tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11029712163408455102024-03-14T03:14:46.025-04:00A T L A S[A] nglican think tank for [T] heology [L] iturgy [A] nd [S] piritual formationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-32242437494720330612014-04-08T20:33:00.002-04:002014-04-23T11:06:59.384-04:00Stetson University in Celebration, FL, offers the LifeLong Learning sessions as a way to enlighten students and bond neighbors together. Susan Bubbers is currently teaching a New Testament Survey course. Session one was recorded in two parts, one <a href="http://youtu.be/Jiuw7L6MUW0">http://youtu.be/Jiuw7L6MUW0</a> , and two <a href="http://youtu.be/iExPY-J_gH4">http://youtu.be/iExPY-J_gH4</a>. The first fifteen minutes of the third class was also recorded <a href="http://youtu.be/Xg76r_VcLPw">http://youtu.be/Xg76r_VcLPw</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-73961140244796455022013-03-23T10:38:00.001-04:002013-03-23T10:38:18.887-04:00New Archbishop of Canterbury<a href="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs155/1102375357573/img/767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Welby enthronement" border="0" height="237" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.767" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs155/1102375357573/img/767.jpg" width="158" /></a>When I was first ordained in 1993, George Carey was the Archbishop of Canterbury (1991-2002). Then, Rowan Williams (2002-2012). <br />
Justin Welby was installed, enthroned, as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Follow this link for more pictures and the longer article. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/21/justin-welby-archbishop-of-canterbury-enthroned?utm_source=AAC+Weekly+Update+March+22%2C+2013&utm_campaign=Weekly+Update+March+22%2C+2013&utm_medium=email">http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/21/justin-welby-archbishop-of-canterbury-enthroned?utm_source=AAC+Weekly+Update+March+22%2C+2013&utm_campaign=Weekly+Update+March+22%2C+2013&utm_medium=email</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-9282021535591460872013-02-27T18:06:00.001-05:002013-02-27T18:06:19.682-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIA1mJaSd5w/US6QzoIR_jI/AAAAAAAAAI8/rqGcEfjfb_w/s1600/IMG_2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIA1mJaSd5w/US6QzoIR_jI/AAAAAAAAAI8/rqGcEfjfb_w/s200/IMG_2191.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Radio Broadcast<br />
The ATLAS Center Dean will be the guest speaker on a Christian Talk Radio 1-hour program. Tune in to WPIO 89.3FM (Central FLorida), or listen live-streaming at <a href="http://www.noncomradio.net/">www.noncomradio.net</a> on Tuesday March 5, 2013, from 7:30pm - 8:30pm.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-65697213245836785012013-02-18T13:02:00.000-05:002013-02-19T12:16:25.564-05:00Community Outreach<br />
"Posh Pooch" Festival in Celebration, FL<br />
<br />
The ATLAS Center presented a booth featuring the book "Pet Prayers" and hands-on pet blessings at the recent community event which attracted hundreds of vendors, pet lovers, and dogs. See the link<br />
<a href="http://hurleyburleygirl.wordpress.com/">http://hurleyburleygirl.wordpress.com/</a> written by one of the participants for more of the story and more pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NcnpDHBKao/USJrjdXTspI/AAAAAAAAAIs/NfEnPePkIbo/s1600/Susan%252C_Bosco%252C_and_Sawyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NcnpDHBKao/USJrjdXTspI/AAAAAAAAAIs/NfEnPePkIbo/s320/Susan%252C_Bosco%252C_and_Sawyer.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-16656386183210722382013-02-02T09:30:00.005-05:002013-02-02T09:30:41.235-05:00<span face="Times New Roman" size="3"><strong>Important steps are being taken by the Church of England. </strong></span><br />
<span face="Times New Roman" size="3"></span><br />
<span face="Times New Roman" size="3">These steps will certainly impact not only who is considered a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, but they will also impact the description of what that Communion actually is.</span><br />
<span face="Times New Roman" size="3"></span><br />
<span face="Times New Roman" size="3">Included here is a m</span><span face="Times New Roman" size="3">essage from Canon Phil Ashey, the AAC Update Newsletter Feb. 1, 2013:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs096/1102375357573/img/379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Canon Ashey" border="0" height="200" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.379" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs096/1102375357573/img/379.jpg" width="172" /></a><br />
