Dear sisters and brothers,

Marking Lent

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2.

There is no ‘magic’ in marking the traditional milestones of the church’s year. For some in fact, drawing attention to a ‘season’ such as Lent reminds them of a kind of ‘churchianity’ that they would rather forget – a faith based not on the gospel but on religious practices. But could these traditions have some value?

As faithful Anglicans we agree with the Gafcon Jerusalem Declaration that “we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit”, that Jesus is the unique and universal Lord and Saviour, and that the primary aim of mission is to make disciples of all nations. But we also acknowledge the wisdom of our forebears, in establishing patterns of bible-based worship and discipleship for God’s people. These patterns, not essential or central but helpful, include what the Jerusalem Declaration calls the “sacramental and liturgical heritage as an expression of the gospel”, and also the different aspects of the whole counsel of God illustrated by the seasons of the church’s year.

So, Lent isn’t about pancakes, giving up chocolate or  having an ash cross put on your forehead. It’s about conscious looking ahead to the great communal focus on the death and resurrection of Christ at Easter. That might include personal spiritual disciplines different from the norm, or specific initiatives to share the gospel as churches. And at this time the event from the life of Christ that millions of Christians re-learn from every year is the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.

Remembering Jesus’ victory

In the ministry of Jesus, the victories: the public miracles, the authoritative teaching, the sacrificial atoning death and the rising from the grave are achieved in the face of conflict against sin and evil. Where Adam failed, Jesus prevailed. The accounts in the gospels show heaven opening as the Spirit of God comes to rest on the Son and the Father speaks his approval (Matt 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22), but immediately afterwards Jesus is led into the wilderness, into an intense battle with satan (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Jesus stands firm, completely committed to the truth of God’s word and dependent on his help. When Jesus responds to the temptation to worship Satan in order to immediately exercise unlimited human power, he says:

“It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only’”.

As we look at Jesus in the wilderness, we give thanks for his ministry of standing against and defeating Satan for us, on our behalf, a ministry which concluded supremely at Calvary. We’re also awed by his example as a human being, experiencing temptation and suffering so he can identify with us.

Our prayerful dependence

We experience temptations to sin daily, and at the root of all sin is putting ourselves before God and his glory. But as we look around us in the world, we can, with the discernment that the Spirit gives, see the malign activity of Satan in the brutal conflicts, the persecutions of Christians, the failures of the church. Like Jesus, we need to continue to stand firm on the authority of God’s word, to be prayerfully dependent on his Spirit as we face temptation and carry out the ministries God has called us to. 

This “prayerful dependence” is one of the areas which I would like to see prioritised throughout ANiE. In his precious teaching given to the disciples in the upper room before Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus told them that he does nothing by himself, but only “the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:10). Amazingly, Jesus then includes his disciples in this intimate relationship: for those who love him and commit to obeying his word, “you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (14:20). Later he says that it’s by remaining “in him” that we bear fruit, rather than through our own efforts (15:5). 

There is a lot to do: there is a lost world, there are battles to be fought, there are people to be shown the love of Christ, there’s admin to be done. Jesus took time in the wilderness and time alone in the midst of busyness because he was dependent on his union with the Father. We’re not saved by doing this using any special format or at a particular time, but when we have been included in this privileged position of union with Christ, it’s good for us to find practical ways individually, corporately and even liturgically for expressing our dependence on the Lord, so he can work through us for his glory. 

One practical way is to pray together as a Network online. We’re encouraged by the number (40+) who attend our monthly gathering at 9am on the first Friday of the month, and we are looking at adding another option for people who can’t make this day or time. We’d love to see you there!

With every blessing,

+Andy

ANiE round up & Presiding Bishop’s update: 

The ministry continues to grow!

Network wide

There are ongoing discussions in Synods, Standing Committees, task groups and among members “on the ground” about important issues: 

• How we resource and finance our operations as a Network. We do not have any endowment funds or assets; we don’t have major donors underwriting us, and yet by God’s grace we continue to grow, to work together for mission, and to provide a hope and a home for faithful Anglicans everywhere. However, while we continue to trust the Lord for his provision, decisions have to be made which involves further sacrificial giving on the part of all who believe in the vision of this partnership and ministry. I’m especially grateful for the way that Diocesan Treasurers have been supported in their decisions by the Bishops and the elected leadership groups of the Dioceses, showing great unity of purpose.

