Presiding Bishop's Thanksgiving Day Message
The Very Reverend Brian Marsh
Read the message here.
Eighth General Synod of the ACA
Visit the Diocese of the Northeast web page by clicking here for a full report on the synod, including pictures and audio.
APA Approves ACA Inter-communion Offer
National Office of Communications - 14 July 2011
The Provincial Synod of the Anglican Province of America (APA) has unanimously passed a resolution embracing an inter-communion agreement with the Anglican Church in America (ACA). The General Synod of the Anglican Church in America will vote on this resolution at its meeting in September. The agreement has already been approved by each of the four domestic ACA dioceses.
In part, the resolution stated “That this preliminary document will serve as a catalyst for the eventual reconciliation of our two jurisdictions, that it will encourage other continuing jurisdictions to seek greater unity and that it will bring to fruition the unity of purpose that God clearly intends for his people.” Each church body will recognize the catholicity and independence of each other, will welcome members of each other’s bodies to receive the Sacraments, and will recognize the validity of each others’ holy orders. The resolution also states that both church bodies will work toward a closer bond between the two jurisdictions. The resolution clearly stated that “possessing a common heritage and in recognition of our spiritual kinship, we acknowledge that we are members of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.”
The Anglican Church in America along with the Anglican Province of America of America are two of the largest traditional Anglican Church bodies in the United States. Both seek to uphold the Catholic Faith, Apostolic Order, Orthodox Worship and Evangelical Witness of the Anglican tradition within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. The Communion holds Holy Scripture and the ancient Creeds of the Undivided Church as authentic and authoritative, and worships according to the traditional formularies of the Church. The Eastern and Western Churches split in 1059 and the Anglican Church, which existed in the British Isles since the first century, joined with Rome in 664 and later separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th Century.
In a statement issued by the President of the House of Bishops, the Rt. Rev. Brian Marsh said "The APA action reaffirmed what we have known in both bodies for a number of years, that in Christ and in each other, we are one Church, one body. I applaud Bishop Grundoff and the Synod of the APA for their actions to to which I am sure we will respond in kind in September."
The Rt. Rev. Brian R. Marsh Newly Elected Presiding Bishop
The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America, meeting at the Redemptorist Renewal Center at Tucson, Arizona, issues the following unanimous statement:
Archbishop Louis W. Falk has completed his term as
President of the House of Bishops. He had promised to serve as President
for a single two-year term at the last General Synod of the ACA. The
House of Bishops received his resignation with gratitude and deep
appreciation for his years of service to the Church.
The Right Reverend Brian R. Marsh was
elected Acting President of the House of Bishops. The Right
Reverend George D. Langberg was re-elected Vice President. Both
were elected unanimously.
All ACA bishops have agreed to support each other as
they proceed with their respective courses of action. Those bishops
committed to the Ordinariate have, in the interests of collegiality,
voluntarily agreed to forego their voting rights on matters that will
not affect them.
All current members of the House of Bishops remain in
good standing within the House of Bishops and the Anglican Church in
America, until some members are received and incardinated into the
Personal Ordinariate.
We offer our pledge to assist and to pray
for each other during this time of transition.
(signed) The House of Bishops of the Anglican
Church in America.
Tuesday of Easter Week. April 26, 2011.
Episcopal Visitor Appointed to Serve Parishes in DEUS
9 March 2011
The Rt. Rev. Brian R. Marsh has been appointed Episcopal Visitor to the Diocese of the Eastern United States. This appointment was requested by the Standing Committee of the diocese because of the recent resignation of The Rt. Rev. Louis Campese, longtime Bishop Ordinary of the DEUS. The request was affirmed by the ACA House of Bishops. Bishop Marsh will assist the DEUS by providing episcopal oversight to the many parishes and missions in the southeastern area of the country. He will preside at the upcoming synod of the Diocese of the Eastern United States which will open on March 30.
ACA Prepares for Twentieth Anniversary
15 February 2011
In September of this year, at its next General Synod, the Anglican Church in America will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its establishment.
As this anniversary approaches, some leadership changes are taking place in the ACA. In a recent teleconference, Archbishop Louis Falk, our original Primate, announced his intention to retire as President of the House of Bishops, and a new president will be elected by that body at its April meeting in Tucson.
In addition, Bishop Louis Campese has stepped down as Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Eastern United States and is leading former DEUS parishes/missions and clergy into the Anglican Ordinariate announced by Rome. A new bishop will be elected to serve the DEUS at some point in the near future, and in the interim, episcopal oversight is being provided by the bishops of the other ACA dioceses.
The entire Anglican Church in America extends its heartfelt thanks to both Archbishop Falk and Bishop Campese. These two leaders have given much time and effort to the building of God's church, providing leadership to their Continuing Anglican jurisdictions for many years.
The ACA will continue as presently constituted, with most of its parishes and missions remaining within their existing Dioceses, but the time between now and our October anniversary will be a busy one for all, as clergy and parishes focus on planning for the future of the ACA, while others, with equal enthusiasm, prepare to be received into the Anglican Ordinariate being established by Rome. Each of these groups is both excited and concerned about what the future holds. The challenge before us in the months ahead is to harness the energies produced by the creative tension between these two directions and use it for the benefit of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, of which we are all a part, and to do so in the spirit of Christian love.
Last update Wednesday 21 December 2011 at 1024 PST