23 January 2011
Onesphore Rwaje elevated to the Archbishop of Rwanda.
10 February 2011
At the 2011 AMiA Winter Conference Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo asks Chuck Murphy for an accounting of money given to Rwanda. Bishop Alexis writes a formal letter to the Rwandan Archbishop specifying the problem and asking for a clear accounting of what happened to 10/10/10 funds. This letter was given to Archbishop Rwaje and all the bishops of both the AMiA and PEAR who were at the Winter Conference.
31 March 2011
The Rwandan House of Bishops (HOB) expresses the need to meet with AMiA leadership to discuss ‘respective roles’ in the ministry ‘we are all involved in.’ This letter is sent to Bishop Murphy. (link)
5 April 2011
Christ Church Plano receives oversight from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh under the pastoral guidance of the Most Rev. Robert Duncan, Archbishop of the ACNA and Bishop of Pittsburgh.
May 2011
John Guernsey is elected bishop of the newly formed Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (DOMA) within ACNA. (link)
19 May 2011
Jon Shuler writes Archbishop Rwaje asking to be appointed as the Primatial Vicar and bishop of NAMS under the authority of Rwanda.
31 May 2011
Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo writes a letter about financial issues to Archbishop Rwaje. He requests an accounting for AMiA money given from 2008-10, roughly 1.2 million dollars not recorded in the Provincial budget.
27 June 2011
The HOB meets with Bishop Murphy.
June 2011
At some point during or after a turbulent House of Bishops meeting in Rwanda, retired Archbishop Kolini said to our Chuck Murphy that he believed it was time for AMIA to leave Rwanda. (Barnum letter)
9 June 2011
Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo to the Archbishop
We are not asking for explanations or lectures on Canon Law. What we want from you is clear answers to the several important questions in the letter of May 31. What we are looking for is facts and figures and a clear accounting of what happened to 1.2 million US Dollars that was given to Rwanda but apparently never found its way into the proper Provincial accounts.
…
I object to the presence of H. Miller and Kevin Donlon to possibly manipulate and dominate the proceedings when they are not Bishops.
Mid-Summer 2011
Chuck Murphy meets in London with AMIA’s retired and founding archbishops. “It was here, as I understand it, that the concept of a new AMIA Missionary Society took shape out of a perceived concern that AMIA was suddenly vulnerable to the leadership changes in Rwanda. As this meeting took place, the vision of the Missionary Society — a real, tangible “option” — was as yet completely unknown to, and outside the counsel of, our own Rwandan Archbishop, Onesphore Rwaje.” (Barnum)
31 August 2011
During a monthly AMIA Council of Bishops (COB) phone call, Chuck Murphy presents the following options: 1- stay in Rwanda; 2- go to ACNA or, 3- start a new Missionary Society. He asks each bishop to respond. (Barnum letter)
21 September 2011
Rwandan House of Bishops meeting. Chuck Murphy presents the idea of a Missionary Society.
Early October 2011
Chuck Murphy meets with AMIA’s retired archbishops (sans ++Rwaje).
He meets with the AMIA Network Leaders in Arkansas and again in South Carolina with senior rectors from all over the Mission. (Barnum letter)
25 October 2011
Bishop Rucyahana writes Bishop Murphy. He says in part: “Finally I would request you to slow down and make consultations with the Province of Rwanda and other friendly institutions before you take an important move like this.”
31 October 2011
Archbishop Rwaje writes Chuck Murphy:
“The storming that happened in June was acknowledged by all of us as a new beginning with realization of a new house.
There are serious accusations to the House of Bishops that need to be ironed out before moving forward.
The interpretation of what is expressed as the painful visit with the House of Bishops in june.
The reverse colonialism
The spirit of rebellion and lawlessness
The assumption that the new Archbishop does not make decisions.
…I am requesting that all procedures toward the formation of the new missionary society be halted until we go through the Jerusalem moment.”
3 November 2011
AMiA clergy in Washington D.C. write a statement and send it out via this blog and other outlets. It becomes known as “The Washington Statement.”
