Clergy Candidates for The Provincial Assembly. 7 Clergy Delegates to be Elected

Transcription

1 Clergy Candidates for The Provincial Assembly 7 Clergy Delegates to be Elected

2 The Rev. Joe Acanfora Church of the Apostles, Fairfax VA I am a life- long believer in Jesus and his redemption of my life and the entire world s. While always a believer, my faith did not begin to approach spiritual maturity until my late thirties when over the course of time my sense of vocation was re- awakened and in time re- engaged my call to serve as an ordained minister in God s church, which continue in today. Vision building and implementation Prayerful discernment Team building/leadership All under the Lordship of Jesus Christ Rector: Church of the Apostles, Fairfax VA Present Co- organizer of 1 st DOMA Clergy and Spouse Retreat 2013 Parish rector: Christ Church, Gilbertville NY Spiritual Director of Diocese of Albany Men s Cursillo Exec. V.P. Sales/Marketing- LL Technologies Futures Committee: Diocese of Albany- Redirection of Vision Director of Operations- LML Technologies Standing Committee- Diocese of Albany The Rev. Jim Beavers Christ Anglican Fellowship, Orange VA I was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and came to faith in Christ and was baptized in a Baptist Church there. While attending The College of William and Mary, I explored several churches then joined a new interdenominational church where I served in various lay leadership roles for the next fifteen years. In 1990 I became Headmaster of Trinity Christian School based at Truro Church. It was at Truro that I found myself drawn to Anglican worship and was confirmed there in Two years later, my family and I were sent out with others from Truro to found Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church (Centreville, VA) under The Rev. Tom Herrick. I served in lay leadership roles from the church s inception, including Senior Warden. Following the dramatic

3 events of 2003, I felt called by God to pursue seminary training and Anglican ordination in order to devote the rest of my life in the building/rebuilding the Church. I earned my M.Div. from Trinity School for Ministry (Ambridge, PA) in 2009 and was ordained priest in 2010 by Bishop Guernsey. After serving as Director of Communications for the seminary, I returned to Virginia; in May 2011 I was appointed Vicar of Christ Anglican Fellowship (Orange, Virginia) where I continue to joyfully serve. I was elected to the inaugural Standing Committee for DOMA and have served for these first two years. I have employed my broad education and understanding of Scripture during that time but perhaps most of all I have listened to the Lord and my fellow committee members. Together we have witnessed the Holy Spirit bring clarity and direction on sometimes difficult questions, all with a remarkable sense of harmony and unity. I have learned to pray before and in the midst of meetings and have sensed God s wisdom coming at important junctures. By God s grace, I have well-developed communications skills and have been able to offer help in these areas during my term. Although not technically a skill or gift, I am able to bring the perspective of a mission church among the committee members, most of whom come from large, established churches. In a Diocese committed to church planting and growing smaller churches, a mission church s input can be of great value. Over four decades of faith, Bible study, and prayer. A lifetime of church experience, most as a lay person and leader, and now as a priest. The ability to work well with a broad range of people. Almost 30 years of church planting experience. Multiple short-term mission trips, some as leader. Deep love for and ministry among internationals. Experience in large church settings as well as my current position leading a mission church in a rural setting. The Rev. David Drake Church of the Resurrection, Lutherville MD I received Christ as my Lord and Savior at 14 years old through FOCUS (Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools). After graduating from college in 1991, I spent 11 years in Youth ministry in Baltimore, Washington, and Boston. I graduated from Trinity School for Ministry in 2005 and served at Holy Trinity Church, Raleigh for 5 years. I have served at Church of the Resurrection in Baltimore since 2010.