• How we enable the raising up and training of future leaders. It’s very important that each Diocese retains a form of independence as they select and provide for the equipping of clergy and lay leaders. However, there also needs to be constant cooperation and sharing of ideas and good practice between the Dioceses, and also the development of common standards for what we all expect of our leaders. This relates to agreement on safeguarding, basics of theological understanding and ministry skills, and awareness of why ANiE exists as part of the global ‘Anglican realignment’ with Gafcon, GSFA etc.

• How we communicate who we are as ANiE: We are bible-based, confessional Anglicans, yet not part of the establishment Canterbury structures; with a vision for local church and the global Communion; unified in one body yet diverse in some of our backgrounds and practices. We need to find ways of telling our story and explaining our identity, to our own members and to people on the outside.

Global ministry outside ANiE

Chile

January has included a trip for +Andy to Chile for the consecration of the new bishop of Santiago, the retirement of the former bishop and Primate, and the installation of the new Primate, another old friend, Enrique Lago. “It was a joy to stay with a non-English-speaking Chilean family who were very kind and attentive, to meet with the significant number of international visitors, to preach again in Spanish and to spend time with some good friends. I hope that my background and experience (Mandy and I served with the church in Paraguay in the 1990’s) enables the new Chilean leadership to be better able to play their part in global Anglicanism as part of Gafcon.”

Church of England and Gafcon

+Andy attended the Church of England Evangelical Council's annual residential at the end of January. There is delay (but no repentance) in the C of E bishops going to the next stage in implementing the Prayers of Love and Faith. The delay, whilst giving more planning and preparation time for The Alliance, also runs the risk of more time for the orthodox in the C of E to become complacent by getting used to being in a church with “plural truth”, and developing a plan for a “de facto Province” which is neither Anglican or practical. “It was good to be at CEEC with leaders of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches and Gafcon Global who brought their challenging perspective to those remaining in the C of E. The next target is for Gafcon Primates to receive a proposal from the Alliance as to what kind of help they might want from Gafcon, that does not undermine Gafcon’s full recognition of and support for ANiE as the designated provision of a wholly orthodox jurisdiction for Britain and Europe.”

Why does ongoing relationship with the Church of England matter?

We in ANiE might ask: What has this got to do with us, as we have either left the Church of England or were never part of it? While we may believe, with good reason, that the best option for faithful believers in the C of E is to leave and join ANiE, the fact is that many have not reached that conclusion, and yet they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Also, many of these look to Gafcon for inspiration and encouragement, even if they do not feel ready to come under Gafcon’s oversight in a new jurisdiction. 

Gafcon Great Britain and Europe exists to help foster this relationship that is wider than ANiE. The Gafcon Primates have delegated +Andy as the Presiding Bishop of ANiE to be the main link person between the Gafcon Primates and the orthodox in the C of E who want to have a relationship with Gafcon. Another reason why we should support this is that some currently in the C of E are more likely to think about leaving and joining ANiE if they are in a good relationship with us and with Gafcon. At this sensitive time when fellow Gafcon Anglicans are facing massive decisions, let’s help them feel understood and encouraged rather than judged or ignored. 

Gafcon 25

“At the time of writing I’m preparing to travel again, to Plano Texas for Gafcon 25, a major meeting of bishops and other leaders from around the world to clarify and re-state the vision of re-setting global Anglicanism on biblical foundations. I’ll be accompanied by Bishop Tim Davies, by my chaplain, Andrew Symes (who will be part of the Statement Writing Group), and by Chik Kaw Tan a wise and experienced lay leader. Gafcon Ireland will send a delegation as well (Bishop David McClay of Down and Dromore, Trevor Johnston and David Martin), and there will be a small group from The Alliance.”

In summary, please give thanks and pray:

• For Jesus who has gone before us, defeating Satan, bearing our sin, and being an example in prayerful dependence on the Father.

• For the ministries of our local churches, in pastoral care, evangelism and making disciples.

• For the bishops and other leaders of our three Dioceses, especially AMiE as they choose a Diocesan Bishop.

• For unity of purpose as each Diocese makes its plans for resourcing of the central ministry of ANiE.

• For raising up and training of future leaders – again, unity, as each Diocese works according to its distinctives, mindful of the common witness of the Network.

• For wisdom, compassion and appropriate challenge as Gafcon deals with the faithful remaining in the Church of England.

• For Gafcon 25 and the ongoing ministry of Gafcon.