Today is the 27th (I believe) anniversary of the Denver Consecrations, when Morse, Doren, Mote, and Watterson were consecrated the first bishops for the Anglican Church in North America. This was one of the beginnings of the continuing Church - the APA actually began a couple of years earlier. And the REC began almost 100 years earlier. Well, so obviously the bishops and the Church they founded back in Denver did not stay together. They could not work out differences with regard to divorced and remarried clergy, churchmanship, canon law, etc. And I think there were personality issues as well. I won't rehash all of the details... they hardly matter anymore. A lot of those people involved are either old, retired, or dead. They point is that the Church (and by this I mean the traditional Anglican continuing "churches") needs to move on into the 21st century with timeless truth of Jesus Christ. We are basically one Church that is morally and doctrinally, but not corporately, unified - thanks mainly to the bishops, who are supposed to be a sign and symbol of unity. It is a sad but true fact that a few bishops have really hindered the growth and ministry of the Church.
This is beginning to change. As we discussed before, there are good talks going on. The old guard is passing away, or passing into retirement. New people are taking over, and people - especially bishops - are beginning to realize that a "house divided cannot stand". That we have stood for so long is a testimony to God's grace, but we need to take this tremendous gift He has given us, and one that we must now consiously use for His glory. Egos must be put aside, and "he who would be greatest among you must be least." And I want to clarify that there have been many godly continuing bishops over the years. They have served the Lord with gladness, and Jesus will say to them one day, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
We should take this day to remember our clergy in our prayers, and especially our bishops. I am sure that Satan wants to "sift them like wheat", so we need to pray to Jesus that He would minister to them and protect them. And we need to continue to pray for unity, and ask our leaders about it, and promote it at diocesan and provincial meetings, and so on. Innumberable benefits come from unity! May we be one as God and Christ are one!
