Synod 2020: The Upward Call
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14
In the midst of these unprecedented times faced by our churches, our nation, and the world, Synod 2020: The Upward Call challenged the Anglican Diocese in New England to recenter on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to press into its mission for the reawakening of New England.
On Saturday, September 26, an eager team of volunteers assembled in the early morning while mist still hung in the air to transform a grassy, sloping lawn on the campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary into a beautiful outdoor cathedral. Much of the location logistics were already established due to the great work of Rev. Cn. Tim Clayton, Olivia Spinney, Dano Jukanovich, Michael Pritzl, Deby Baker, and others from Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church (CTR, Danvers, MA) a congregation that has spent much of the summer worshiping at this location.
As CTR organist Dan McKinley provided a prelude, the lawn began to fill with masked clergy, delegates, and guests who exchanged friendly greetings after enduring months of isolation and virtual gatherings. Michael and Amber Pritzl as well as Ian Clayton were instrumental in ensuring the sound system setup and live stream ran smoothly - no small feat for an event outdoors.
Just after 10:30am, the service began with the great Anglican hymn, Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven led by the choir of St. Peter’s Anglican Church of Uganda (Belmont, MA). Following this, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Williams, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese in New England officially opened the gathering by saying, “this is a glorious moment in a time of viral warfare that is teaching us all to savor that which is true, that which is noble, right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable—excellent and praiseworthy.” He then invited all those who arrived wearied by a long and challenging year, to both cast their burdens on the Lord (Psalm 55) and to bring before him the things they struggle to believe God for (John 14:1).
The service continued, led by CTR worship leader, Michael Pritzl and a team of other talented musicians and vocalists from around the diocese including Rev. Evan Pillsbury, Rev. Amy Howard, Rev. Dan Sylvia, and Isaiah Sylvia. Hands raised and voices rang out declaring the Kingship of Jesus and confessing our desperation for Him alone.
Recognitions and Awards
This year, three newly ordained clergy were recognized: Rev. Wendy Dixon, priest at Christ the Redeemer (Danvers, MA), Rev. Gayle Heaslip, priest at Emmaus Anglican Church (Falmouth, MA), and Rev. Skip Downing, deacon at Grace Anglican (Newport, NH).
Clergy new to the ADNE were welcomed, including Rev. Chuck Bradshaw, priest at Imago Dei Anglican Church (Bangor, ME) and former missionary to Uganda, and Rev. Lucy Albert, deacon at All Saints Anglican Cathedral (Amesbury, MA) who came to the ANDE from the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.
Three clergy persons were licensed within the service including Rev. Dan Wolf, who moved his family to Maine from Florida to plant Rise Church in Portland, along with Revs Sean and Kate Norris, who are planting Dandelion Ministries on Long Island, NY, creating a new missional arts community and place of retreat, sabbatical, recovery, and incubator of new ministries. Each had an opportunity to share recent breakthroughs and the biggest challenges for their ministries.
This year, Bishop Andrew’s Building for the Kingdom Award was presented to Rev. Bryan Bywater, rector of The Street Church in downtown Hartford, CT for his commitment to the least, last, and lost. The vibrant ministry of the Street Church captured the full attention of the diocese with this article from March 2020. When Covid-19 forced many of his congregants and friends out of shelters in early spring, people from around the diocese responded by purchasing over 30 bags and sleeping pads. Rev. Bryan also regularly ministers to the residents of area nursing homes. When the doors became locked to him, he still visited with elderly saints via FaceTime on an iPad, and prayed for them on the other side of their window panes. After receiving the award, Rev. Bryan gave recent testimony but also asked for the diocese to continue lifting him in prayer during this tiring season. Bishop Andrew prayed over Rev. Bryan, reading the words of Ezekiel 34, beginning with, “ I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep…”
The Venerable Alex Kasirye-Musoke, Archdeacon to Ugandan Churches, delivered readings from the Prophet Micah and the Gospel of Luke. It was good to hear him read these passages in person with the diocese; in late April, Ven. Alex was hospitalized with a severe case of Covid-19 and the call to pray for his recovery reached an online audience of 65,000.
The Micah Challenge
Bishop Andrew began his sermon by praising the clergy and leaders of the diocese, saying,
2020 has been a battle and it is not over. But we know that our faith is built in the dark, in the valleys, and during the back-breaking battles of life - and in the darkness, in the valleys and in the battle, you have been so very faithful. The pessimist complains about the wind and the rain. The optimist expects it all to change in an instant. The greatest leader adjusts the sails and lets the Spirit of God propel them forward. You are that leader. God has asked you to go where there has been no path and no trail. But you have sought His vision. You have led from the frontline… and today is not about waiting for the storm to pass but about dancing in the reign of His Lordship.
