Turner said she and her fellow orthodox believers were in the final stages of completing the affiliation procedure with Andrew Pearson, the AAC national coordinator.

A statewide conference on April 24th drew more than 125 people from 21 of the 63 parishes in the diocese. “We were overjoyed when this number of people showed up. It shows we have more strength than we thought, and we want to show the revisionist priests in our diocese that we are a voice to be reckoned with. We will no longer be silent.”

Turner said that Rhode Island Bishop Geralyn Wolf has treated her and the arrival of the AAC well, and has said she wants to be a model of how the AAC can work together with the diocese.

Turner said the recent conference had a two fold purpose, said Turner. “The first was to inform people of what has been happening both in ECUSA and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and secondly to invite them to join with us in standing up for the Gospel. The theme for our meeting was based on Rom 1:16a

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ…”

Turner said CERI will offer a monthly teaching series called The Institute of Anglican Studies where people can come and hear rotating speakers teach on Biblical topics grounded in orthodox Anglican understanding. The first teaching was held at the Church of Sts. Andrew and Phillip in Coventry, RI where Fr. Mark Galloway taught on Justification by Faith.

“What we are most excited about is the concept of Home Ministry Groups. We have developed a training course to teach lay men and women how to lead these groups with Bible Study, Spiritual Direction, and Lay Counseling. They will be members of an orthodox parish, thus giving the rector the right to visit no matter the physical location or Diocesan boundary.”

“This will allow us to spread the ministry of the church into places where people live, establish an orthodox presence throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Eventually it will replace the traditional parish model with a “Parish Without Walls”. This plan allows us to live out our calling as Christians based on sound Church Growth Principles, while strengthening the orthodox presence wherever there are parishioners of that Church.”

Turner said the Ministry Group leaders would be under the oversight of their rector, herself and Ken Burrill, President of AAC Massachusetts. “Together they will train and
coordinate the formation of these groups. Once they are established, we will post them on every AAC related website so that people who are searching for a new model of ministry can find a group to be a part of, learn and fellowship with them, and live lives of accountability and holiness.”

Turner said that a third phase of the plan is still being worked on and involves the recognition of a Lay order called The Lesser Franciscans.

Turner said she had received support from an orthodox ECUSA Bishop who will either consent to be our protector or will help us to find one who can. “We are waiting for his response,” she told Virtuosity.

The Lesser Franciscans have a simple purpose. “We want to study the life and teachings of St. Francis, live a common rule of life, and fulfill our mission statement. We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”

“It seems a desperately needed mission for our church today. The Lesser Franciscans will be affiliated with the AAC as soon as all the legal aspects have been finalized. All the Home Ministry Group leaders have been asked to join. The combination of the two phases gives people immediate access to an orthodox rector, because they are members of his church and to an orthodox Bishop if they are members of The Lesser Franciscans.”

“This will allow us to move forward, strengthen our voice and numbers, and in the end will work regardless of the end result of the realignment now underway in the ECUSA. It is putting power in the hands of the laity to help chart the course of our church, to remain faithful to our understanding of the Gospel, and to support and protect our priests who have been so faithful to us.”

Ms. Turner is a business consultant and a cradle Episcopalian born and raised in Rhode Island.

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