4 November 2011 Rev. Cynthia Brust
AMiA press officer Cynthia Brust writes to George Conger:
“Based on the details you have outlined in your email, your source(s) is (are) ill informed. The Anglican Mission has been in conversations for some months internally and with Rwanda leadership about shaping the best structure to both express and facilitate our consistent vision to be “a mission, nothing more and nothing less.”
All of the concepts discussed, including the creation of a defined “society for apostolic work,” or “Missionary Society,” include an expectation that we will remain connected to Rwanda, and theAM leaders are working collaboratively, as always, with Rwandan leaders. These conversations with leadership on both sides of the Atlantic remain ongoing, and it is important to note that no decisions have been made – we are in a process of conversations only, and frankly any public discussion is premature at best.
Bishop Chuck Murphy enjoys a positive, honest, open and collaborative relationship with Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and the House of Bishops of Rwanda…the suggestion that the Anglican Mission does not intend to remain a part of the Anglican Communion is false.
There has not been “friction” or “discord” about appointing bishops for the Anglican Mission. A planned discussion of the possibility of new bishops at the Rwanda House of Bishops meeting in June was not brought forward simply because the two-day meeting had to be reduced to one-day due to a funeral. The very full agenda did not allow for a conversation about new bishops.
We are left to wonder what prompted such a deliberate dissemination of inaccuracies and believe it is incumbent upon Mr. Conger and Mr. Kallsen to issue a retraction.”
November 2011
AMIA Council of Bishops meeting in Myrtle Beach
For it was at this meeting Bishop Terrell Glenn submitted his resignation from the AMIA Council of Bishops citing a broken and unreconciled relationship with the Chairman. (Barnum letter)
11 November 2011
Rt. Rev. Charles H. Murphy III (Virtue Online Interview)
“Rumors that there has been a rift between the Anglican Mission in the Americas and the Anglican Province of Rwanda are false said Bishop and Chairman Chuck Murphy who told VOL that there is “no rift, no tear” and that the relationship is “solid” and “cherished. Both parties are working through their future shape together.
“I will be meeting with Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje, Primate of the Province of Rwanda, in Washington DC, next week to continue discussion of the design of such a missionary society. I have invited the Rev. Canon Kevin Donlon (our Canon for Ecclesiastical Affairs) to join us in this these discussions.
The Anglican Mission leader reported that at a regularly scheduled Council of Bishops meeting this week, Bishop Terrell Glenn resigned as a missionary bishop overseeing the Apostles Mission Network (parishes ranging geographically from the northeast to the Carolinas).
“I honestly do not know what his future plans are,” Murphy told VOL. “He told our Council of Bishops that he and his wife Teresa are in a discernment process.
“I will not deny that there have been grumblings in some quarters of the Apostles Mission Network about a variety of issues aired throughout the blogosphere, but there are also a significant number of congregations and clergy who have expressed a very different perspective and maintain strong support for both the Anglican Mission and my leadership.”
Asked if he was under any pressure to resign, Murphy said no. Earlier this year, the entire Council of Bishops wrote Archbishop Rwaje specifically requesting that he be re-appointed as the Primatial Vicar of the Mission. He has, however, told Archbishop Rwaje, that he intends to retire as Primatial Vicar in two years at age 66.”
12 November 2011
Chuck Murphy email to AMiA:
This past week during a regularly scheduled Council of Bishops meeting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Bishop Terrell Glenn shared with us that he and Teresa have been in a time of discernment and felt led by the Lord to resign from the Anglican Mission. We honor the contribution of Terrell’s service for nearly four years as a bishop in the Anglican Mission.
We continue to keep Bishop Glenn and his family in our prayers as they move on to serve the Lord in this new season of their lives.
14 November 2011
Bishop Emeritus of Shyira Diocese (Retired) Bishop John Rucyahana writes Chuck Murphy:
I feel obliged to share my concerns:
1) Taking Amia from it’s original intent and purposes (vision) may distort or derail it’s destiny.
