Monthly Archives: August 2012

The Inauguration of the Missionary Diocese of the Trinity

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On Sunday, August 19, 2012, The Most Rev. Dr. Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), and The Most Rev. Robert Duncan, Primate of the Anglican Church in North America, accompanied by three other Nigerian archbishops, The Most Rev. Olu Akinyemi, The Most Rev. Ikechi Nwosu and The Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey and nine other bishops made history at the inauguration a new diocese in North America, The Missionary Diocese of the Trinity. The duly elected and consecrated Bishop of the Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Amos Akinseye Fagbamiye, was also enthroned at the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Resurrection in Indianapolis, IN as the first bishop of the Diocese.

The Missionary Diocese of the Trinity is a mission outreach of the Church of Nigeria and grew out of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The early missionaries brought the Gospel to Africa and the power of the Gospel transformed many lives from works of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ.  Archbishop Okoh declared the power of the Gospel has not expired today.  Therefore, the Church of Nigeria is excited to take part in preaching this same unexpired Gospel to the Western world, calling them to return to their first love.
In his address, Archbishop Okoh expressed the Church of Nigeria’s support for the mission of the ACNA, Archbishop Robert Duncan and all bishops and members of the ACNA.  He congratulated the bishop and members of CANA on the birth of this new diocese and offered a prayer that their courage will not fail and that God will grant them grace to stand strong until the end

Archbishop Okoh encouraged the newly enthroned Bishop Fagbamiye to be vigilant as he fulfills this new calling as Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of the Trinity.  He also reminded the clergy of the diocese to remain faithful and loyal to God in Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and to support the new bishop in the execution of his duties.

As Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Robert Duncan, was introduced attendees rose to welcome him with a standing ovation.  Archbishop Duncan remarked that the celebration was a great expression of love for Christ and the mission on earth.  He thanked the Primate of all Nigeria for this wonderful gift to North America saying, “Usually I have to fly to Nigeria.  Today, I drove to Indianapolis and found myself in Nigeria!”  Concluding his remarks, Archbishop Duncan encouraged the clergy and people of the Missionary Diocese of the Trinity to live for Christ and to preach Him faithfully to the world.

Steve Wood Ordained as First Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

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On Saturday, August 25, bishops, leaders, and members of the Anglican Church in North America rejoiced at St. Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant, SC, as they stood witness to the ordination of the Rev. Steve Wood as bishop of the newly formed Diocese of the Carolinas – a Provincial diocese that oversees parishes and missions in North and South Carolina.

The Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas equips clergy and congregations to fulfill the Great Commandments (Mk.12:29-31) and the Great Commission (Mt.28:19-20) by leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through evangelism, personal discipleship, and the nurturing and planting of congregations.

The Rt. Rev. Steve Wood, rector of St. Andrew’s Church, is also serving as the first bishop for the Diocese of the Carolinas.  Wood has been with St. Andrew’s Church and its congregation as it has grown to a membership of 3,150.  Under the Bishop Wood’s leadership St. Andrew’s also has been successful in church planting, starting two churches in Goose Creek and downtown Charleston, SC.

Bishop Wood recently told The Post and Courier: “As for St. Andrew’s, you know, this is an amazing congregation. They’ve been so generous with the spiritual and temporal treasure that the Lord has given them. Over the years we’ve had the privilege of planting new churches and coming alongside existing churches to help them develop and redevelop their sense of mission and ministry. It’s been a real joy and source of satisfaction for many in our congregation. I expect we’ll continue those same kinds of things except on a larger scale.”

11 bishops and 33 priests were in the procession at last weekend’s ordination service. The Most Rev. Robert Duncan, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America served as the Chief Consecrator and was assisted by The Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali (Diocese of Masindi-Kitara and Archbishop-elect of the Church of Uganda), The Rt. Rev. Roger Ames (Diocese of the Great Lakes), The Rt. Rev. Alphonza Gadsden, Sr. (Diocese of the Southeast, Reformed Episcopal Church) and The Rt. Rev. John Guernsey (Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic). Over 600 people attended the service.

“It was such a great and personal joy to be a part of the consecration of Bishop Steve Wood.  Bishop Steve and I worked very closely together on Assembly 2012 as he very ably served as our Event Chairman. The parish where Bishop Wood has served as rector for the past 12 years, St. Andrew’s Mt. Pleasant, is a fountainhead of anointed ministry and church planting that will serve the new Diocese of the Carolinas well in the years to come,” said The Venerable Canon Dr. Jack Lumanog, Canon for Provincial and Global Mission.

Photo caption: Bishop Steve Wood with Canon Jack Lumanog (left) and Archbishop Robert Duncan (right) of the Anglican Church in North America (Credit: Tyrone Walker/postandcourier.com).

The Presence of the Spirit in the 2nd Annual Hispanic Anglican Church Planting Conference

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With arms swaying, feet dancing and faces beaming with joy, the ministros (lay ministers) of Our Lady of Guadalupe led the participants of the Caminemos Juntos! conference in dance and song in celebration of the work of the Spirit in the life of the church. This rhythmic cumbia song, sung and played several times over the course of the weekend, was to encapsulate the work that God is doing in the Hispanic community in the Anglican Church in North America.

Over 150 Hispanic leaders from the US, Mexico and around the world gathered in Fresno, California for this year’s second annual Caminemos Juntos! gathering entitled: Hispanics and the Future of the Anglican Church.  This gathering, sponsored by Anglican1000 and Greenhouse, was hosted by the St. James Cathedral, the Diocese of San Joaquin and the Our Lady of Guadalupe congregation which meets in the Cathedral. For the first time a Hispanic youth track, held in tandem with the conference, brought together nearly 50 youth from Chicago, San Diego and Fresno addressing issues of identity and of worship for the next generation. Over 50% of youth in the US are Hispanic.

