The Anglican Province of America
The Most Rev. Walter Grundorf Presiding Bishop
2008 Synod Summary
by Father Michael L. Ward
Rector, St. Mark's
Anglican Church
Vero Beach, FL
was held in Annapolis, Maryland during the week of June 2. For
those not familiar with what a synod is, it is a time when all the parishes
and missions of a diocese (or province) gather to do the work of
the church. Each parish or mission is represented by its clergy and two
lay-delegates, and it is their responsibility to vote on things pertaining to
the business of the diocese. This year, Frs. Anderson and Ward were the
clergy delegates from St. Mark’s and Dale Ritchie and Joyce Smith were
the lay-delegates.
All in all, it was a very good synod and, as reports show,
our diocese is very healthy and growing. As a matter of fact, not only
are
our own churches growing, but we have also been approached by the
Communion of Christ the Redeemer, an independent Anglican jurisdiction
with four bishops and 21 parishes and missions, and this communion has
entered into a four-year discernment process with plans to ultimately
fold
themselves completely into our diocese. Many of their parishes and
missions
are found scattered around the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia
region, although they also have parishes ranging from Texas to New York.
We look forward to having them with us.
Administratively our diocese is very financially sound, and because
of
that we have been able to increase our outreach efforts into places like
India, Haiti, the Philippines, and parts of Africa. Each of these
mission
efforts not only brings the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people in these
areas,
but they also help to meet much-needed material needs as well, including
medical care, food, and clothing. Through our mission efforts we are
able
to answer the call of Jesus to love our neighbor as ourselves.
One major highlight of every synod is worship. Each day begins with
either
Morning Prayer or Matins-Holy Communion, and ends with Evening
Prayer, and in each of these services the Morning and Evening Canticles
are sung.
We were fortunate again this year to have Fr. Brian Foos and the
choir from St. Andrew’s Academy with us. They not only sang
special service pieces, but also chanted the Psalms in classical
Anglican chant. We should all be thankful for Fr. Foos and his
choir for keeping this otherwise dying tradition alive. Finally,
one more thing that we should be thankful for are the many
blessings that our Lord is continually bestowing on both our
diocese and on the Anglican Province in America itself. As the
Anglican Communion is currently in a state of turmoil and flux,
it is, as many have observed, nice to find a place where people
are of one mind in their mission for our Lord. As one recently
received priest remarked, “I didn’t think this sort of peace existed
in Anglicanism anymore.” That truly is our Lord’s doing,
and for that we can all be thankful.
THE LION
St. Mark’s Anglican Church Newsletter
July/August 2008 Volume II Issue 6