Greetings and blessings to all in this Eastertide. We passed through the great milestone in our annual pilgrimage in this Christian Calendar Year with the unfolding drama of our Salvation. The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior has occurred, but the great celebration has just begun, and continues throughout this season and our Christian year! As our congregations grow in the Christian faith, we pray that our people will realize that the Sundays after Easter are not a good time to take a break from church.
South India Trip Highlights
Much has happened since my last Epistle, and I will try to do some catch up. The India trip took place as planned February 14-26, 2017. Our Vicar General of Global Partnerships, Canon David Haines, led the way and did the logistics, which were all executed very well. Canon Haines, Dr. Mary Grundorf, representing the Mission Board, and I were joined by our friend and interpreter, Pastor Swamy das. Presiding Bishop Lawrence Jaya Rao made all the local visitation plans to the various village and town churches along with his clergy and lay leadership. In most cases, the village churches are spread over great distances and very rough terrain, and being the dry season, it was extremely hot and dusty. The people are so welcoming and wonderful and their excitement of our being there to bring the Love of Christ by Word and Sacrament generates a deep sense of humility and appreciation in our own hearts as well. Every visit is unique in its own experience. On one late night visit well after dark, we were in a thatched hut church with only a lamp on the floor for lighting. The children as usual presented a program of singing but the quarters were so tight they could not dance. When I got up to speak, I noticed something flying around the interior and then another flying object. We quickly realized we had invaded the home of a family of bats! No one else seemed too disturbed but we foreigners were. The suggestion was made that the tall boys standing in the doorway stoop down to give the bats an exit path, and eventually the bats departed as we continued.
Following five days of visiting village churches, three to four a day, we took a long journey to the Village of Kullar in Mahabnagar District in the new State of Telengana, where the APA school has been built under the administration of Operation Mobilization (OM). The School serves the Dalit children in the area and particularly those children from the Hindu Temple prostitutes. This is a way that OM, with partners such as the APA, are able help interrupt the cycle of poverty and sex trade that is experienced by the Dalit people. All Saints’ Parish, Wilmington, North Carolina, supports an entire class of pre-Kindergarten children at the School with monthly donations. Canon Haines had the privilege of having his picture taken with these precious children. Many of these pictures may be seen at our Synod.
One of the special blessings along the way was getting to know our driver, Bujender, a Dalit and Hindu. He speaks only the Telegue language but through our interpreter, he not only attended but heard all services in his native tongue. He was especially interested in the many baptisms. He watched and listened with great interest. Pastor Swamy das was able to minister to him about Jesus and we all prayed with him. He wanted to see us once more before we departed India, so on his own time, he came to drive us to the airport at 3:00 am. He said that he and his wife wanted to attend Pastor Swamy das’ church with his family and to be baptized. Please pray for Bujender and his family.
Please continue to pray for Bishop Jaya Rao that the Lord will keep him in good health and strength for the work he is doing in Andhra Pradesh and beyond. He hopes to build another school closer to our Cathedral Church in the town of Jammalamadugu. He faces the forces of evil attempting to discourage his work from both the Government and from disloyal clergy who have left him. He is truly a man of God working to build the Kingdom under very difficult circumstances.
2017 Lenten Appeal update
I want to remind all clergy and parish leaders to get your Lenten Fund donations into the APA Treasurer, D.J. Fulton, quickly. We have set a goal for 2017 of $100,000 to finish the plan we have for St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Blacksburg, VA. The momentum of a successful campaign with St. Philips will put the APA in a position to meet the challenge of the next domestic mission church. St. Philip’s has made great strides from August 2015 with Fr. Wade Miller as the Priest in Charge and has overcome some great challenges in the process. I know I can count on each of you.
Fall 2017 Joint Synods—October 2-6, 2017
Registration is Open! We are anticipating this will be an ‘historic event” with the Joint Synods comprising four of the major Continuing Anglican Jurisdictions meeting concurrently that include: Anglican Catholic Church (ACC), Anglican Church in America (ACA), Anglican Province of America (APA), and the Diocese of the Holy Cross (DHC). The Banquet and the Synod Eucharist will be Thursday evening and Friday morning, respectively, with the official signing of the four-way intercommunion document planned for the evening of the Banquet. The Synod Eucharist on Friday will be a joint celebration sealing the commitment with the four Bishops of the Jurisdictions participating together. This has been a much prayed and hoped for achievement by the Grace of God. We are expecting from 500 to 600 people to be in attendance so it is critical that you register and secure your hotel reservations.
