Letter from Archbishop Duncan

A PASTORAL LETTER ON STEWARDSHIP AND THE ANGLICAN CHURCH

TO ALL THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America boldly proclaim that "the people of God are the chief agents of the mission of the Church" and that "the fundamental agency of mission in the Province is the local congregation." Ours is a church whose focus is on converted individuals in multiplying congregations. Ours is a church also built on the tithes of the faithful: the household to the local congregation, the local congregation to the diocese, the diocese to the Province.

Tithing and Discipleship

God led us to build our Province on committed disciples, the local congregations and the tithe: all for the purpose of reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. The Holy Scriptures caused us to do things this way. We had (and have) a special stake in basing the whole of our life on the direction Scripture gives. While it is only one aspect of discipleship, imagine what God could do through us if all of us tithed! No congregation would any longer be "short," no diocese would lack for funds for new works, and the Province would rightly live within the tithes sent to it. We need to start challenging one another about this at the local level. God promises (Malachi 3: 8-10) to open the windows of heaven if we cease to "rob Him" and give Him our "full tithes."

If you are not already doing so, this would be a great year to take the leap. The tithe to your local congregation is the beginning point. If not yet tithing, even to move a percentage point a year over the next several years will make an amazing difference, both to the Church at every level, and most significantly to your own personal relationship with God.

Extra Mile Giving

Our Church, like Scripture itself, also teaches that the tithe is the beginning of our giving. Many of us give more than a tithe - Nara and I do so. It is all about thanksgiving to the Lord for what He has done. Some give to a point of sacrifice. They are among my heroes. Jesus and the apostolic Church most often teach either 50/50 or 100 per cent giving. Most of us who heard our friend Dr. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church speak to us at our Inaugural Assembly cannot forget the witness he and his wife make in giving away 90 percent of their income and just keeping 10 per cent. He is actually not alone in this practice that only a few can undertake, but most of us can stretch farther than we do. Pray and ask the Savior what He wants of you.

Our Provincial budget is based on the tithe of our dioceses, just as diocesan budgets are based on the tithes of their congregations. When all our local congregations get to right order, and all our dioceses get there too, we are convinced that the Province will well be able to live within these tithes for our annual operations. We have a distance to go before all our members are Biblical tithers. So at present we have a gap. For several years we know that we will have to ask some of our people and some of our congregations to "go the extra mile" beyond their tithe to help meet Provincial needs. This is not the long-term picture.

The Provincial Gap and Extra Mile Fund

The very good news is that we are almost half of the way to where we need to be to fund the base-line Provincial work. That is quite an accomplishment given the fact that the Province was only birthed 16 months ago! For now I need to ask for "extra-mile" giving to fill the gap.

At the August Executive Committee meeting an "Extra Mile Fund" was established to stand alongside "the Founders' Fund." Gifts to each - beyond your tithe to your own parish - will make it possible for our Province to be well launched in these "gap" years in which I will be serving you as first archbishop. Parishes that are able are also asked to consider gifts - beyond their diocesan tithe - to the Extra Mile or Founders' Funds.

Individuals and parishes are asked to consider a direct gift to the Province this year, and perhaps during several of the next years. We do not yet have all our households and congregations tithing, but as discipleship improves the need will diminish. This is the Archbishop's gap appeal. Individual and parish gifts directed for the ACNA of up to $10,000 will be credited to the Extra-Mile Fund. Gifts over $10,000 will be credited to the Founders' Fund. We need some $480,000 for this year's operation on top of the $900,000 already committed by dioceses, parishes and individuals. Please remember that the Province is providing both direct and subsidiary support to 20 Dioceses and more than 640 congregations in North America.

Help me, please, in these "gap" years to be your archbishop and do what the Provincial Council believes is essential. We started a year ago as a Province and have come a very great distance. For the long-haul, tithe and teach the tithe and the windows of heaven will be open for your parish, your diocese and our province, as well.

God bless you each and every one.

Faithfully in Christ,

Archbishop and Primate

[1] Canon I. 10, Section 1
[1] Constitution Article IV, point 1.
[1] Canon I. 9, Section 1 and Canon I. 10, Section 2, point 5.
[1] Typical are Lk 3:11; Lk 12:33-34; Acts 2:44-45; Acts 5:40-42; Lk 9:23-24.

