ACC UK Magazine of the Diocese of the United Kingdom (Anglican Catholic Church) Issue 36 Annual Subscription £7.50 Lent / Easter 2012 “BISHOP ON BOARD” INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Bishop 2 News from the Council 7 of Advice Competition Time 11 (with Gift Voucher The Church of St Augustine, Rector of St Augustine’s, said “This Canterbury has taken delivery of a is another step forward, putting the Prize !) new Parish Minibus. ACC firmly on the map here in Provided, in part, through the Canterbury and around the South generosity of the Credo Group of East”. The Bishop added that he ‘English 18 Companies, of which the planned to use the Minibus when Missal’ Canterbury Church Shop Ltd is travelling around the Diocese and Centenary one, the nine seater mini bus will visiting our Missions and Parishes. 1912—2012 serve primarily for Church Use Although he resisted the suggestion including Parish outings and that he should have a suitably pilgrimages. It will also be used by adapted episcopal version of the Testimony ... Richard Mulholland, Manager of the popular ‘Baby on Board’ sign 19 shop, to carry stock and do hanging in the window when he was occasional local deliveries to in the bus! Customers. Thanking his colleagues and Taking possession of the vehicle co–directors in the Credo Group ... Where to Bishop Damien Mead, who is also 23 worship Continued on page 10 ORTHODOX FAITH ANGLICAN WORSHIP CATHOLIC ORDER P A G E 2 FROM THE BISHOP On 23rd January was “very happy with the 1992 the College arrangements made by the of Bishops of the CofE in its Pastoral Provision for Anglican Catholic Church decided those unable to accept the to erect the Missionary Diocese of ordination of women”. He went England and Wales. It was a even further to state he decision not made lightly, but only therefore “could not and would after careful prayer and not encourage me in my consideration. 20 years later the endeavours to establish a Diocese of the United Kingdom Parish in Canterbury”. Well The Right Revd (as we became) is still here. In that’s all very sad. What will Damien Mead 1992, in the aftermath of the happen to his parish and people Bishop Church of England’s decision to when he, as he will of course, Ordinary ordain women to the priesthood, dies? The ACC has there were considerably high encountered much criticism, hopes that the new Diocese would sometimes warranted I will soon become home to groups of perhaps concede, over the disaffected Anglicans from around years. We have encountered the country. Indeed many clergy people who have said that they and laity were in touch with the will wait and see whether we ACC at that time and all had their have any stability … I venture to own ‘final straws’ and ‘lines in the say yes we do …we have 20 sand’ which would mark their years worth at least. “But what movement from the CofE to the Very few finally came in does it mean ACC. 1977/8 and in 1992/3. Similar for us to be Ultimately many stayed where hopes, although somewhat 20 years old? they were, either reluctantly more realistic, came to the fore Well, actually, embracing modernisms, or, trying from time to time. As the of course, we to resist from within. This was not Church of England moves are not 20 a new experience for the ACC. In further and further away from years old. 1977 after the great Congress of that orthodoxy, with each new In the most St Louis in the USA which saw the change or innovation, we have important, beginnings of our formation, many increased enquiries. But basic and who attended decided to stay although ‘refugees’ are warmly fundamental within the Episcopal Church (or welcome and will continue to be ways we other Anglican Churches) and so, we must face facts. are almost ‘fight from within’. Sadly that fight But what does it mean for us 2000 years has been lost. Orthodox to be 20 years old? Well, old.” Anglicanism is no longer to be actually, of course, we are not found, except in small pockets 20 years old. In the most perhaps, within the Canterbury important, basic and Communion. fundamental ways we are Not so long ago a priest who almost 2000 years old. We belongs to the Church of England sometimes refer to ourselves as group ‘Forward in Faith’ told me a ‘continuing’ Church. This is he saw “no need for the sort of both, in equal measure, helpful alternative Episcopal Structure the and unhelpful. Some other ACC was providing”. He said he ‘continuing’ Anglicans have ISSUE 36 LENT / EA S T E R 2 0 1 2 P A G E 3 FROM THE BISHOP continued “… as Anglicans we have no faith of our own. Like the Roman Catholic sought to continue simply the Christians, seeking to be faithful to