Registration for the Provincial Synod will be done solely online. You may go to the APA website at www.anglicanprovince.org under “APA News” tab to find “Registration open for 2017 Joint Synods.” This will take you to basic information and instruction page about delegates. At the bottom introduction page is the Cvents link to the Joint Synod website home page where you can register and also link to the hotel website for reservations. Hotel Reservations must be made by September 1st to secure the group room rate and those that Register for the Synod before September 1st get a discount! I encourage all laity interested to make plans to attend this history-making event. Clergy are required to attend unless excused by your Bishop. (Summons on Joint Synod website.)
Ecclesia Anglicana Editor needed & Parish Vacancy
Fr. David Conway will be retiring from St. James of Jerusalem Church this summer. He has also served as the editor of Ecclesia for several years and will be retiring from this as well. Ecclesia Anglicana, was well received, and included featured stories of various parishes and missions of the APA along with other articles from the editor. Thank you, Fr. Dave, for this wonderful effort and we hope to keep it going! If you have experience in doing this type of work, please let me know. Also, Fr. Conway can give you an idea of what is involved in this ministry.
With Fr. Conway retiring, this means we will have need of a priest to serve St. James of Jerusalem in Sarasota. This will be a part-time position for someone who can work a secular job or who has other income such as a pension. It is a great area of the Florida and will require someone who has a missionary spirit.
The Importance of Parish Registers
I want to draw your attention to an important matter, which affects all our churches. It is a duty of all head clergymen (or Sr. Warden if clergy position is vacant) to satisfy the requirement of Canon 19, Section 3:
Section 3 (a) It shall be the duty of every Minister of this Church to record in the Parish Register all Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, Burials, and the names of all Communicants within his Cure.
(b) The registry of every Baptism shall be signed by the officiating Minister.
(c) Every Minister of this Church shall make out and continue, as far as practicable, a list of all families and adult persons within his Cure, to remain in the Parish for the use of his successor.
Notice the Canon starts with “it shall be the duty….” If you do not keep the register up to date, you are in violation of the Canons. Although a church may have individual member records, a master Parish Register needs to be kept and properly secured (fireproof cabinet is recommended). If you have questions about this requirement, please contact your Dean. To order The Register of Church Membership and Rites, go to: https://episcopalbookstore.com/product.aspx?productid=6045 (larger size) or https://episcopalbookstore.com/product.aspx?productid=6746 (smaller size).
The APA webpage
I hope you have noticed a new look for our webpage and more importantly how the news is getting up on the webpage in a more timely fashion. This is thanks to the efforts of website architect, Peter Zwingert, and Fr. Erich Zwingert, our webmaster. Thank you Peter for all your creative work to develop a new site from the ground up that gives our webmaster the ability to modify items without relying on a third party; and to Fr. Erich who now has the freedom to update and post articles promptly. We know this is one of the best ways to communicate to our own people and the world what we are doing in the APA. In regards to that, clergy please look at your church information on the website Church Locator section to be sure it is up-to-date. If not, at the bottom of the map on the Church Locator, there is an email link to send updates.
Blessings to all,
+Walter
Ad Clerum APA
Ordinations:
DEUS: Mr. Sean McDermott was ordained to the Diaconate on March 25, 2017, at the All Saints Church, in Charlottesville, VA, where he will serve as Deacon. God bless Fr. Sean as he takes this new role in his ministry.
DEUS: Mr. Tyler Phass was ordained to the Diaconate on April 1, 2017, at the St. Alban’s Church, in Joppa, MD, where he is also serve as Deacon. God bless Fr. Tyler as he takes this new role in his ministry.
DEUS: The Rev. Mr. Bartol (Bart) Stone was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on May 6, 2017, at St. Alban’s Cathedral, Oviedo, FL, where he will serve as Assisting Priest. May God bless Fr. Bart as he takes on this new challenge in his ministry.
