Hope is in the wind!

What an incredible last few days this has been!

On Monday, I was called up to Fresno for a meeting of the Rural Deans of the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin. Monday is usually my "day off" but I sacrificed it in lieu of yesterday being Veteran's Day - so yesterday I really took a day off - a day off from blogs, news, and anything work related. But Monday was a different story.

For those of you who might be wondering what a "Rural Deans Meeting" might entail, let me just say that the area Deans (as I am for Kern County) come together to meet with the Bishop as he shares concerns and inside news that may be of interest to us and our congregations.

Some of the topics we talk about are confidential in nature - and so I am bound to respect that; however, we did talk at length about the fact that Diocese Number 3 (Quincy) has now joined us (Pittsburgh and San Joaquin) in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone as we await the formation of a new Anglican Province here in North America.

That Province appears to be taking form and shape much more quickly than one usually expects from the Church! I often joke about "moving at the speed of Church" when it comes to church work. All too often it seems that we talk and meet, talk and meet, talk and meet, and wait for the "next meeting" make a difference. Since 2003 (and the actions thereof) there has been considerable "talk" of a this "New Province" - one that orthodox conservatives have been thirsting for - and certainly one that the Episcopal Church is certainly going to dismay and disparage!

The fact is that when the new province happens (not if) the Episcopal Church will have to deal with the conservatives on an equal basis. They will have to recognize us as legitimate members of the Anglican Communion. The hope in all of this is that this will finally put a concerted end to the infighting that has plagued both branches of this Body for years! How all this plays out remains to be seen; nevertheless, with one fell swoop it may render all of the legal proceedings against congregations and clergy, done and over!

The primary complaint and charge against us is "Abandonment of Communion;" however, when the Anglican Communion recognizes those forming this new province as legitimate (and 2/3 of the world already does!) the wind will die in the sails of the Episcopal Church. But again, we will have to wait patiently for all this to happen.

Several "meetings" have yet to occur... BUT... my prediction? I suspect we will see this become reality within six-months! It may be sooner than that - but keep your weather-eye out for the Primates Meeting in Egypt in January! (Read about it here: http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/11/6/primates-meeting-set-for-jan-31-feb-6)

Certainly TEC's hope will be that "nothing will happen" as they hoped would come out of Lambeth - but rest assured - the GAFCON and Global South Primates won't let that happen - No, not this time.

Remember these words of Jesus: "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”