This summer, the governing bodies of the Anglican Church in North America gathered in Charleston, South Carolina, for the annual Provincial Council meeting. The Provincial Council is the governing body for the ACNA, with the authority to establish the program and budget of the Province, and to adopt canons and constitutional amendments for ratification by the Provincial Assembly. The C4SO delegation included the Rev. Canon Kimberley Pfeiler from the C4SO offices in Plano, Texas; Chinyere Nwabugwu of St. James Anglican in San Jose, California; and Shay Gregory of St. Peter’s Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
Great news for the 2016 report:
- 90% reporting from member dioceses (C4SO was at 100%!)
- The ACNA planted 44 congregations
- The ACNA added 2,063 new members
- 7,194 ASA increase
- 78,679 total ASA (8% are C4SO)
- 900 new baptisms
The Council was an excellent example of our life-giving connection to the province, says Chinyere Nwabugwu, a C4SO delegate. “We are part of something much bigger and we should seek out opportunities to participate in the Provincial Council meetings,” she shares. “It was amazing being in the midst of fellow believers who are serving the Lord in various capacities and who are biblically faithful.”
Please let us know if you are interested in representing C4SO at the 2017 Provincial Assembly.
Three key developments announced at the Assembly:
1. Bishop TJ Johnston becomes Assisting Bishop in C4SO
The College of Bishops welcomed the Rt. Rev. TJ Johnston of St. Peter’s Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to full membership and reinstatement in the ACNA. In addition to his duties at St. Peter’s, Bishop Johnston will be on the Executive Leadership Team, and will provide both practical and strategic support for Bishop Todd.
“With the blessing and welcome of the College I look forward to serving Bishop Todd Hunter and C4SO and to run with freedom the calling that the Holy Spirit has marked out for me,” Johnston says. “I am so grateful and thankful for this opportunity.”
“It was very encouraging,” says Shay Gregorie, one of C4SO’s delegates. “His presence will surely help C4SO maintain a healthy connection to the province and continue to find ways in which the churches of C4SO can serve the province in pioneering ways.”
2. Relaunched benefits programs for clergy and staff
The ACNA has revised and streamlined their benefits offerings for clergy and staff. Robust medical, dental, retirement, disability, and liability are available for ACNA churches. Click here to learn more from the new Benefits site.
3. Matthew 25 Matching Grants
A private donor has agreed to match Matthew 25 Initiative grants up to 1 million dollars! Under the leadership of the Very Rev. Canon David Roseberry, the Matthew 25 Initiative offers matching grants for justice and mercy ministries who support “the least of these.” The Christ-centered ministries being considered for grants include those serving among the homeless, fighting human trafficking, leading community development efforts, bringing healing to the incarcerated, resettling and caring for refugees, building urban farms in urban food deserts, and empowering at risk children and youth.
The new matching grant means a congregation’s contribution is multiplied 4X! If a congregation funds $1,000, Matthew 25 will match with $1,000, and the private donor will match BOTH. So the ministry would receive a total of $4,000. There has never been a time when contributions can go so far. Matthew 25 will begin taking applications for the new matching grants at the end of 2016, so please begin working with your congregations now to be ready to take advantage of this generous gift!