Photo: Bishops Rodgers and Murphy at Winter Conference 04

This week the Anglican Mission in The Americas (AMiA) is observing a milestone—its fifth anniversary. The Rwanda-based missionary movement that started with just a handful of churches has just added its 80th congregation, a church in West Chicago, Illinois. Other churches continue to be planted in areas around the country as the focus for the future remains the 130 million un-churched.

”This is a thoroughly sovereign work of God, and its God’s purpose that we be participants in what He desires to do, namely the Great Commission,” reflected the Rt. Rev. Chuck Murphy, AMiA’s Chairman. Chuck Murphy and Dr. John Rodgers, American Episcopal clergymen, were consecrated missionary bishops to the United States early in 2000 by African and Asian Archbishops. That move paved the way, later that same year, for the formation of the Anglican Mission in The Americas. The meeting in Amsterdam in July that produced the AMiA included the Anglican Primates of Rwanda and South East Asia, Bishops Murphy and Rodgers, Bishop John Rucyahana of Rwanda, Harry Griffith of the AMiA and Pittsburgh Bishop Bob Duncan, now Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network. The outcome formalized a movement to the United States, rooted in the vitality of the Global South, focused on evangelism and church planting. And the AMiA has done just that, announcing a new church, on average, about every three weeks over the last five years.

“I am reminded of Jesus’ parable in Mark 4:26,” shared Bishop Murphy.

"This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

“We have been blessed to experience the truth of that parable. Of course we have planted, and sown, and given oversight, but God has provided the increase,” Bishop Murphy added. Bishop John Rodgers, now retired, concurs: “In January of 2000, standing on the steps of St. Andrews Cathedral in Singapore just after our consecration, neither Chuck nor I had any idea what the Lord would do with this beginning. It has been a wonderful sign of His faithfulness to see how the Anglican Mission in The Americas has progressed and born fruit for the Lord despite all of our inadequacies.”

The Anglican Mission’s presence was not universally embraced. In fact, the fledgling group has faced tireless resistance, largely from those in the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) who saw the establishment of the AMiA as interference by Anglican leaders from other shores. But the AMiA has proven to be a breath of fresh Anglican air against the backdrop of ECUSA’s three decades long decline. Rwanda’s bold and prophetic act of establishing a missionary work in the United States is now the pattern for other global Anglican leaders, especially in the wake of ECUSA’s recent suspension from the Anglican Communion’s top governing bodies.

”We have been called to a prophetic work, as the global realignment continues to unfold across the Anglican Communion,” stated Bishop Murphy. “The action of the Primates of Rwanda and South East Asia in forming the Anglican Mission is coming to be understood, and that’s reflected in the support our leaders are receiving globally. An expression of that will be seen in our upcoming Winter Conference in January, where nine Anglican Primates will be in attendance.” Bishop Murphy, no stranger to running ahead of the pack, admitted that it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, “The prophetic nature of this call in the AMiA requires a willingness to seize upon the possibilities before others even have an awareness. But a broad understanding has been emerging, and we are working with a growing number of people in the Anglican family around the world.”

The Anglican Mission’s first five years have been filled with the work of planting churches and establishing flexible structures and support to release and strengthen the kind of ministry that will have long-term impact. This includes a commitment to strong affinity-based networks that will be the springboard for the next season of the Mission’s growth. 
( Read Highlights from last five years from Bishop Murphy's address at Winter Conference)

The connection with the sponsoring Province of Rwanda has been growing, as well. The four active AMiA bishops and some pastors regularly make the journey, and an increasing number of parishioners embark on what is quickly becoming a kind of pilgrimage to the small East African nation. Peg Henjum, a member of an AMiA congregation in Colorado, has just returned from her first visit to Rwanda. “Those of us involved in the AMIA are overwhelmingly blessed by being folded into the Rwandan family of God. We have no idea how blessed we are to have been given ‘birth’ into such a remarkable family.” Her recent trip marked a profound change in her life and outlook: “My flesh tone indicates I am ‘muzungu’(white). But my heart has changed tone.”
Cathedrals and parishes in Rwanda are being linked to churches in the Anglican Mission for ongoing relationships.

As the Anglican Mission notes the anniversary on July 28th it is very aware of the work yet to be done. “Our structures have been, by design, very fluid in order to adjust and adapt as necessary. We will be visiting that again as we move forward, as well as increasing our efforts to recruit the kind of leaders that will plant vital and effective churches that will reach people with the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ,” affirms Bishop Murphy. “We began with a charge to reach the un-churched, and that remains our call.” The Rt. Rev. Rodgers strikes the same tone: “It gives us great hope to know that He Who has done so much already for us and in and through us, is in charge of what is to come.”

Read Archbishop Yong's Greetings

Please click here to share your own journey from the last five years

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