P.S.

If you wish to be part of the Extra Mile Fund there are two ways to make a contribution:



You can send a check payable to:
Anglican Church in North America
800 Maplewood Ave.
P.O. Box 447
Ambridge, PA 15003

Please note in Memo section: "Extra Mile Fund"

Or contribute online at : http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/donate

Religion in the Recession

A troubled warden approached his pastor and said, "We've got serious problems. Our members don't invite people to church. Our members don't give enough to pay the bills."

The pastor said, "As you know, my job is spiritual development. You'll have to bring that up with our evangelism and finance committees."

The warden returned not long after that and said, "Things are getting worse. Attendance is down. Giving is down. We might not be able to pay the staff!"

The pastor said, "Why didn't you tell me it was that serious? But as you know, my job is spiritual development. We'll have to bring up these problems at our next vestry meeting."

Immediately at the start of the vestry meeting, the warden stood up and said, "Pastor, we have a spiritual problem in our church."

America does not have a failing economy.

America's churches don't have attendance and money problems.

Our spiritual problem is being exposed.

2 Chronicles 7:14.

Servant Leadership

How can you become a leader – not just at St. Stephen Church – but in the kingdom of God as well?

Here’s the path we suggest. Obviously it’s tailored to our unique setting – our location and our theology.

1. Be a worshipper!

The Lord’s Day worship at St. Stephen Church is designed to continually focus on Jesus Christ and what it means to repent our our sins, confess His Lordship, and spiritually commune with Him. There’s literally no other place to start!

2. Be a servant!

Whether you serve alone to meet a need, serve with a ministry team, or with one of the parachurch ministries in this city, Jesus says that the one who would be great among His people must be a servant (Matthew 20:25-27). As we mature in Christ, we should aim to serve both inside and outside the church on a regular basis.

3. Be a Disciple!

It’s important for the mature Christian to know their own soul and its deceitfulness and also to know the Word of God. Here’s where to start -

A. Daily Prayer and Bible Reading, including

B. Small Group Studies

C. Take a spiritual retreat, or work with a spiritual director, to know your soul

D. Complete a program of study that will help you know God’s Word (ask Fr. Chris for suggestions)

E. Offer the clergy help in getting other students engaged in these studies!

4. Be a steward

To be a steward means to get your own financial house in order. That’s easier said than done these days, but we will work to encourage one another in this area. All of us should use debt responsibly and not be held in slavery by financial turmoil. Part of being a steward means giving faithfully to your local congregation as God prospers you. In return our church will be a good steward of the funds you give.

But there is more to “stewardship” of our lives than simply the financial aspect. If being out of debt were the measure of stewardship, Scrooge would have been a good “steward” instead of a moral failure who needed to be transformed!

We encourage men to pursue faithfulness using the character attributes of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 as their guide. Likewise, we encourage women to consider Proverbs 31:10-31 in their pursuit of faithful stewardship of character. Your name is a gift that's been given to you - have you been a good steward of it? What about of your Christian tradition?

5. Be a Prayer Warrior

We do far too much without ever asking God’s help or seeking God’s wisdom. We proceed in our own strength and wonder why we fail. Prayerfulness begins with our daily time of prayer before the Lord and extends as we pray for those around us (as discussed at “Pray For Your Block”) so that the Lord will go before us as we seek to transform Louisville (and beyond) in Christ’s Name.

6. Be a Messenger of Hope!

When Jesus Christ claims us for His Own, He sets us free to serve Him! We become “Messengers of Hope” who introduce others to His grace!

Some call this “Gossiping the Gospel”, but whatever you call it, it’s ultimately pointing beyond ourselves and to Jesus Christ the Lord and His Wonders to set free a world addicted to the “Sewers of the Self”!

7. Pursue Your Calling!

All God’s people have holy callings in their roles as men and women, husbands/fathers, wives/mothers, parents and children, citizens of the state, and business owners or employees. Some have special callings within the Church as well.

Do you have a special calling for service upon your life? If so, others will soon know it.