Assignment Changes/Installation
DEUS: The Rev. Mr. Daniel Rieger was assigned as Curate at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Delray Beach, FL, on March 1, 2017.
DEUS: The Rev. Scott Koszalinski is now Assisting Priest at Holy Cross, Knoxville, TN.
DEUS: The Rev. Mark Menees was installed as Rector of St. John’s Church, Greensboro, NC, on April 30, 2017.
Receptions
DOW: The Rev. Donald Richmond, DD, CATC, CBCIII, has transferred from the Diocese of the West, Reformed Episcopal Church and received into the Diocese of the West, APA.
Correction: The Rev. James Johnson was listed as transferring from the Anglican Catholic Church to the APA/DEUS in the last Epistle. Fr. Johnson actually transferred from the Anglican Church in America. Our apologies for the clerical error.
Vacancies
- St. James of Jerusalem, Sarasota, FL.
- St. Peter’s Mission, Kingsport, TN.
- St. Thomas Church, Alto, GA.
- All Saints Church, Prescott, AZ.
Prayer List
Of your charity, keep in your prayers:
Bishop Shaver, Deacon Thad Osborne, Postulant Walter (Jay) Gould, Fr. Conway, a Grundorf son, Timothy; Fr. Peeples; Fr. Dick Miller, Fr. Carter; Fr. Poole’s wife, Denice; Bishop Hanlan’s wife, Joan; Fr. Blyth, Fr. Keithly Warner, Fr. Bakley; Retired APA Treasurer, Bill Jourdan and wife, Doris, Fr. Daughtry; Bp Dorman; Fr. Gardner.
Presiding Bishop’s Itinerary
Apr. 1-2: Episcopal visit, All Saints Parish, Wilmington, NC.
Apr. 3: Archbishops Conference Call, Oviedo, FL.
Apr. 9-16: Holy week at St. Alban’s Cathedral, Oviedo, FL.
Apr. 25: DEUS Standing Committee Conference Call, Oviedo, FL.
Apr. 30: Installation for Fr. Mark Menees as Rector, St. John’s Church, Greensboro, NC.
May 2: Archbishops Conference Call, Oviedo, FL.
May 6: Ordination of Rev. Mr. Bartol Stone to the Sacred Order of Priesthood, St. Alban’s Cathedral, Oviedo, FL.
May 12-15: Episcopal visit, St. Philips, Blacksburg, VA.
May 15: Interview with potential clergy transfer, Atlanta, GA.
May 16: Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA) Meeting, Saint Barnabas Church, Dunwoody, GA.
May 21-22: Confirmations, St. Matthew’s Church, Weaverville, NC.
Jun. 6: Archbishops Conference Call, Oviedo, FL.
DEUS Suffragan Bishop Jones Itinerary
March 24-26: Ordination of Sean McDermott to the Sacred Order of Deacons and Episcopal Visitation with Confirmations, All Saints’ Church, Charlottesville, VA.
March 31-April 2: Ordination of Tyler Phass to the Sacred Order of Deacons and Episcopal Visitation, Saint Alban’s Church, Joppa, MD.
May 16: Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA) Meeting, Saint Barnabas Church, Dunwoody, GA.
May 22-24: Society of the Holy Cross (SSC) Chapter Meeting, Vero Beach, FL.
June 3-4: Episcopal Visitation, Saint Paul’s Church, Crownsville, MD.
June 11: Episcopal Visitation with Confirmations, Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Matthews, NC.
June 11-16: Anglican Legacy Camp, Surry County, NC.
DEUS Suffragan Bishop Perkins Itinerary
April 11 South East Florida Traditional Anglican Clericus, Boca Raton, FL
May 6: Attend Bartol Stone Ordination, St. Alban’s Cathedral, Oviedo, FL.
May 9: South East Florida Traditional Anglican Clericus, Boca Raton, FL.