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,<br />
<br />
When +Justin Welby is enthroned as the new Archbishop of Canterbury on March 21 (Feast of Thomas Cranmer), he will immediately inherit a stunning challenge to his ability to lead the rest of the Anglican Communion. That challenge was summed up in an almost-buried seventh paragraph of the Church of England's House of Bishop's Report of December 20, 2012. In short, paragraph 7 reported that being in a civil partnership is no longer an impediment to becoming a bishop in the Church:<br />
<br />
7. "The House considered an interim report from the group chaired by Sir Joseph Pilling on the Church of England's approach to human sexuality. Pending the conclusion of the group's work next year the House does not intend to issue a further pastoral statement on civil partnerships. It confirmed that the requirements in the 2005 statement concerning the eligibility for ordination of those in civil partnerships whose relationships are consistent with the teaching of the Church of England apply equally in relation to the episcopate." <br />
<br />
Translation: Gay clergy in civil partnerships will be allowed to become bishops if, when questioned, they promise to be sexually abstinent.<br />
<br />
Of course, even gay rights activists conceded that "In practice at least half of the House of Bishops ignore the guidelines and do not ask [clergy in civil partnerships] questions about celibacy," when placing them in congregations. . . Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-64880381194946251572013-01-26T10:46:00.002-05:002013-01-26T10:51:16.041-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqIcIgZyd7o/UQP4mpjQ-0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/nsuggwzjDk0/s1600/20130125_104401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqIcIgZyd7o/UQP4mpjQ-0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/nsuggwzjDk0/s320/20130125_104401.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YfcPRp32ar0/UQP4zrioMiI/AAAAAAAAAIc/dYCWYlkNe5w/s1600/20130125_104335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YfcPRp32ar0/UQP4zrioMiI/AAAAAAAAAIc/dYCWYlkNe5w/s320/20130125_104335.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Stetson University is presenting a World Religion Series, including "Anglicanism - Four Streams Flowing Together" and "A Scriptural View of how One Generation Equips the Next," taught by the Center for Anglican Theology, Liturgy, and Spiritual formation (<a href="http://www.centeratlas.org)./">www.CenterATLAS.org).</a>Here we see on Friday, January 25, Dean Bubbers with Toni Castillo, Director of Stetson University - Celebration Center.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-79168579200606532412012-11-29T11:21:00.000-05:002012-11-29T11:21:42.386-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4dlgfX28Rqs/ULeHEoYqO5I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/uDnnFxs8xfI/s1600/GeorgeCarey2012SBL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4dlgfX28Rqs/ULeHEoYqO5I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/uDnnFxs8xfI/s320/GeorgeCarey2012SBL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4lyML-q2DA/ULeHPlXKlCI/AAAAAAAAAHg/jt_ZjKl9Ulc/s1600/GeorgeCarey2012SBL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4lyML-q2DA/ULeHPlXKlCI/AAAAAAAAAHg/jt_ZjKl9Ulc/s320/GeorgeCarey2012SBL2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Saturday, November 17, 2012, the Dean of the Center for Anglican Theology, the Rev. Dr. Susan Bubbers, talks with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey, at the Society for Biblical Literature Conference. The Conference meets annually, this year in Chicago, with an average attendance of 12,000 biblical scholars. The session pictured here was hosted by the Society for the study of Anglicanism. The Dean is wearing the ATLAS Center logo, now available for order in men's shirts, women's shirts, caps, and tote bags. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QcRVPr5HMdc/ULeLOhgKQaI/AAAAAAAAAH4/4yonDUsmVOc/s1600/GeorgeCarey2012shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QcRVPr5HMdc/ULeLOhgKQaI/AAAAAAAAAH4/4yonDUsmVOc/s320/GeorgeCarey2012shirt.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The day prior, Dean Bubbers had presented a response to a paper at a session hosted by the Institute for Biblical Research. The following day, a group went to the University of Chicago to view ancient artifacts including a papyrus from 4th century Egypt, Greek manuscript, Psalm 33.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTDdp3wno_U/ULeJ8h87L2I/AAAAAAAAAHw/sAXtpbIewIk/s1600/fourthcenturypsalm33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTDdp3wno_U/ULeJ8h87L2I/AAAAAAAAAHw/sAXtpbIewIk/s320/fourthcenturypsalm33.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-55406346937576540062012-08-17T09:45:00.000-04:002013-02-04T16:03:41.371-05:00Fr. William DeArteaga writes about the history of Charismatic ministry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9DZJBJWyNA/UC5Knk75LnI/AAAAAAAAAG8/3gEg7YUEmow/s1600/DeArteaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9DZJBJWyNA/UC5Knk75LnI/AAAAAAAAAG8/3gEg7YUEmow/s1600/DeArteaga.jpg" /></a></div>
