The Forward in Faith (North America) task force has not had a face to face meeting recently. However, we do have some resources to share with Anglo-Catholic church planters, wherever they might be.
As part of its continuing education program, FiFNA recorded three videos about Anglican church planting with two members of the FiFNA council. Fr. Chris Culpepper is the founding president of this task force, while Bp. Keith Ackerman is the retired diocesan bishop of Quincy. Both are rectors of ACNA parishes in the Diocese of Ft. Worth.
This is not the first time that Fr. Culpepper has recorded a video about Anglican church planting: he previously spoke about his church planting experience at the 2016 FiFNA annual assembly.
“Anglo Catholic Church Planting”: Fr. Culpepper and Bp. Ackerman
In this 32 minute video, Bp. Ackerman asks Fr. Culpepper about the challenges and opportunities of planting a new Anglican church in the catholic tradition of the undivided church.
Fr. Culpepper recounts his own church planting experience in the Diocese, first in Ft. Worth and later helping to start two missions in college towns south of Dallas. As the church prepared to offer regular Sunday morning service, the first question was how do you prepare to offer a healthy church for prospective members to attend?
He next discusses how to create a vibrant parish. One aspect is how a new parish — meeting in shopping center with limited resources — ramps up to offer worship in a form that is recognizably Anglo-Catholic. Another is how to attract and organize the resources needed by the new parish in a way that is understood by parishioners with business experience.
He also discusses how Anglican church planters can learn from church planters in other traditions, including advice from experience church planting coaches and written memoirs. Finally, he discusses the traits, attitudes and behaviors that help improve the odds of success for a church planting team.
“Fr. Culpepper continues the discussion on church planting”
The previous video is continued with a 42-minute video by Fr. Culpepper discussing the challenges and pitfalls that Anglo-Catholic church planters face — both inside their parish, and in their relationship to the mission field. As in the first video, he argues that church planters must put the Great Commandment (love thy neighbor) ahead of the Great Commission (making disciples of all nations).
“The Missional Church”: Bp. Ackerman
This 37 minute video concludes the FIF video series. In it, Bp. Ackerman asks how a new Anglo-Catholic church can offer both the timeless historic faith, and at the same time a distinct mission and ministry to its local community.
