Anglican Communion News Service

by Jan Nunley

[ENS] In a service that combined Anglican solemnity and Charismatic Renewal spontaneity, four American priests were consecrated by two archbishops of the Anglican Communion June 24 in Denver as "missionary bishops" to America for the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) under auspices of the provinces of Rwanda and South East Asia.

Cameras flashed as Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda and Datuk Yong Ping Chung of South East Asia, joined by retired American bishops Alex Dickson of Tennessee and Fitzsimmons Allison of South Carolina and John Rucyahana and Venuste Mutiganda of Rwanda, laid hands on Thaddeus Barnum, Alexander "Sandy" Greene, T.J. Johnston, and Douglas Weiss, bringing the number of AMiA bishops to six for the 5,000-member group.

The consecrations represented an unprecedented crossing of diocesan and provincial boundaries and was condemned last week by the Archbishop of Canterbury and several primates of the Anglican Communion as a violation of traditional Anglican polity. In his sermon to the gathering of almost a thousand people, Yong apologized to those who would be "offended or hurt" by the consecrations. "It is never our intention to offend or hurt them," he said. Later in the sermon he alluded to letters condemning the action, saying, "Despite tremendous pressure, we are going ahead with this consecration tonight."

Fifty clergymen processed down the aisle of the suburban Colorado Community Church with their hands upraised as the verses to "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus" were projected on to two screens flanking the dais. A praise band led by the Rev. Phil Eberhart of the newly-formed Resurrection Anglican Fellowship led the congregation in praise choruses prior to the service and in contemporary versions of traditional Anglican hymns.

The service was punctuated by "amens" and applause, with a standing ovation for AMiA bishop Charles Murphy as he thanked the two archbishops for providing "a way forward" for the AMiA.