June 13: South East Florida Traditional Anglican Clericus, Boca Raton, FL.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
April Birthdays
03 The Rev. Mr. Arthur Walker
05 The Rt. Rev. G. Raymond Hanlan
06 The Very Rev. David Haines
07 The Rev. Gary Fisher
14 The Very Rev. Richard Bakley
20 The Rt. Rev. Chandler Jones, SSC
20 The Rev. Mark Siegel
25 The Rev. George Harding
April Anniversaries
05 The Rev. Richard Baskwill, Priesthood
07 The Rev. Dr. Robert Peeples, Diaconate
09 Dss Lynda Gerlach, Setting Aside
10 The Rev. Ronald Massey, Priesthood
12 The Rev. Guerrier Mews, Priesthood
14 The Rev. Michael Bolt, Diaconate
19 The Rev. Stephen Sommerrock, Diaconate
22 The Very Rev. J. Gordon Anderson, Priesthood
25 The Rev. Canon Edward Warner, Diaconate
26 The Rev. Vincent Varnas, Priesthood
28 The Rev. David Eastes, Priesthood
29 The Rev. Louis Johnson, EdD, Diaconate
May Birthdays
01 The Rev. Wade Miller
03 The Dss. Deborah Kidd
05 The Rev. Charles Scott
06 The Rev. Daniel Squires
14 The Rev. Canon Robert Hawkins, V.G.
23 The Rev. David Bottoms
27 The Rev. Mr. Christopher Smith
29 The Very Rev. Gordon Anderson
May Anniversaries
02 The Rev. George Ates, Priesthood
05 The Rev. Irving Cook, Diaconate
05 The Very Rev. John Longcamp, Priesthood
14 The Rev. Tracy Smith, SSA, Diaconate
16 The Rev. Mark Menees, Priesthood
16 The Rev. Michael Ward, SSA, Diaconate
16 The Very Rev. Ralph Waterhouse, Diaconate
20 The Rev. John Gibson, Diaconate
21 The Rev. Charles Scott, Diaconate
21 The Rev. Charles Scott, Priesthood
23 The Rev. Wade Miller, Priesthood
24 The Rev. David Bottoms, Diaconate
24 The Rev. Howard Underwood, Diaconate
25 The Rev. Paul Gerlock, Priesthood
26 The Rev. Matthew Harlow, Priesthood
27 The Rev. Canon Larry Emerson, Diaconate
28 The Rev. John DiBiasi, Priesthood
29 The Rev. C. William Carter, Diaconate
29 The Rt. Rev. Clark Dorman, Diaconate
June Birthdays
02 The Rev. Robert Burgreen
14 The Rev. Howard Underwood
16 The Rev. Michael Northup
16 The Rev. Mr. Christopher Perez
18 The Rev. Mr. Bartol Stone
19 Dss. Lynda Gerlach
19 The Rev. Mr. Lawrence Stogner, III
27 The Rev. David Eastes
28 The Rev. Dr. John Longcamp
28 The Rev. Dennis Washburn, PhD
30 The Rev. Randall Russell
June Anniversaries
03 The Rev. Franklin Endres, Diaconate
04 The Rev. Frank O’Donnell, Diaconate
06 The Rev. David Keller, Priesthood
08 The Rt. Rev. Chandler Jones, SSC, Diaconate
10 The Rev. Richard Bakley, Diaconate
10 The Rt. Rev. Robert Giffin, Diaconate
10 The Rev. Robert Kirk, Diaconate
10 The Rt. Rev. William Perkins, Jr, CBS,SM, Diaconate
10 The Ven. Erich Zwingert, SSC, Diaconate
11 The Rt. Rev. Robert Giffin, Priesthood
11 The Rev. Michael Smith, Diaconate
12 The Rev. Michael Bowhay, Diaconate
13 The Rev. Dennis Washburn, PhD, Diaconate
14 The Rev. William Martin, SSC, Priesthood
18 The Rev. Don Edlemann, Diaconate
18 The Rev. Randall Russell, Priesthood
21 The Rev. Robert Burgreen, Priesthood
23 The Rev. Franklin Endres, Priesthood
23 The Rev. Ronald Massey, Diaconate
26 The Rev. Canon James Daughtry, Diaconate
28 The Rev. John Klein, Diaconate
Please contact the APA Office at 1-800-480-1087 or at apadeus@cfl.rr.com if any of dates are in error or a date has been omitted.