Practical Questions & Answers
What is the primary vision of the Anglican Mission?
What is your overall strategy for growth?
How does a congregation become a part of theAM?
Are Anglican Mission bishops "real" Rwandan bishops?
What is your relationship with the Anglican Church in North America?
What is the Anglican Mission's position on the ordination of women?
How did you develop this position on the ordination of women?
How are Anglican Mission leaders identified and developed?
How do affiliated congregations support theAM?
Does theAM have any claim on the property of its affiliated congregations?
What is your approach to pastoral care and discipline of clergy?
How can I contact theAM?
What is the primary vision of the Anglican Mission?
The Anglican Mission is a missionary outreach of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, focused on reaching out to the 130 million unchurched in North America primarily through church planting. Our vision to faithfully fulfill Christ's Mission as outlined in the Great Commandment and Great Commission. This focus engages most of our resources in theAM. See our Values and Core Commitments here.
What is your overall strategy for growth?
The Anglican Mission grows in three ways. We receive active congregations seeking to join; we respond to lay-initiated fellowships that request our assistance in moving to congregational or fellowship affiliation; and we strategically initiate new works. All potential congregations follow specific steps of an affiliation process. Over 60% of our congregations are new works planted with the goal of evangelizing people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Back to top
How does a congregation become a part of theAM?
TheAM has three categories of Affiliated Missional Communities: Affiliated Congregations, Affiliated Fellowships and Affiliated Ministries. We also have a significant number of Unaffiliated Emerging Works. Read more about each category of affiliations and guidelines here.
For more information or to receive an Affiliation Packet, please contact the Anglican Mission office.
Back to top
Are Anglican Mission bishops "real" Rwandan bishops?
The Anglican Mission bishops are members of the Rwandan House of Bishops, and their consecrations have been conducted according to the Constitution and Canons of the Province of Rwanda, with Anglican Mission clergy received and ordained under its authority.
Back to top
What is your relationship with the Anglican Church in North America?
The Anglican Mission played a significant role in establishing the Anglican Church is North America (ACNA). The ACNA's Constitutions and Canons are "generous and flexible" enabling membership by two countries and several jurisdictions, demonstrating flexibility for the various jurisdictions. This allows theAM to enjoy dual citizenship, a both/and membership reality. For more information on our history and roots, see TheAM Story.
Back to top
What is the Anglican Mission's position on the ordination of women?
The Anglican Mission in the Americas provides a way to maintain the integrity, and honor the consciences, of those with differing opinions and policies on women's ordination.
Read the AMiA Women's Ordination Study.
Back to top
How did you develop this position on the ordination of women?
Based on a careful study undertaken by the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Rodgers, the Anglican Mission in America determined that the most faithful response to the witness of Scripture and its teaching on headship would dictate that women be ordained only to the diaconate. While recognizing that the Church is presently seeking further clarity in this matter, the important concept of "headship" proved to be the most critical issue for us as we developed our policy on the issue of women's ordination.
In 2007, the Anglican Mission expanded its structure at the request of Archbishop Kolini by creating the Anglican Mission in the Americas, an umbrella organization made up of three entities: The Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), the Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC) and the Anglican Coalition in America (ACiA). TheAM's umbrella organization embraces two countries (the US and Canada) as well as two positions on the ordination of women. The ACiC and the ACIA ordain women to the priesthood, as does the Province of Rwanda, while the AMiA maintains its policy of ordaining women only to the diaconate.
Back to top
How are Anglican Mission leaders identified and developed?
See the Leadership Development section to learn more about how theAM works to identify, recruit, train and equip Laity and clergy.
Back to top
How do affiliated congregations support theAM?
Given the Biblical principle of tithing as our standard for stewardship, all Anglican Mission congregations are expected to participate in theAM's 10-10-10 stewardship model in which individuals give 10% to the local church; our congregations give 10% to the Anglican Mission; and theAM gives 10% to the Province of Rwanda. Learn more about AM giving opportunities here.
Back to top
Does theAM have any claim on the property of its affiliated congregations?
Neither the Anglican Mission nor the Province of Rwanda makes any claim on real property or other assets held by our affiliated congregations and fellowships. The Anglican Mission expects each local church to obtain tax exempt 501(C)3 status with the Internal Revenue Service and to meet all standards as a religious corporation in their state or commonwealth. Canadian Churches are expected to meet the corresponding Canadian law. Additionally, Anglican Mission churches are expected to carry indemnity and liability insurance.
Back to top
What is your approach to pastoral care and discipline of clergy?
The Anglican Mission believes the most effective ministry happens at the local level and this includes pastoral care. Mission Networks emphasize the importance of pastoral care for clergy in practical ways including identifying leaders who are trained, or willing to be trained, in crisis intervention and marriage (family) support.
TheAM also requires all leaders to complete a program called "Avoiding the Millstone" which provides both training on how to avoid sexual misconduct as well as appropriate responses to situations which may arise in the life of the congregation. Additionally, a newly formed Pastoral Response Team is developing procedures for crisis response and conflict resolution. Bishops, in their role as chief pastors, exercise disciplinary oversight to address clergy misconduct under the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
Back to top
How can I contact theAM?
Please visit our contact page for more information and directions.