4 Training and experience in leadership; past experience as a delegate. A love for the Church and a desire to see the ACNA grow and flourish. Delegate to the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Delegate to 2009 ACNA Provincial Assembly MC of 2012 ACNA Provincial Assembly Bishop Search Committee for Diocese of the Mid- Atlantic The Rev. Peter Frank Church of the Epiphany, Herndon VA I am a sinner saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I was transformed by the power of the gospel in college when I discovered that God s love for me was more powerful than my many imperfections. My faith was strengthened and confirmed as I studied Holy Scripture and found it to be trustworthy and as I learned the creeds and found them to be wise. Most of all, I discovered that I can meet with this God who loves me in worship and as part of the church. I have professional expertise in communications and public relations. I consistently complete assigned tasks I have an ability to think strategically in order to solve problems and recognize opportunities. I understand and support the direction our Bishop is leading our diocese. Standing Committee Member Diocese of the Mid- Atlantic present Senior Associate Rector Church of the Epiphany, present Director of Communications Anglican Church in North America Director of Communications Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh North American Media Lead Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) 2008

5 The Rev. Michael Guernsey Church of the Epiphany, Herndon VA I came to know the Lord as a child, and by his grace He has never let me go. One of the most significant aspects of my spiritual journey is that when I was about twelve- years- old, I decided that I would pray and read the Bible everyday (a discipline that I have continued for the past sixteen years). I have grown to love the Lord more and more through reading and studying his Word. Now as a priest, one of the most rewarding and exciting aspects of my calling is the privilege of teaching and preaching the Word. I am passionate about sharing the life- changing Word of God with those in our congregation. First of all, I am very excited about the possibility of participating in the work of the ACNA as a Clergy Delegate to the Provincial Assembly. I have a significant desire to work within the broader ACNA and would be honored to serve as a Clergy Delegate. I am a very organized and thorough worker. I am able both to work independently on assigned tasks, as well as work cooperatively as a member of a team. I am eager to learn and serve as a young priest in DOMA. I would bring excitement, passion, and a willingness to learn and serve to the team of Delegates. As a teenager, I participated at the Episcopal Church s General Convention on a youth team at both the 2000 and 2003 General Conventions. More recently, I served as a delegate at GAFCON in Jerusalem in Currently, in my role as one of the priests at the Church of the Epiphany in Herndon, I work with the Vestry and serve on the Executive Committee (clergy and wardens). Through these leadership bodies at Church of the Epiphany I am gaining experience in the visioning, leadership, and administrative aspects of the Church. The Rev. David Hanke Restoration Anglican Church, Arlington, VA I was baptized as an infant and grew up in a home that regularly worshipped Jesus and looked for ways to serve those who were in need. I became serious about my relationship with Christ during my senior year of college. I had come to a place where the props I had chosen to make myself feel valuable were no longer working. I was feeling desperate about my future and wondering if there was more to life than I could see on the horizon. A good

6 friend took the time to explain the interest that Jesus had in my life and the care that Jesus was demonstrating for these questions that felt so profound. My friend showed me how the Scriptures labeled my behavior as sin and how God had promised a way out for those who trusted Him. Even more, I saw that forgiveness in Christ offered me freedom, a clean slate, and the opportunity to live my life in a new way. I confessed my sin. I apologized to God; I thanked him for what Jesus did on the cross. I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me and lead my life. Over the last twenty years, I have been actively involved in talking with my friends about Jesus and inviting them to consider a new life with Him. For ten years I was on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the University of Texas and for ten years, I have been training and leading in the context of the Anglican church. I am very interested in seeing our nascent province transition from a confederation of Anglican lifeboats into a unified structure that empowers the mission of the church. I have enjoyed church planting and want to offer some of my experience to the provincial conversation about missional growth. I am serving our diocese as a delegate to GAFCON II. I have participated in a network of church planters here in our diocese that seeks to encourage and assist each other. I have helped to facilitate a regular gathering of preachers for their mutual instruction and improvement. I am learning how to use some of my experiences at Restoration for the good of those in our diocese who are trying to increase their missional impact through the local church. The Rev. Tom Herrick Titus Church Planting/ Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax VA My mom and dad were the two most significant people in my life, teaching me to pray and incorporate spiritual disciplines into my life. We went to church every Sunday without exception, normally to St. Paul s Roman Catholic Church, where we also went to elementary and middle school. The nuns at St. Paul s were strict disciplinarians and good teachers who laid my early spiritual foundations. But, it was the Marianist brothers and priests who had the more profound effect on me, bringing me into a personal relationship with Jesus and praying with me to receive the Baptism of the Spirit and begin a life of discipleship. My faith

