There is power in the proclamation of the cross. The Feast of the Holy Cross is observed on September 14th to commemorate Constantine’s mother Helena’s discovery of the True Cross on that day in 330 AD. The feast sometimes features expressions of great devotion, such as kissing, bowing, genuflecting, participating in processions, and other forms…
My Anchor Holds, Part 2: My Ministry in the ACNA
(This is the second and final part of David Wilson’s ministry story. Check out the first installment here.) I served as President of the Standing Committee in 2008, the year the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church deposed our bishop, Robert Duncan, and our diocese realigned out of the Episcopal Church. I served as the…
A Spirit of Unity: Reflections on the Provincial Assembly
The 2024 ACNA Provincial Assembly just wrapped up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. As the Assembly only happens every five years, this was my first. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Here at Anglican Compass, we emphasize navigating our tradition with clarity and charity. But I’m well aware that many online Anglican conversations often lack in…
Everywhere Forward: The Legacy of Archbishop Foley Beach
“Forward. Always Forward. Everywhere Forward.” Archbishop Beach used these words at the beginning of his tenure as Archbishop, borrowed from the motto of Saint Vincent College. Now that he concludes his tenure, it is fitting to reflect on his remarkable journey, together with the breadth of his ministry at home and abroad. Guided by his…
The Bishops’ Conclave: A Rookie Anglican Guide
What is a conclave? Put simply, a conclave is a private meeting of bishops gathered to select a new archbishop or for other important business. The conclave’s Biblical prototype is the apostles’ gathering, on the first Easter evening, behind a locked door. Theologically, a conclave puts emphasis on Christ as the key. Etymology of the…
My Anchor Holds: Recollections of a Retired Priest
(This is the first part of David Wilson’s ministry story. Check out the second installment here.) Changes and Chances Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness. A collect…
A Church Growth Checklist (Suddenly Surging Part 5)
(Part five of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) A Pre-Flight Checklist A friend of mine had a passion for flying small planes as a hobby. He had invested countless hours in classroom instruction, flight training, and simulations, accumulating hundreds of hours in the cockpit. As an engineer by profession, he was…
Is there a Recipe for Church Growth? (Suddenly Surging Part 4)
(Part four of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) A Pivotal Moment In the early days of Christ Church, the congregation I started in 1985, I was moved by a random encounter in a suburban parking lot. My heart was broken after I met one man and learned what had just happened…
What Do People Look For in a New Church? (Suddenly Surging Part 3)
(Part three of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) A friend once shared a valuable lesson she learned from a performance review at her previous job. Although her position was secure, her boss wanted to address a specific personality trait that he found bothersome. When given a task, she tended to…
A Heart for Others (Suddenly Surging Part 2)
(Part two of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) In the first of this series, I mentioned signs that churches might be growing and offered reasons why that might be. I have no proof for this beyond anecdotal evidence and what has been on X in a few places (here is…