Inner healing continues to be a topic of interest in Anglican circles today. Fr. DeArteaga wrote an article back in 1993 about the beginnings of the Order of St. Luke. These encouraging and insightful 15 pages help us recall some of the roots of this important area of ministry. <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/DeArteagaOSLarticle.pdf">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/DeArteagaOSLarticle.pdf</a><br />
He also wrote an informative article entitled, "Agnes Sanford: Apostle of Healing, and First Theologian of the Charismatic Renewal." <br />
<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/DeArteagaSanfordArticle.pdf">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/DeArteagaSanfordArticle.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-61811994639554504372012-05-22T09:34:00.000-04:002012-05-22T09:34:32.253-04:00Bishop Wright's 5 minute video regarding women in ministryBishop NT Wright presents clear and succint comments in this 5 minute YouTube clip. He advocates for the full participation of women in the life of the Church. He explains that this is the biblical view, and to make an argument to limit women's ministry one would have to appeal not to Scripture first, but to another source of authority.<br />
<br />
Briefly, he explains that Junia (Romans 16:7) was a female apostle. 1 Corinthians 11 describes how women are to present themselves as women, and not try to appear as men, when they pray and prophecy in public. And, in John 20 the first person commissioned to preach the gospel was a woman, Mary Magdelene.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaVVXleoAdU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaVVXleoAdU</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-89317484629725047592012-03-07T09:33:00.001-05:002012-03-07T09:37:52.075-05:00Women Ordained from the earliest centuries and into the Middle Ages, and Further ExegesisThe Rev. Canon Susan Skillen has written a concise and informative article outlining two books relevant to women's ordination. It is well worth the few minutes it takes to read it, and it will make you want to delve deeper into the larger studies. <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/SusanSkillenBookReviews.pdf">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/SusanSkillenBookReviews.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-48699860285379943092012-02-01T11:27:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:01:06.413-05:00Formational Prayer Resource by the Rev. V. BaliusThe Rev. Balius is finishing the DMin degree through Ashland Theological Seminary, and this is part of the final project. It is a resource for pastors, for those who offer healing prayers for others, for those who offer spiritual direction to others, and for all who seek to press on in their life in Christ. Its primary focus is how you can deepen your union with God and experience His love and presence more fully. Feel free to use short excerpts with proper citation. To duplicate larger sections or the entire resource, contact the author for permission.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/BaliusFormationResource2011.pdf">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/BaliusFormationResource2011.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-8189797497500689932011-11-09T14:59:00.000-05:002011-11-09T14:59:55.860-05:00The Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand "Women and the Ordained Ministry"Dr. LeMarquand from Trinity School for Ministry delivered versions of this paper at the College of Bishops of the ACNA on 6/11/2010 and at the ACNA - Lutheran Church Missiouri Synod dialog on 10/27/11. We invite your comments and suggestions for ongoing study.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/lemarquand_Women_and_the_Ordained_Ministry.pdf">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/lemarquand_Women_and_the_Ordained_Ministry.