Bishop Eric Menees celebrated the opening Bilingual Eucharist and Archbishop Robert Duncan presented a homily address in which he shared his heart for Anglos, Latinos and peoples from all races and nations to walk together in the work of the kingdom.image

In Friday morning’s plenary, Canon William Beasley and Deacon Anne Beasley presented on “Multiplying Hispanic congregations towards the Anglican1000” following the model of catechists used in the growth of the African church. Canon Beasley stated that there is no other more fertile soil for the multiplication of congregations in North Amreica than Hispanics/Latinos.

Friday evening, Pastor Jim Tolle, of La Iglesia en El Camino in Van Nuys, California (a Foursquare Gospel congregation and the largest Hispanic congregation in the US with over 10,000 members) ushered participants into an impromptu time of prayer in which the presence of the Holy Spirit was tangibly experienced and felt.

Other highlights include: a flamenco dance performed by a youth dance troupe from Our Lady of Guadalupe, worship through music led by an impromptu band with youth from around the country, the presence of TV Azteca (A Spanish language TV station) and the birth and strengthening of relationships with hermanos and hermanas who share the same mission and heart for Hispanic Anglican ministry.

The conference concluded with a closing Eucharist celebrated by Archbishop Hector Zavala from Chile and a homily by Bishop Alberto Morales from the Diocese of Quincy.

Caminemos Juntos! is an initiative of Greenhouse and Anglican1000 whose vision is two-fold: to spark a movement of new Hispanic churches across North America and to unify and strengthen current Hispanic churches. Currently there are approximately forty Hispanic Anglican congregations with new ones springing up all over North America. For more information on this initiative see: http://www.caminemos-juntos.com

¡Ya llego, Ya llego!: La Presencia del Espíritu en la Segunda Conferencia de Hispanos Anglicanos
“Ya llego! Ya llego! El Espiritu Santo ya llego! Lo siento en mi manos lo siento en mis piez, lo siento en mi pecho y en todo mi ser”

Com manos arriba, cuerpos en movimiento y caras llenas de alegria los ministros laicos de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe dirigieron a los participantes de la conferencia ¡Caminemos Juntos!  en baile y canto en celebración del movimiento del Espiritu Santo en la vida de la iglesia. Este canto con ritmo cumbia, cantado y tocado varias veces durante el fin de semana, encapsuló lo que esta haciendo Dios en la comunidad Hispana dentro de la Iglesia Anglicana en Norte America.

Mas de 150 líderes Hispanos de Estados Unidos, Mexico y alredor del mundo se juntaron en Fresno, California para la segunda conferencia annual de ¡Caminemos Juntos! . El tema de esta conferencia fue: El Hispano y el Futuro de la Iglesia Anglicana. Esta junta, patrocinado por Greenhouse y Anglican1000 se llevó a cabo en la Catedral de la Diocesis de San Joaquin donde se reunen las congregaciones de Saint James y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

El Obispo Eric Menees celebro la Eucaristía bilingűe de apertura en la cual el Arzobispo Robert Duncan present una homilia y compartio su deseo de que los anglos, los hispanos y las personas de todas razas y nacionalidades caminen juntos en la obra del reino de Dios.

En la sesión plenaria en la mañana del viernes, el Canon William Beasley y Diacona Anne Beasley de Greenhouse dieron una presentación acerca de como podemos multiplicar Iglesias Hispanas siguiendo el ejemplo de la iglesia Africana hacia la meta de plantar 1000 iglesias, el reto dado por el Arzobispo Duncan. La iglesia Africana crecio por millones usando catequistas o pastores laicos. Canon Beasley dijo que no hay tierra más fertil que los Hispanos en Norte America para la plantación de nuevas Iglesias.

El viernes en la noche, el Pastor Jaime Tolle de La Iglesia en el Camino en Van Nuys, California (una iglesia Cuadrangular que es la iglesia Hispana mas grande en Estados Unidos con mas de 10,000 miembros) invito la presencia del Espiritu Santo en un tiempo inmprontu de oracion en la cual el Espiritu Santo decendio sobre los reunidos y todos sentimos su presencia en todo nuestro ser.

En Estados Unidos mas de 50% de los jovenes son Hispanos. Por primera vez este año se organizo una pista juvenil en combinación con la conferencia que junto a alrededor de 50 jóvenes Hispanos de Chicago, San Diego y Fresno. Se discutieron temas de identidad y de la alabanza para esta nueva generación.

Otras momentos espeicales fueron: un baile flamenco presentado por los jovenes de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, un tiempo de alabanza apasionado dirigido por un grupo juvenil con integrantes de diferentes partes del paiz, la presencia del canal TV Azteca y las nuevas amistades establecidas y fortalecidas con hermanos y hermanas que comparten la misma misión y amor por el pueblo Hispano Anglicano.

La conferencia concluyo con una Eucaristía celebrada por el Arzobispo Hector Zavala de Chile y una homilia por el Obispo Alberto Morales de la Diocesis de Quincy.

¡Caminemos Juntos! es una iniciativa de Greenhouse y Anglican1000 cuyo proposito es de empezar un movimiento de nuevas de Iglesias Hispanas en toda Norte America y de unificar y fortalecer a las Iglesias Hispanas actuals. Actualmente hay aproximadamente cuarenta congregraciones Hispanas Anglicanas en Norte America y nuevas que estan naciendo en cada momento. Para más informacion vease: http://www.caminemos-juntos.com