Church and Church of England – without women the teaching of the early Church the Eastern priests, without ‘active’ homosexual Fathers and the great Ecumenical Orthodox clergy, or without modern services. Councils of the first centuries of Church, The ACC is more than this. But Christian witness. With St. Vincent orthodox what is it we actually continue? of Lerins, we affirm that the Anglicans The late Archbishop Geoffrey Catholic faith is that which has uphold the Fisher famously said (of been believed “everywhere, historic faith traditional Anglicanism) “We have no always, and by all.” and order of doctrine of our own. We only In our continuation of the the undivided possess the Catholic doctrine of the authentic English expression of this Church. ” Catholic Church enshrined in the faith and practice we have to Catholic Creeds, and these creeds acknowledge that these past 20 we hold without addition or years have been a struggle. We diminution. We stand firm on that have had setbacks and rock.” And to that we might add that disappointments. We have joys and Anglicanism has no Scriptures of its sadness. The expression “one step own, no sacraments of its own, no forward and two backwards” comes holy orders of its own – just those of to mind at some points in our the Catholic Church that we have history. However, we are still here. received. Fisher was right, as We do not have as many Anglicans we have no faith of our Parishes and Missions as we had own. Like the Roman Catholic hoped but where you find us - you Church and the Eastern Orthodox find faithfulness. Church, orthodox Anglicans uphold Our challenge for the next 20 the historic faith and order of the years and beyond is to identify how undivided Church. We are nothing we can both maintain this more nor less than Catholic faithfulness, without compromise, P A G E 4 but accepting we operate in a “But watch thou in all things, changing, modern world. endure afflictions, do the work of Perhaps we should consider a an evangelist, make full proof of quotation from that great hero to thy ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5). many critics of religion, Charles Darwin “It is not the strongest that “Do the work of an evangelist”! survives, nor the most intelligent Proclaim the Gospel! Proclaim the that survives. It is the one that is the Faith! Do not Compromise! most adaptable to change.” Of “… make full proof of thy ministry” course once again this is both this means Fidelity in discharging helpful and unhelpful in our context. our trust – thoroughly to We have Our Lord’s assurance that accomplish that which we have the very gates of hell will not prevail undertaken. Would you see an against the Church and that is all example? Look at that of the great the reassurance we need. But apostle Paul in the context: "I have perhaps we can learn something fought a good fight, I have finished from Darwin’s words of ‘wisdom’. my course, I have kept the faith." Firstly, although in many places The followers of Jesus were in a shrinking, the modern Church is still similar state of disarray shortly after strong. They have the resources Jesus’ death and resurrection. The both materially and intellectually to inherent corruption of Roman field strong arguments and civilisation was already apparent in convincing theories, even when the disintegration of quality social confronted by bold facts such as life. So, it was not just the small their continued decline in group of Jesus’ followers who were membership and closure of church confused about the future; many in buildings, despite their desperate Roman society were searching for a Donations to attempts to be politically correct and system of meaning that would make aid the ACC ‘relevant’ for today’s world. sense out of their experience of in our work (This is especially poignant in light human life. The Bible tells us that it can be made of the recent report that for the first was a complete outsider, Paul, who online. Visit time more women are being developed a strategy to move the the Diocesan ordained in the Church of England Christians into their first period of Website and than men). The decline continues. making an impact on society. click on Paul took the tools of “For the time will come when they communication that were available will not endure sound doctrine; but in Roman culture and used them to after their own lusts shall they heap articulate the Christian message. to themselves teachers, having Specifically, he used the Roman itching ears; And they shall turn road system and he wrote away their ears from the truth, and manuscripts that were duplicated by shall be turned unto fables”.