You are here
AMIA CONFERENCE DRAWS INTERNATIONAL PRIMATES
News Analysis
By David W. Virtue
January 14,2004
DESTIN, FL-In what is a sign of the growing influence of the Anglican
Mission in America, four Primates of the Anglican Communion appeared at
the 4th Annual Winter conference here yesterday to add support though
not officially endorsing the mission.
Prior to this, only two Primates, Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda) and Yong
Ping Chung (South East Asia) have recognized the Anglican Mission,
consecrating six AMIA bishops to the American scene over the last four
years.
The appearance of four more Primates, including Bernard Malango,
(Central Africa); Fidele Diropka (Congo), Mtetemala (Tanzania) - his
representative the Rev. Francis Npiruka was present, Benjamin Nwankiti
(Nigeria) as well as the Primate of the Church of South India J. K.
Samuels who met earlier with Bishop Murphy and gave the mission his
endorsement; another African bishop, John Rucyahana, and several ECUSA
bishops, demonstrates the growing influence and public recognition the
AMIA is receiving from a number of Anglican Communion leaders.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has still not recognized the Mission, but
sources tell Virtuosity that he will see their leaders, Bishops Charles
Murphy and John Rodgers later in the year.
When the AMIA first sprang into existence, ECUSA's Presiding Bishop
Frank Griswold, fearful that the AMIA might be recognized in his own
backyard, raced across the Atlantic and implored then Archbishop George
Carey not to recognize them. His trip was successful. Carey condemned
the movement as schismatic and pled with all parties not to break rank
with the Episcopal Church.
The AMIA has more than 50,000 members with some 60 parishes plus
missions, with new parishes coming on board and start-up parishes
opening every few weeks.
END
