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TWO ANGLICAN PRIMATES INVITE REC PB TO NASSAU TALKS
The Most Rev. Drexel Gomez, Anglican Primate of the Province of the Bahamas and West Indies, and the Most Rev. Gregory Venables, new Archbishop of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, have invited the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Leonard Riches, and the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province of America, the Most Rev. Walter Grundorf, to Nassau this week to meet with other primates and bishops of the Anglican Communion who are in broken or impaired communion with ECUSA.
He has also invited three other R.E. Bishops: West, Grote, and Sutton, and, I think, one or two other APA Bishops. Archbishops Gomez and Venables are in constant contact with Anglican Archbishops from Africa and Southeast Asia.
The Invitation came about when Archbishop Gomez was in Charleston, SC, in early January, 2004, to address the Anglican Communion Institute (formerly SEAD) conference held in St. Philip's Church. At the conference, he continued his outspoken criticism of the illegal acts of the Episcopal Church USA and the Diocese of Westminster, Anglican Church of Canada, in the last two years.
During that conference he met with Bishops Riches, Sutton and West; and, out of that meeting came this extraordinary invitation to forge a link with other Anglican Churches in America outside of ECUSA!
Archbishop Gomez had also been impressed and delighted by the new Federation for Anglican Ministry in America that emerged from the December 2003 meetings of Anglicans United in Orlando, Florida. This document drew from the "Federation" concept worked out by the REC/APA Unity Committee earlier year. Bishops, clergy and laity of the REC and APA, along with representatives from other continuing Anglican churches, were prominent signers of the Federation document. (Go to: www.anglicansunited.com or call 1-800-553-3645 for further information.)
All of the visiting bishops traveled to the Bahamas last week, in order to preach in various Anglican parishes in Nassau yesterday, March 28th. They had been invited to preach by Archbishop Gomez, who carefully guards who will preach in his parishes. This is an important courtesy - given only to those who are orthodox - extended to the REC and APA bishops. Today, Monday, is a day off for relaxing and refreshment.
The meetings with other archbishops and bishops will begin on Tuesday, and conclude on Friday, April 2nd, with most of the time spent in prayer, Bible study, worship and simple discussion about the Gospel and Mission. Anglicans United and The Ekklesia Society are are assisting in the costs of this meeting.
Pray for our bishops as they travel and that a renewing of the Holy Spirit may move through our Anglican/Episcopal churches in America to re-form and maintain that biblical and apostolic faith of our fathers.
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