7 grew in wild and wonderful ways, especially after graduating from college, when I spent the next five years living in Christian community at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Houston, Texas. It was there that Jesus words Follow Me took on a whole new meaning. Community life had a way of differentiating between knowing Jesus as Savior and obeying Him as Lord. It was during this time that I met and married Carol, my wonderful wife of 36 years. She easily earns the title of Most Influential Person in my life. Our marriage and her love for me have been the vehicles of God s work of transformation. Learning not to take myself too seriously, how to play and to rest, and learning to truly listen are some of her many gifts to me. Yet her two greatest gifts have been our children, Angela and Nick. What I didn t learn about life becoming a husband, they have helped me to learn as their father. Their strength, inquisitiveness, and love of life have challenged me, stretched me, but primarily made me forever grateful for the gifts they are to me. I have enjoyed two careers in the course of my life. The first was as an elementary school teacher, which defined much about my primary calling and gave me a deep and abiding love for children. The second is as an ordained priest, which has given me the joys and challenges of being a church planter and discipler of leaders. Significant people during my adult years are many: my sponsoring priest, Melvin Gray, who introduced me to the beauty of contemplative prayer and liturgical worship; my spiritual director, Fr. Edward, who grounded me in St. Benedict s Rule of Life and reintroduced me to the spiritual disciplines of my youth; and my mentoring priest, long- time friend, and now my bishop, John Guernsey, who challenged me to step outside my comfort zones and learn to trust the abundant and unfailing grace of God in all I do. Certainly the most significant events of my adult years as a priest have been the planting of Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church, our decision to leave the Episcopal Church and realign as Anglicans, my involvement in the shaping of our Anglican movement, and establishing the Titus Institute for Church Planting to coach, train, and deploy church planters. I am happily pursuing the mission God has given me to raise up church planters to reach 150 million North Americans with the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My life mission and calling can best be described in St. Paul s words to the Ephesians in 4:12, summarized by the motto of my alma mater Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary: equipping Church leaders to think theologically, engage globally and live biblically. I have worked at the parish, diocesan, and national levels as an ordained clergy for 21 years to promote God s mission through the Church. I understand the dynamics of inspiring leaders at each of these levels of organization and have had rich experiences in doing so. God has honed gifts for evangelism, teaching, discipling and developing leaders, casting vision, thinking strategically, and organizing and coordinating the efforts of Church leaders to engage our world for Jesus.

8 I have planted two churches and have been directly involved in over 100 other church plants as a coach, trainer, and consultant. I helped organize the Commission for Church Planting in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, serving for six of the nine years as chair of the commission. After leaving the Episcopal Church, I served for two and a half years as the national director for church planting in the Anglican Communion Network. As executive director of the Titus Institute for the past seven years, I have worked extensively with five Anglican dioceses helping them to stimulate and coordinate their church planting efforts. I understand the mission of the Church and have lots of experience working with her leaders to clarify vision and strategically plan for mission. The Rev. Herb McMullan St. Patrick s- in- the- Mountains, Fort Valley VA As an infant, my parents offered me for christening and dedication as their firstborn son to the Lord. I was baptized into the Body of Christ, the Church in1977, ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 1982, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on March 6, As a chosen disciple of Jesus, Messiah, Savior, Lord, I seek daily to walk with the Lord, doing the Kingdom work of Our Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Gift of preaching and teaching Called to hold up our right and our responsibility in maintaining the integrity of our identity as Anglicans within Christ s Body in the world. Called to the transformation of persons and the formation of disciples of all nations Anointed to be the Teacher in our St. Patrick s Sabbath Household life together Director of Outreach, Truro Church, Commissioner, Standing Commission on International Peace and Justice Concerns of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church Chairman, Diocese of Virginia World Missions Committee Founding Board Member, Anglican Global Mission Partners

