Saturday, February 18, 2006
We moved to Africa - Spiritually
Abp. Kolini flanked by John (Snr. Warden) on the left and I on the rightA lot has happened since I was here last…
I left the Episcopal Church...or rather they left me. Our Lord has been merciful to me and by a confluence of events I had to leave. The physical ‘me’ was already gone but now all of me has left.
Here's how that happened...
My former local church had their Annual Meeting on January 22, 2006. I had harbored a desire to go there and get elected to the vestry (which would not be difficult for me) to continue to add my little bit to the pot, so to speak – the priest-in-charge had forbidden visitors (meaning me) to speak at vestry meetings, not even to ask a question, literally! (footnote – I had never been hostile to the priest, on the contrary I was previously a supporter. We had a different perspective on the way to grow the church. I am people-based, he, program-based but he was still my spiritual father).
Anyway, God had other plans for me
About summer-fall 2005 I finally found the “African-church” I had been looking for – entirely by accident (that’s how I found my previous local church). That church was The Anglican Church of the Word, (an Anglican church with the word WORD in its name – WOW!) They, (I am now proud to say We) are a part of the A.M.I.A. and are members of the Province of Rwanda under Abp Kolini.
Like Joshua I spied out the land and then told my wife and family – we are moving our spiritual house to Africa. We are Jamaican (black) so this has a special significance to me…more on this some other time.
ACOW, as we affectionately call The Anglican Church of the Word has about 140 or so members – yes I am a minority, so what!
As if finding a new local church wasn’t enough, I was elected to Vestry2006. As if that wasn’t enough, I was elected Junior Warden. Who says GOD doesn’t have a sense of humor. That was the nail in the coffin – let the dead bury the dead. I still have friends at my former church whom I love very much and worry about their welfare but they know what the deal is (I am very transparent) - I had to let go and GO.
I left the Episcopal Church...or rather they left me. Our Lord has been merciful to me and by a confluence of events I had to leave. The physical ‘me’ was already gone but now all of me has left.
Here's how that happened...
My former local church had their Annual Meeting on January 22, 2006. I had harbored a desire to go there and get elected to the vestry (which would not be difficult for me) to continue to add my little bit to the pot, so to speak – the priest-in-charge had forbidden visitors (meaning me) to speak at vestry meetings, not even to ask a question, literally! (footnote – I had never been hostile to the priest, on the contrary I was previously a supporter. We had a different perspective on the way to grow the church. I am people-based, he, program-based but he was still my spiritual father).
Anyway, God had other plans for me
About summer-fall 2005 I finally found the “African-church” I had been looking for – entirely by accident (that’s how I found my previous local church). That church was The Anglican Church of the Word, (an Anglican church with the word WORD in its name – WOW!) They, (I am now proud to say We) are a part of the A.M.I.A. and are members of the Province of Rwanda under Abp Kolini.
Like Joshua I spied out the land and then told my wife and family – we are moving our spiritual house to Africa. We are Jamaican (black) so this has a special significance to me…more on this some other time.
ACOW, as we affectionately call The Anglican Church of the Word has about 140 or so members – yes I am a minority, so what!
As if finding a new local church wasn’t enough, I was elected to Vestry2006. As if that wasn’t enough, I was elected Junior Warden. Who says GOD doesn’t have a sense of humor. That was the nail in the coffin – let the dead bury the dead. I still have friends at my former church whom I love very much and worry about their welfare but they know what the deal is (I am very transparent) - I had to let go and GO.
There is a “me-shaped vacuum” at ACOW which I have to be faithful to. It’s that simple.
# posted by subjective object @ Saturday, February 18, 2006 
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Hi,
I love your webpage -- just thfought I'd let you know.
God bless you.
Love, Flo Taber-Brown
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I love your webpage -- just thfought I'd let you know.
God bless you.
Love, Flo Taber-Brown
# posted by 
: 9:34 AM
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