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-14927315556759535532011-10-07T12:05:00.001-04:002011-10-23T18:28:52.315-04:00Investiture, Virginia, September 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbBVpgVewjo/To8jOnwLRXI/AAAAAAAAAEY/ONwj78cC4QQ/s1600/Oath2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbBVpgVewjo/To8jOnwLRXI/AAAAAAAAAEY/ONwj78cC4QQ/s320/Oath2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q__RKTIPEH8/To8jRX_AYyI/AAAAAAAAAEc/gIepUEDPFzg/s1600/Oath3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q__RKTIPEH8/To8jRX_AYyI/AAAAAAAAAEc/gIepUEDPFzg/s320/Oath3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-17477650831451453392011-10-07T12:03:00.000-04:002011-10-07T12:03:10.659-04:00ACNA Inaugural Assembly, Texas, June 2009<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X1F08QcGb8s/To8iqEKv1hI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ktprK6XwP1g/s1600/ClergyProcessionatConsecrationService-SUSANBUBBERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X1F08QcGb8s/To8iqEKv1hI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ktprK6XwP1g/s320/ClergyProcessionatConsecrationService-SUSANBUBBERS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-62155344741892275112011-05-03T11:50:00.001-04:002011-05-03T11:57:06.008-04:00Anglicanism means Anointing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2sxnO7QBsk/TcAi7VxxiWI/AAAAAAAAAD4/hmTeUveITAg/s1600/THE+cathedra%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2sxnO7QBsk/TcAi7VxxiWI/AAAAAAAAAD4/hmTeUveITAg/s320/THE+cathedra%2521.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>The Cathedral Seat at Canterbury.<br />
Every Archbishop of Canterbury since the 12th century has been consecrated in this very chair.<br />
It is a symbol of how Christ Himself gave authority to His apostles and continues to do so generation after generation.<br />
Anointing for ministry flows with such delegated authority. Read more about this in the article<br />
Anglicanism means Anointing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/AnglicanismAnointing.pdf">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10238178/AnglicanismAnointing.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1102971216340845510.post-63372330279629586402011-05-01T16:56:00.007-04:002011-10-29T10:42:48.224-04:00Anglicanism means Expansion<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YizCuTtRYSY/Tb24qxnGPDI/AAAAAAAAAD0/5rq6U-BWwfA/s1600/Blue+skies+over+Canterbury.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YizCuTtRYSY/Tb24qxnGPDI/AAAAAAAAAD0/5rq6U-BWwfA/s200/Blue+skies+over+Canterbury.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
Canterbury Cathedral<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grew up in Merritt Island, Florida. I met Jesus in a row-boat on the Banana River near my house. That area is home-base to me. I was at Canterbury Cathedral on March 11, 2011. This is a symbolic home-base for Anglicans, and a symbol of the Communion which unites those who have met Jesus and those who are related to the Anglican church.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, how can I understand the movement of the Spirit which progressed from Canterbury, founded by Augustine in AD 597, to Florida 1400 years later?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This movement of the Spirit is crucial to understanding the heart of Anglicanism. This heart can be expressed by the same word which summarizes the movement of the Spirit in the NT book of Acts. The word is "expansion." An inherent characteristic of Anglicanism is expansion. A church which does not embrace this characteristic is not fully expressing Anglicanism.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anglicanism is "The Church <span style="color: red;">in</span> England" and can be traced back to the 1st century when Roman soldiers and merchants brought Christianity to England. Celtic peoples were converted during that time, and Celtic peoples also migrated to England from Gaul (France) and Galatia (Asia Minor) during the persecutions of the 2nd century. The Christian Church in England was alive and well before Augustine even arrived in 597. A good summary of the early history of Christianity in England can be found at <a href="http://www.localhistories.org/christian.html" title="http://www.localhistories.org/christian.html">http://www.localhistories.org/christian.