9 The Rev. Dan Morgan All Saints Church, Woodbridge, VA I am a cradle Anglican. I grew up in Woodbury CT at St Paul s church where Samuel Seabury was sent from to be ordained among the first bishops of the US. I gave my life to Christ on a retreat weekend with FOCUS, a private secondary school ministry founded by Peter Moore. I graduated from Gordon College, a Christian College on the North shore of Boston, with a degree in psychology. After college I began to pursue my call to ministry by serving full time on staff with FOCUS in the Boston area and part time as youth minister for two churches in the local area. I received an MDIV from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge PA. After Graduation I served at Christ Church in Savannah GA from 93-99, at St Paul s Darien CT. from and now as Rector of All Saints Woodbridge. I can say my walk with the Lord has been one where He has always met me where I am and taken me to challenging times in my life and ministry where His strength has led me through. I think that my ministry experience and exposure to mission and ministry throughout the province gives me a more global understanding of where the church is and how it is growing. I also have a heart for the coming generations and the expansion of the church through outreach and church planting. I believe that because of the churches I have served in, the networks I am associated with and the friendships I have across the province I have a voice that can serve a broad understanding and purpose. I have been involved in church planting support in two churches. I am a board member of the American Anglican Council; I have been on multiple short- term mission trips (including Kenya and Uganda with SOMA). I have a heart for youth ministry and have served for 20 years as a youth minister. I love the church and desire to see her flourish in the fullness of its three streams, Catholic, Charismatic and Evangelical streams.

10 The Rev. Becki Neumann Christ Church, Loudoun County I was born into a Christian family and raised in the Episcopal Church, being baptized, confirmed, and married at St. John s in Hagerstown, MD. As a result of a televised Billy Graham crusade, I gave my life to Christ at age 12, and began to study God s word written. I was active in choir, taught VBS, and was president of the youth group. At age 15, a few years before women s ordination, I felt called to ordained ministry. Throughout college, early married life, and young parenthood, I remained involved with the church. At age 38 I had a powerful, life- changing encounter with the Holy Spirit, after which life was never the same. The call to ordination had never gone away, and at the age of 40 I was compelled to act upon it. I left a highly successful career as a teacher to go to seminary, and was later ordained to the diaconate and then to the priesthood. After serving five years in TEC, I was called to lead South Riding Anglican Church, a call that surprised and delighted me. My life s work is to create the context where people can have a life- changing encounter with Jesus, who brings healing, hope, and abundant life to all who call upon his name. I am sold out to Christ, to the ACNA, and to the people I have the privilege of serving. I am a gifted listener, good at finding a way forward in the midst of differences and conflict. On any spiritual gifts inventory I rank highest in administration I am good at organizing people, ideas, and things, pastoral care Jesus has filled my heart with his compassion for the world, and discernment. On any multiple choice test there is usually an E) all of the above. My work as the rector of a parish, my experience on Standing Committee here in the DOMA, my work as a director of a diocesan youth camp, my training and education all would contribute to my participation as a delegate, as would my passion for youth, and my desire and study with regard to church growth, and my abounding love for Jesus and for his church.

11 The Rev. Clancy Nixon Church of the Holy Spirit, Leesburg VA I came to Christ at age 14 at the Diocese of Pittsburgh Episcopal summer camp. I had no home church, and I was not discipled. I walked away from God at age 18, and returned at age 25. This time, I was radically saved. I met my wife Ginger in Church. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit soon after. I practiced law for 15 years, and volunteered as a youth leader at Church of the Apostles. Andrew Murray s Abide in Christ was important to my spiritual development, as was my mentor from Campus Crusade. I discerned a call to ordained ministry and church planting in 1993, by the grace of God. After time at Virginia Seminary and Truro Church, we planted Church of the Holy Spirit in Leesburg in 2001, where we continue to serve. I love the Lord Jesus, believe His Word is true, and long to see revival come to our area. I know our bishop well and understand his priorities. I ve been told that I operate in gifts of discernment, leadership, and wisdom. I am skilled in church planting and mission development, two areas that our Assembly deals with. I m not shy to speak in public gatherings when that seems called for. My legal and Biblical training helps me understand the issues at stake in Synods. I prioritize prayer. I currently serve Bishop Guernsey as Chair of our Great Commission Committee. I ve served on the GCC or its predecessors as a working member for over 20 years. In that capacity, I ve interfaced with many churches of our Diocese. It is my passion and joy to see new churches be planted, and God s Kingdom advance in that way. I am also a Certified Coach, and coach planters and other church leaders. I m a past member of the ADV Standing Committee, and ADV Constitution and Canons Committee. My legal background is sometimes helpful in matters of Canon Law interpretation. I ve served regularly as a delegate to our Assembly, and before that, to the ACN. I know many in our Diocese and believe I can represent our interests and priorities well. I ve served as clergy staff on large churches, small churches, a church plant and now a medium size church, and believe I understand the dynamics of those types of church.