2) This move may hurt the relationship of Amia with the Province of Rwanda which stood alone in the whole world for Amia in the most difficult times.
It may be extremely hard to comprehend for the retired Archbishop Kolini who led Amia as a mission of Rwanda and now moves with Amia out of the Province during his retirement.
I would implore you to reconsider this move, but if you so choose to do it or be in consultation with the Province of Rwanda. It would be very sad to start with a wave of the Holy Spirit and end up with a human agenda.
I therefore request you very kindly to be considerate on the retired Archbishop Moses Tay and retired Archbishop Yong both of whom God used to assist and bless Amia at it’s formation. Please do not use them when you are taking this move, least you hurt their reputation.
Be aware that the whole world is going to have an interpretation of this move and this may cause a strong wave which may throw some of the people overboard.
16 November 2011
Bishop Terrell Glenn writes:
it is a decision that Teresa and I have made after several months of agonizing prayer as we have sought to do what we believe the Lord has called us to do.
For a while now, Bishop Murphy and I have sought to resolve personal issues between us. Regrettably, we have been unsuccessful. As Teresa and I prayed about this, we came to believe that the Lord was leading us to step out of the Anglican Mission and we are doing this in obedience to Him.
30 November 2011
Rwandan House of Bishops writes AMiA clergy:
“This letter is written with the purpose of reaching out to the AMiA congregations and leaders, to re-assure you of our firm stand with you. We are hearing all that is going on and the issue that is distracting all of us. Our hearts were broken by the resignation of Terrell Glenn. Terrell remains one of us and under the leadership of the Archbishop of the Province of Rwanda. We also have been praying for the Washington group. Openness, transparency and speaking truth in love should be encouraged.
Dear AMiA friends, stand firm in this difficult and trying times. As per our House of Bishops’ stand, we are supportive of AMiA that we know, have and nothing else (Washington DC Meeting in November 2011, AMiA and PEAR delegates). we will do anything with the Lord’s guidance to support and stand with you.”
18 November 2011
Bishop Murphy told CEN it was “absurd” to suggest he was in rebellion. He denied the AMiA was seeking to withdraw from Rwanda and stated his relations with the archbishop remained strong.
27 October 2011
Bishop Tay writes Bishop Rucyahana.
“wrote to Bishop John saying that he believed it to be clear that a spirit of rebellion and lawlessness was at work – beyond and beneath legitimate human concerns, procedures, and rationalizations. He then listed for Bishop John “other spirits”that he believed were at work – e.g. the spirit of accusation and the spirit of offense.” (Cited by Chuck Murphy)
30 November 2011
2nd letter, Rwandan House of Bishops to Chuck Murphy, per reporting:
The head of the Anglican Mission in America has been threatened with ecclesiastical discipline for contumacy. Unless Bishop Chuck Murphy repents of his disobedience and apologizes for his offensive statements within seven days, the Rwanda House of Bishops will assume that he has “made a de facto choice to withdraw as primatial vicar” of the AMiA.
In letter from the Rwandan House of Bishops to Bishop Murphy dated 30 Nov 2011, the AMiA leader was chastised for disobedience and abuse of office.
“You have constantly disregarded the decisions and counsels of the House of Bishops” and have “misused the authority given to you by the Archbishop in advancing your new missionary society interests,” said the letter signed by the Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and the Rwandan bishops.
However on 30 Nov 2011 the Rwandan bishops wrote to Bishop Murphy giving him an ultimatum – honor his vow of obedience or go. They stated Bishop Murphy had ignored two requests to halt the reorganization of the AMiA into a missionary society and “insulted” the House of Bishops by “using abusive language.”
The AMiA head had also “dogged questions of financial transparency” and had not yet complied with a commitment given in September to provide an accounting.
The Rwandan bishops requested Bishop Murphy offer a letter of apology for his actions, end his moves to re-organize the AMiA, and confirm his “commitment to refocus on AMiA.”
Unless Bishop Murphy complied with this request within seven days, the Rwanda House of Bishops would assume that he had “made a ‘de facto’ choice to withdraw as primatial vicar” of the AMiA.
