AAC POISED TO TAKE STAND FOR MAINSTREAM ANGLICANISM AND BIBLICAL ORTHODOXY AT EPISCOPAL CHURCH'S 74TH ANNUAL GENERAL CONVENTION
"We're staying," says AAC President.
The American Anglican Council (AAC), the mainstream Anglican network in the Episcopal Church, today unveiled its comprehensive plans for the Episcopal Church's 74th Annual General Convention. The Convention will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 30-August 8, 2003.
"The AAC will launch an unprecedented mainstream Anglican presence at General Convention designed to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through legislative engagement, special events, worship and prayer, and the media," said the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, AAC President. "We will also work diligently to prevent, on theological and practical grounds, any attempt by General Convention to step out of orthodoxy and affirm homosexual behavior."
In what most are calling a defining moment for the Episcopal Church, General Convention, through its votes on homosexuality issues, will be deciding whether or not the Church will break from the historic Christian faith and thus depart from the fellowship of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Specifically, Convention will vote on whether or not to give its consent to the election of Canon Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual Bishop Coadjutor-elect of New Hampshire. Canon Robinson is the first openly homosexual person to be elected bishop in the Anglican Communion. Convention will also likely vote on a resolution that would authorize the development of liturgies for the so-called "blessing" of same-sex unions.
"There are apparently many in the Episcopal Church who have decided that homosexuality is more important than remaining a part of the vibrant and growing Anglican family," said Canon Anderson. "Sadly they are willing to divide the family over an issue that the vast majority of the Communion has already concluded to be inconsistent with the Biblical faith."
"We will see at Convention if their voices win out," he added. "If they do, the Anglican Communion will see one of its family members leave the fold. As for the AAC, we are committed to remaining very much a part of the Anglican family. We're staying."
The AAC announced that its General Convention operations will be headquartered in the Central Lutheran Church, which it rented for the duration of the event. Central Lutheran is located directly across the street from the Convention Center. Most AAC events will be held in this venue, including the AAC's popular daily Legislative Briefing Lunches. Over the past several Conventions, the AAC's Briefing Lunches have earned the reputation of being the best way to find out what is happening legislatively on any given day. Legislative Briefing Papers, containing information compiled by the AAC's legislative committee monitors, are handed out during the daily luncheons and contain the very latest information on the status of most Convention legislation.
The AAC will also produce a daily newspaper at Convention, entitled "Encompass Daily." The four-page publication will offer daily Convention news, commentary, feature stories, a schedule of events and other items of interest. Douglas LeBlanc of "Christianity Today" will be joining the "Daily Encompass" writing team.
For those who can not make it to Minneapolis, the AAC has launched a special interactive website designed to provide the very latest news and information on Convention, http://www.aplacetostand.org. Up-to-the minute news, daily photographs and prayer requests will be posted on the site. Those who sign up on the website will receive regular Convention email news and prayer alerts from the AAC.
The AAC and its affiliated ministries will hold a series of innovative educational, worship, and prayer events throughout Convention. One of the highlights is a "Concert for the Orphaned Children of the World." The concert, which will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 1st, is jointly sponsored by Compassion International, TOUCH (Treasure One Ugandan Child) and the AAC and will feature contemporary Christian recording artist, Dove Award winner and four-time Grammy nominee Geoff Moore. Convention attendees will be able to purchase discounted tickets.
Throughout General Convention, in fact, the AAC will encourage Episcopalians to sponsor African AIDS orphans through TOUCH. This important ministry provides a way for Episcopalians to make a difference in children's lives and to engage proactively in the fight against the African AIDS epidemic.
"To help make the AAC's plans a reality, we will be bringing a small army of volunteers to Convention," said Canon Anderson. "These individuals are giving up their valuable vacation time and coming to Minneapolis at there own expense to help the AAC take a stand for mainstream Anglicanism and Biblical orthodoxy. We are very blessed by their willingness to serve."
"We now face the moment of truth," he said. "What will happen is anybody's guess. But I urge all Episcopalians, and all Christians, to pray for General Convention. What happens in Minneapolis will affect us all."
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The AAC is a network of individuals, parishes, specialized ministries and Episcopal Bishops who affirm Biblical authority and Anglican orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church. For more information on the AAC, please visit our website at http://www.americananglican.org.
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon.)
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