Divided Anglicans See Hope for Transformation

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, March 23, 2008

As bleak as the situation may look for Anglicans divided over Scripture and traditional Anglicanism, a breakaway bishop says it's not the end of the story, particularly as they celebrate Easter.

The Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, missionary bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), is leading a growing group of congregations that have split from and are discontent with The Episcopal Church's liberal direction. Some of those congregations from northern Virginia are currently entangled in a court battle with the national body over church property.

"As a Christian, I approach these [difficult] situations realizing that ... they are not the end of the story," Minns said days ahead of Easter Sunday.

During times when it seems like there's no hope, Minns said he sees opportunity for transformation.

"There's a God that I serve, there's a God who's able to take even the very worst circumstances and produce new life, new hope and new possibilities," he said.

In his Easter message released this past week, Minns compared the situation he and other conservative Anglicans are facing with the disciples when Jesus Christ died on the cross and was buried.

"For those first disciples it seemed as if their world had come to an end in the days leading up to that first Easter Sunday," Minns stated in his message. "But that wasn't the end of the story. The stone was rolled away and their nightmare came to an end. Jesus was gloriously raised from the dead.

"He didn't simply survive it, he overcame it."

For the divided Anglicans, Minns indicated that they will overcome and experience transformation.

Rather than using the language of "schism" as many have reported about the current situation among Anglicans, Minns believes the Anglican Communion is reforming and realigning relationships rather than experiencing clean breaks.

The Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of Anglicanism, widened rifts in the global communion when it consecrated openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson in 2003.

Minns' message comes as Anglican leaders worldwide prepare for the decennial Lambeth conference which opens in July at the University of Kent in England. Minns and Robinson, the two bishops believed to be at the heart of the conflict in The Episcopal Church, were not invited to attend as full participants at Lambeth.

Minns will, however, be attending a separate conference, which is seen as an alternative to Lambeth, with conservative Anglicans in June. At the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), attendants will aim to develop a "renewed understanding" of their identity as Anglican Christians and to "prepare for an Anglican future in which the Gospel is uncompromised and Christ-centered mission [is] a top priority."

Giving advice to those attending Lambeth, Minns said they should stay true to what they believe and ask tough questions.

CANA is the missionary arm of the Anglican Church of Nigeria and serves as a spiritual home for Anglicans in the United States who feel they can no longer be faithful Anglicans in The Episcopal Church.