5 December 2011
Early Monday morning, December 5, I wrote Bishop Chuck and copied two of my colleagues as witnesses. I begged him to comply with the Archbishop’s admonition. I wrote, “If we have any authority as bishops to bring ‘godly discipline’then we’ve got to model being under and complying to ‘godly discipline’ …“Model being under authority for us, for the Mission. Don’t let us divide… For the sake of the Mission, for the sake of all who look to you as a model of godly leadership, come under the discipline of your Archbishop.”
A half hour after sending this letter, I was notified that the COB was about to have an emergency conference call and that each of us (except Bishop Terrell who had formerly left the COB) was being asked to issue our formal resignation along with our Chairman as bishops of the Province of Rwanda. (Barnum)
5 December 2011
A spokesman for Bishop Murphy told Anglican Ink the proposed reorganization has “required the [AMiA] and the Province of Rwanda to engage in substantive dialogues, and we seek to ensure that our unique cultures are in clear communication with each other.”
“It has required that we listen carefully to one another in our attempts to fully understand all of the issues involved from one another’s cultural perspectives,” the spokesman said, noting the 30 Nov letter was “part of that yet unfinished dialogue and it will be addressed as our Archbishop has required.”
7 December 2011
Cynthia Brust to Christianity Today:
“It’s just a difference of opinion in the way Rwanda wanted to move forward and what the Anglican Mission felt like God was leading us to do,” Brust said.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/decemberweb-only/leavingrwanda.html?start=2
7 December 2011
Two days later, I had opportunity to speak with Archbishop Rwaje. I apologized to him that we were unwilling to comply with his godly admonition. I apologized for the insulting words of the past months – none which hurt more than the phrase “reverse colonialism” (implying AMIA wasn’t going to be controlled by Africa) – and then for the hurtful comparison of being compared to the Egyptian nation. (Barnum)
8 December 2011
AMiA communicates withdrawal to clergy:
As you may know, on December 5, in response to unforeseen and extraordinary circumstances, the Anglican Mission in the Americas withdrew from the pastoral oversight of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. In addition, Bishop Chuck Murphy resigned as Primatial Vicar and Bishops Murphy, Sandy Greene, Todd Hunter, TJ Johnston, Philip Jones, Doc Loomis, John Miller and Silas Ng, as well as retired Bishop John Rodgers, resigned from the House of Bishops of Rwanda.
During this interim period, the Anglican Mission is under the oversight of our founding Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini, Moses Tay and Yong Ping Chung until we have a new provincial home within the Anglican Communion. Bishop Murphy is meeting with these overseeing archbishops in London next week to discuss options for the best way forward.
While these events came as a significant surprise to all of us, and circumstances beyond our control have necessitated rapid decisions and actions, we are very encouraged about our future in the Anglican Mission and see a powerful missional opportunity to move toward formation of a missionary society. Since we highly value continuity, this is a logical, consistent progression of what God has been doing in and through the Anglican Mission since 2000. The missionary society concept provides the appropriate structure for us to be…a mission, nothing more, nothing less and in many ways represents “a long obedience in the same direction.” (Cynthia Brust to AMiA email list)
9 December 2011
AMiA email addresses financial accusations:
Questions have been posed concerning roughly $1,200,000 that was given by the Anglican Mission but did not go into the Provincial accounts. As addressed above, approximately $800,000 was part of the tithe that paid expenses for the Province directly from the Anglican Mission or was designated to another need.
The remaining $460,000 was a designated gift given to the Anglican Mission for special projects in Rwanda. The donor gave Anglican Mission complete discretion to use this money in support of Rwanda in whatever way it saw fit. In consultation with the Archbishop, these funds went to support items like PEAR Theological College, the Provincial Convention, Diocesan support and the purchase of a provincial vehicle. These were not a part of the Anglican Mission’s tithe to Rwanda and were given over and above the tithe. (AMiA email)
20 December 2011
Archbishop Duncan issues a pastoral letter mentioning discussions with AMiA bishops and discussing future steps for AMiA and PEAR congregations.
