yesterday, July 10, the Episcopal Church's General Convention approved an official ceremony, or rite, for same-sex blessings. A few days earlier they voted to allow transgendered people to hold any position in the local church from nursery worker to priest. Unfortunately, other provinces in the Anglican Communion are on the same trajectory as The Episcopal Church. Provinces in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and elsewhere are traveling what seems to be a one-way street from Christendom to apostasy.

However, my reason for writing is not to depress but encourage you. How? By letting you know that you're not by any means alone. The vast majority of the Anglican Communion believes in Christ and his unique saving power and in the authority of Holy Scripture as the word of God. They don't have a lot of money and their beliefs aren't trumpeted in the media. But they, and we, do hold firmly to the historic and true Christian faith. Also be encouraged by knowing that the American Anglican Council has been a steady witness in the Anglican Communion for 16 years and will continue to be. We're developing faithful leaders through our Clergy Leadership Training Institute, equipping the church for mission with our Sure Foundation program, renewing orthodox Anglicanism worldwide by providing strategic counsel to orthodox Archbishops and other leaders, working with the Global Anglican Future Conference, assisting the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and more. In closing I want to point you to 2 Kings 6:15-17. Elisha and his servant were besieged in a city and surrounded. ..."Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.  "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."   And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Please remember this lesson from the life of Elisha: The size and resources of our God, in Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, always outmatch the size of the challenges we face here in North America and the worldwide Communion.  We have more than the majority of Anglicans standing with us.  We have unseen hosts standing with  us, "thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly...," and the Church invisible, the saints who have gone before us. (Hebrews 12:22-24).  I encourage you to pray for the renewal of Anglicanism worldwide and here in North America, for faithful Anglican leaders who will stand for Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible, and for Anglicans everywhere to redouble our efforts to fulfill Christ's Great Commission. And please pray for us as we continue to fight the good fight, in Christ, and for His church! Yours in Christ, The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey Chief Operating & Development Officer American Anglican Council