Last week’s piece, Dear ACNA: We Must Do Better. Can We? reached more than 8,000 readers. Many of you wrote me privately. Others commented, restacked, or subscribed to The Anglican. You responded with seriousness and some restraint. You want clarity and charity, not a spectacle. I do too. We are on the same page.
A few updates on what comes next, along with some thoughts on the Substack space.
Leadership, right now
The Province stands in a hard season. We all know that. With Archbishop Steve Wood inhibited, the system is operating under some real limits.
But one thing deserves some recognition. Bishop Julian Dobbs stepped forward and seems to know what we need: clear communication. We’ve received plenty under his signature, and I, for one, am thankful.
Most of us know from parish ministry that when trust is strained, leaders serve best by sharing information. Silence feeds suspicion. Timely words rebuild credibility. On this front, we should be thankful.
A January 7 conversation you should know about
As we all know today, the canons that govern clergy discipline—Title IV—are not abstract legal documents. They shape how we respond to sin, failure, accusation, repentance, restoration, and justice. They order our common life.
And as we have all seen, when that order is unclear or strained, the consequences are real and painful.
The Title IV Canons are under review and The Goverance Task Force has asked for feedback, but we all know how that goes. It comes in bits and pieces.
I thought it wise to ask Canon Andrew Rowell, the head of the Task Force, to meet with us—laity and clergy—and provide an overview of the process, including how changes will be made, what changes are envisioned, and the timeline.
When I asked Andrew if he’d be open to a Zoom session with anyone who’d like to attend, hear the revision plan, and receive honest feedback, he responded immediately: “Yes, yes, yes,” he texted me.
Andrew has been deeply involved in this work from the beginning. He understands both the legal complexity and the pastoral weight of what is being undertaken.
This will not be a presentation or a sales pitch.
It will be a conversation.
Please register for the Zoom session on the link below. I’ll have additional information about the meeting—format, how to submit questions, etc.—after Christmas, but I want to get the date on your calendar if you are interested.
January 7 at 3 PM Eastern.
Join a 90-minute session.
You MUST be registered to attend:
Registered for Zoom Session Here
Read it all in The Anglican