21 December 2011
AMiA Council of Bishops email discusses meeting with Duncan, reconciliation between bishops Glenn and Murphy, and future reconciliation with Rwanda.
17 Feb 2012
The Upper Midwest website posts: “In light of the Anglican Mission’s (AM) restructuring and the Anglican Church in North America’s (ACNA) movement toward a midwest diocese, the leadership of both the AM Midwest Network and the ACNA’s Wisconsin and Greenhouse Deaneries calls all interested parishes and parishioners to enter into a discernment process.
The goal of this process is to seek greater clarity and unity regarding the purpose of the Lord for Anglican work in the Upper Midwest (Chicago/Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota).”
4 May 2012
C4SO leaves the AMiA for the ACNA. “Bishop Todd Hunter of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) has been received by the Anglican Church in North America and will serve as an assistant bishop in the office of the primate, the Most Rev. Robert Duncan. On 4 May 2012 the California-based bishop held a conference call with Archbishop Duncan, Bishop Chuck Murphy of the AMiA, and Bishop Terrell Glenn of PEAR-USA/ACNA to discuss his future plans. Bishop Hunter stated that he had a “warm and collegial conversations” with the three bishops and “articulated for each of them my vision of C4SO becoming a servant to all the various Anglican entities within North America. C4SO will happily plant churches in partnership with PEARUSA, TheAm and the ACNA.” C4SO – Churches for the Sake of Others – is a church planting initiative run by Bishop Hunter that will now move under the ecclesial oversight of the ACNA. (George Conger story)
3 January 2012
Kolini and Rwaje meet in Nairobi, mediated by Okoh.
10 April 2012
The Rwandan House of Bishops issues a letter regarding AMiA clergy affiliation and announcing that they are working with ACNA to establish how a new Missionary District will function within ACNA.
13 April 2012
Bishop Chuck Murphy announces that the AMiA will take up canonical residence in the Congo. “This week, I received an official letter from Archbishop Henri Isingoma of the Anglican Church of the Congo, receiving me as a Bishop of the House of Bishops in his Province and offering us a new canonical residence. In response to a recent letter from Archbishop Rwaje asking our bishops to translate to another Anglican jurisdiction by the end of this month, I had earlier requested that he send my letters dimissory to the Province of the Congo.”
26 April 2012
AMiA leadership meets in London with the Archbishop of Congo.
30 April 2012
ACNA receives T.J. Johnston and John Miller from the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) as honorary temporary assistant bishops. (link)
May 2012
C4SO announces the move from AMiA to the ACNA.
5 May 2012
George Conger reports that Archbishop Waukala withdraws his support from the AMiA. “The Archbishop of Kenya has withdrawn from the Anglican Mission in America’s (AMiA) College of Consultors. Sources within the AMiA and in the Anglican Church of Kenya tell Anglican Ink Archbishop Eliud Wabukala has written to Bishop Chuck Murphy withdrawing his patronage from the organization.
Last week Bishop Murphy announced that five primates – Archbishop Henri Isingoma of the Congo, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya, and retired archbishops Emmanuel Kolini, Yong Ping Chung and Moses Tay – had agreed to provide archiepiscopal oversight for the AMiA as it reconstitutes itself as a mission society.
On 1 May 2012, Bishop Murphy announced that following a meeting in London the five archbishops had “issued a decree” for the establishment of a “mission society” that would continue the AMiA’s work of “advancing apostolic works and ministry.”
The statement said that on 25 April 2012 the five primates had agreed to “serve on the College of Consultors, its overseeing body.” Bishop Murphy said he hoped the new society would be in place within 40 days and that he was calling a convocation meeting on June 4 to inaugurate the new entity.
Sources within the Gafcon primates council stated there had been no discussion of the AMiA mission society proposal during the London FCA meeting. The news had also come as a surprise to Archbishop Robert Duncan, Anglican Ink learned.