Bishop Andrew then went on to share the simple values upon which the Lord’s leaders will march forward in victory: “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” preaching on each of the three values listed by the prophet Micah. He charged the diocese to fall in love with the mercy of God all over again, extending this gospel to as many as possible in humility, and to engage in both rectifying justice and primary justice as we take our place in God’s great restoration movement.
He ended his message with the example of Winston Churchill who during some of the darkest days in WWII not only held personal confidence in the Allies’ victory but imparted that same confidence to those who heard him. As believers, “we already have the victory in Jesus Christ, and our call is to be a people who serve out of the supreme confidence we have in His victory.”
Never give in! Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or trivial – never give in, except to the leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. With humility, mercy and in the pursuit of His justice, let us do it all with thanks to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Following the sermon and a time of confession, Bishop Andrew led all ADNE clergy in reaffirming their ordination vows. The Rt. Rev. Bill Murdoch, founding Bishop of the ADNE, brought greetings on behalf of the Anglican Church in North America, and led the people of God in saying the Nicene Creed. As the band led a slow and moving version of O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, attendees gave offerings to the ministry of the Street Church.
Bishop Andrew celebrated the Eucharist with Bishop Bill at the table, and a team of clergy distributed the sacrament to socially distant attendees where they stood. Prayer ministry was offered on the side of the lawn and worship continued with several songs that spoke to the same theme of remaining confident in the Lord including King of My Heart and The Solid Rock. After Bishop Andrew extended a blessing, and Venerable Dorcas Albrecht, Archdeacon of Kenyan Churches, gave the dismissal, the band closed Synod with the song, The Blessing.
New Challenges and New Innovation
At the head of the logistic efforts was Rev. Lucy Albert, a newcomer to the ADNE who fearlessly led with both confidence and competence. Those also involved in planning were Elena Williams, Rev. Cn. Ross Kimball and Rev. Cn. Brian Bethke, Scott DeLong, Michael Pritzl, and Olivia Spinney. Covid-19 restrictions created the need for innovation and extra volunteer efforts for this year’s Synod. A small army of 27 clergy - recipients of the Bishop’s Supreme Humility Award - took short shifts during the service to clean and sanitize restrooms after each use. Instead of providing both a printed liturgy and a projected slideshow highlighting ADNE ministry in the last year, they were combined into one document that attendees could print ahead of time or read from their smartphone. Separate registration tables were set up - one for general attendees, and one for immunocompromised guests in a special seating area. While a lot of the innovations were successful, some limitations remained; for example, the team had to restrict how many people could have liturgical function or musical contribution due to not being able to share microphones - ideally the fullness of the diocese would be better represented.
A Zoom Business Meeting
Instead of trying to follow the worship service with a business meeting on the same day, the ADNE held the 2020 Synod Business Meeting on the morning of Saturday, October 10. Bishop Andrew led the meeting with the help of Scott DeLong, Director of ADNE Communications and Rev. Len Cowan assisting with the zoom platform. The meeting began with sung worship as The New England Blessing video was played over zoom - several clergy and lay worship leaders from around the ADNE participated in this musical project earlier in the spring put together by Berea, a ministry that partners with churches across New England for Kingdom advancement.
Following this, clergy and delegates voted on motions to approve the minutes from last year’s synod and the 2021 budget. Elections were also conducted: Rev. Cn. Dr. Susan Skillen was elected unanimously to serve a three-year term on the ADNE Standing Committee, and Mr. Gary Monserud was elected unanimously to serve a three-year term on the Ecclesiastical Court.
As voting took place electronically, Bishop Andrew jumped into his State of the Diocese address. In it he cast vision for the coming years and several areas the ADNE is committing to: 1) Commitment to a shared Spiritual Congruence that links our priorities in Jesus and his mission, 2) Commitment and care for each other in the mission that God has entrusted us, 3) Commitment to the faithfulness and power of God who had called us to a cause that exceeds our capacity to succeed. Bishop Andrew also highlighted leadership development, church planting, and prayer as crucial and urgent areas of investment - areas in which the ADNE is already making real progress. For example, 15 potential church planters have been meeting with diocesan leaders, and plans are underway to enlist a core team of intercessors with at least one intercessor in every church.
Bishop Andrew closed the meeting with a passage from John 14:12, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” He then prayed, asking for the gift of Spirit-led belief and the bestowal of Christ’s peace.
Synod Photos were taken by Ian Drummond of Drum Drum Photo. See below for a full gallery. Thanks Ian!