Fear Not, AMiA!

Why this Anglican sees opportunity in the midst of crisis.

The Anglican Mission in America parishes find themselves at a critical juncture. They have the opportunity to make decisions that will affirm the unity of the church and, according to Jesus, offer a stellar witness to an unbelieving world (John 17:20-21). But it’s not surprising that at just such a time, we’re anxious and afraid.

I say “we” because I too am a member of an AMIA parish. I too have been anxiously reading the blogs and news sites. I too have been concerned to do what is right when it feels as if we’re walking at the edge of a cliff and one little misstep will send us into the abyss. That abyss might be parish disunity or the stalling of growth or loss of funding for a special project or maybe even the loss of a beloved bishop who also happens to be a friend. Whatever it is, we may find it hard to be people of hope in this season of hope!

And yet it is not unusual that a season of great portent is also a season of fear: “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear (Luke 2:9). Students of church history recognize that times like these are unparalleled moments. More specifically, we have an opportunity to demonstrate a faithfulness that can shape the future of Anglicanism and be a witness of the gospel.

Some facts in the current crisis remain in dispute, and it will take months or years to sort them out. We need to understand what, in fact, was the relationship between Chuck Murphy and the Rwanda Province over the last few years. We need to see a detailed audit of finances. But for the sake of argument, let’s imagine the worst case scenario. Let’s say that Chuck Murphy refused any accountability from Rwanda, that he lied to us about that accountability, that he misused funds. To be clear, I’m not saying any of this is true; it’s a hypothetical example. But even if it were all true, none of that, in itself, would require us to repudiate his leadership. Bishops sin. What else is new? But a bishop’s sin is not sufficient reason to abandon one’s bishop, although it may be sufficient cause to call him to repentance. In any event, when it comes to speculating about the details of the “Rwanda affair,” I think we are wise to be patient and let the investigations, journalistic and financial, keep moving forward. To read more, click here.