12 The Rev. Meg Saunders St. Brendan s in the City, Washington DC From a young age I was introduced to a loving, knowable God both from my church and from an organization in my secondary school called Young Life (YL). As a teenager, I made a public profession of faith, desiring to allow God to change my life. In my second year of college, during a work experience at a Young Life camp in North Carolina, I decided I wanted to join Jesus Christ in a relationship and begin learning what it means to follow Him in a relationship of love and sonship for the rest of my life. I turned over as much as I knew about myself to as much as I knew about Him. Entrusting my life in His. Most notably, this influenced the decisions I made and would make about the person I wanted to become (character and presence). After college graduation, I began working on Capitol Hill in the House of Representatives. Almost immediately, I was confronted with and challenged by a culture which did not necessarily value ideas like honesty, respect or truth principles I was seeking to practice. In the first several years of my young professional life, I learned a priceless principle: the only way I was going to make decisions which honored God and kept me in His plan was if I sought the wisdom of my peers who are more seasoned than me. This is something I continue to practice today. Committed to Christ, Thinks analytically Speaking Writing Team player Compassionate Empathetic Listener Balanced sense of self Observer Seeks wisdom of others Good judgment Approachable Advisor Diplomatic Connector Likes to read and improve knowledge on a wide variety of topics

13 Desirous to see others come into understanding and experience of an intimate relationship with God - through coming into a better understanding of who they are and their relationships with others Comfortable representing different people, both in my jobs in the House of Representatives and in the Senate Chaplain s office New member of the clergy will bring fresh eyes to the position Recent graduate of seminary will bring perspective and historical view to church polity and function Advisor to Senate Chaplain for over seven years Pastoral work both in the Senate Chaplain s office and in the summer internship at The Falls Church Anglican Published writer, contributes to critical and analytical thinking Cross- cultural experience: as a missionary (in Nairobi, Kenya) and as a post- grad student (in Oxford, England) Also, have traveled extensively overseas in both short- term missions and diplomatically representing the US government Likewise, most recently studied in Jerusalem, Israel and lived with a Palestinian Christian family in the West Bank Mentoring women one- on- one, life- on- life Well aware that every position I have includes serving others

14 The Rev. Wright Wall Church of All Nations DC Anglican Church, Washington DC I am a cradle Anglican. I was baptized at Grace Church in Alexandria and confirmed at St. Paul s in Old Town. However, I really came to understand and receive the gospel while a cadet at West Point through the ministry of the Navigators. God really used small groups and on- on- one relationships to help me grow as a disciple and laborer. We discerned a call to full- time ministry in the context of community while parishioners at The Falls Church in I was ordained to the diaconate in November 2008 and to the presbyterate in May I am serving as pastor of All Nations DC Anglican Church in NW DC. God is continuing to teach me what it looks like to trust Him in all areas. Before becoming ordained, I was a Captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers. After that I was a Management Consultant in Accenture s Communications and High Tech Strategy Practice and a National Director of New Channel Development for a large wholesale distributor. I think these experiences have helped me learn to work with a wide variety of people on some complex missions/issues. I think I can balance having a strong attention to detail while keeping the big picture in mind. I think I could bring the perspective of an ordained person. However, having spent years as an adult layman, I think I could bring that perspective too. Also, as a church planter I think I will be able to identify with the perspective of a smaller church. However, coming from The Falls Church, I think I could also bring the perspective of a larger church.