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For about a thousand years, the Church <span style="color: red;">in</span> England grew and was shaped by a variety of influences, including Rome. Eventually, Celtic roots, political friction, a desire to reform aspects of Catholicism which had gone awry from Scripture, and good ole human willfullness contributed to "the Church <span style="color: red;">of</span> England" being formed during the Reformation era (1500-1600). As an institution, it maintained the biblical teaching that every pastor needs a pastor (ie, bishops), but it rejected extra-biblical elements of Roman Catholicism such as purgatory and transubstantiation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the next 400 years, the Church <span style="color: red;">of</span> England was part of the English movement of colonization around the world. Though once again human interests and politics were mixed with Christian mission (and some aspects of colonization rightfully need re-examination), the reality is that the gospel was spread.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anglicanism expanded around the globe, and today the worldwide Communion comprises dozens of nations. The Church <span style="color: red;">from</span> England has grown up from the roots of the Church <span style="color: red;">in</span> England. My Anglican church in Florida has roots in the Church <span style="color: red;">in</span> England, a church no longer limited to the geography of the British Isles, nor to Celtic and Anglo peoples.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This pattern of expansion was no accident. The heritage of "expanding Christianity" began with the Apostles, especially John in France and Paul in Asia Minor, and has been passed on to Celtic and Roman Christianity <span style="color: red;">in</span> England, and Anglican Christianity <span style="color: red;">from</span> England.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This pattern of expansion is the continuation of what we see in the book of Acts. Notice especially Acts 1:8, and the subsequent outline of the book which shows a <span style="color: purple;">geographic</span> expansion of the gospel from the upper room out to the Gentile regions. Notice also Acts 2:39, and the subsequent events of the book which show a <span style="color: purple;">biographical</span> expansion of the gospel from Jews, to Gentiles, and all people groups. Notice also Acts chapter 2, and 4:39, and the amazing difference of the disciples between the time they ran in fear at the Crucifixion, and the occasions in Acts when they boldly preached Jesus in the face of danger and persecution. Such expansion of maturity and <span style="color: purple;">spiritual depth</span> is only possible through the Spirit. Note finally Acts 1:2 which refers to the 12, Acts 1:15 which refers to the 120, and Acts 13:1 which refers to additional apostles including Paul (as does Rom. 16:7). This is an expansion of those who are equipped and sent out as <span style="color: purple;">ministers</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's a quick way to evaluate our Anglican heart - are we continuing our heritage of expansion in the realms of - <span style="color: purple;">geography, biography, spiritual depth, and ministers</span>?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As Anglicanism in America presses forward, my prayer is that we do not exclude any of these realms of expansion.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you are involved in an Anglican parish now, what is your parish's vision for expansion in each of these realms?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Practially speaking, expansion geographically could mean planting a church in a new town, and it can mean getting involved in reaching an area of the globe still in need of the gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Expansion biographically could mean orienting your parish around the passion of reaching another people-group such as the elderly, or migrant workers, or college students, or unwed pregnant girls, or ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Expansion in terms of spiritual maturing could mean orienting your parish around becoming a retreat center for those who would come for a week or a month of inner healing ministry, spiritual direction, formational prayer, and other forms of discipleship.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Expansion regarding ministers could mean orienting your parish around becoming a Training Site for the next generation of Clergy and Lay Leaders. Instead of investing resources in directions only enjoyed by the local membership, invest resources in ways that would provide quality theological and ministry training to those who will carry the Anglican vision on after you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">These questions apply not only to Anglican parishes as corporate bodies, but also to Anglican individuals. In what ways is God calling you - yourself - to be involved in the expansion of the gospel?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0