Queried as to his reasons for giving his endorsement to the new society, Archbishop Wabukala told his colleagues on the primates’ council after the news had been made public, that he believed his support would allow the AMiA to “fold in” to the ACNA.” (link)
7 May 2012
Archbishop Duncan gives an interview to Anglican TV. He says, “…until very recent days we believed that the Anglican Mission was trying to come back into relationship with the ACNA, but the move to Congo and the things that have surrounded it, and indeed the bishops who have spoken to some of our bishops who have been AM bishops make it clear that really the AM is moving somewhat erratically and again is disintegrating further…further fracturing as the move to Congo is not widely applauded here in North America.”
Further, he commented on meetings in South Africa meeting between the Rwandan bishops and the remaining AMiA leadership. He said that “the result of those two meetings was I think some further pain in which the Anglican Mission in the Johannesburg meeting asked, and actually used the words, it’s time for a divorce. Rwanda has in a sense agreed to set the Anglican Mission free, but still, all of this is a great unhappiness even a scandal in the Body of Christ.”
26 May 2012
Retired Rwandan Archbishop Kolini held a meeting to support the Rwandan/Tutsi invasion of the DRC through the M23 movement. At this meeting, Kolini conveyed Paul Kagame’s message to Congolese of Rwandan descent who lived in the Kivu provinces of the DRC. According to the UN Group of Experts: “Another similar M23 meeting with Rwandan authorities took place on 26 May 2012 in Ruhengeri, Rwanda, at Hotel Ishema. According to intelligence sources and to politicians with close ties to Kigali, the RDF organized the meeting for CNDP politicians, which was chaired by Bishops John Rucyahana and Coline {Kolini – editor}, both senior RPF party leaders. The aim of the meeting was to convey the message that the Rwandan Government supports M23 politically and militarily. All Rwandophone politicians and officers were instructed to join M23, or otherwise leave the Kivus.
4 June 2012
In a press release, the AMiA refers to itself as “The Anglican Mission Society for Mission and Apostolic Works.”
12 June 2012
PEARUSA Assembly in Raleigh, NC. Archbishop Rwaje, Bishop Laurent Mbanda, and Bishop Nathan Gasatura install Rev. Steve Breedlove as the “Presider Pro-Tem” of the new Missionary District. The Rev. Clark Lowenfield assumes duties as Vicar of the new Diocese of the Gulf West Coast for ACNA. The Rev. Alan Hawkins becomes Vicar of the Anglican 1000 church planting initiative.
3 July 2012
Announcement that effective July 15th, clergy and parishes in the Heart of North America regional network (AMiA) will be invited to make transfer to the ACNA’s Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (ADGL) and to the care of its Bishop, Roger C. Ames.
4 June 2012 Chicago
AMiA Convocation in Chicago: The Anglican Mission passed a milestone today and is now only one step away from finalizing the Society for Mission and Apostolic Works. Clergy and lay leaders gathered for a Convocation held in Chicago and committed to four “Rs” designed to expand mission and ministry in North America. (AMiA press release)
7 August 2012
The Heart of North America (HONA) Network was part of the AMiA under the leadership of Bishop Doc Loomis. It merges into the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (ADGL) under
Bishop Roger Ames.
15 August 2012
The Anglican Mission announces oversight from Bishop Nathan Kyamanywa, Diocese of Bunyoro-Kitara, Uganda and Bishop Edmund Dawson Ahmoah, Diocese of Dunkwa-on-Offin, Ghana, West Africa.
August 2012
Inauguration of CANA’s Missionary Diocese of the Trinity. Led by Rt. Rev. Amos Fagbamiye, this became the first official CANA diocese within ACNA, with a focus on building congregations across the U.S. and Canada.
26 October 2012
Archbishop Duncan appoints Bishop David Hicks (REC) to lead a Theological Task Force on Holy Orders. The Task Force “will lead the College of Bishops through a thorough study regarding the ordination of women to Holy Orders.”
Late 2012
Move of CANA Headquarters to McLean, Virginia. The administrative office relocates to the Barnabas Fund offices.
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