New Around the Mission

June 16, 2010

Bishop Barnum Enters a New Season of Ministry

Starting July 1, 2010, Bishop Thad Barnum will launch an exciting new season of ministry in his role as a missionary bishop – promoting discipleship in the local church through the Anglican Mission and beyond. Continuing as Rector of Church of the Apostles in Fairfield, Connecticut, Bishop Thad will step away from overseeing clergy and congregations in the Anglican Mission to commit to call2disciple for this next chapter of his episcopal ministry.

Building on 30-years of making and equipping disciples, Bishop Thad will seek to stir up vision, desire and passion for discipleship in the local church.

Bishop Murphy, Chairman of theAM, as well as the Board of Directors, enthusiastically endorse this new call. “As missionary bishops, we have unique flexibility and creativity in shaping and fulfilling our ministries,” Bishop Murphy explains. “Thad has my support for this innovative initiative which will utilize his gifts and passions to enhance our mission as he focuses on one of our core commitments – discipleship.”

Bishop Thad remains an active bishop serving on the Council of Bishops, but will no longer provide oversight for the Northeast Network. Instead, he will devote weekly time and monthly travels to clergy, churches and networks that seek to implement effective and fruitful discipleship work in their local settings.

“I look forward to focusing on the essential work of local discipleship, the maturing of saints ‘for the work of service’ (Eph 4:11-13),” says Bishop Thad. “Since June 2001, I have served as a bishop in the Anglican Mission, and my responsibilities left little time to come alongside [my wife] Erilynne in her work of discipleship. And, to be honest, this is my heart and passion. This new venture will allow me to fulfill my role as bishop in a new and creative way.”

Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Recent News