On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Greenbrier Baptist Church in Arlington, VA, DOMA global mission and outreach leaders are invited to hear from Bishop Chris Warner and to share an update on global partnerships.

This has been the heart and vision of our church, Christ Church Vienna, as we have taken prayerful, consistent and intentional steps toward knowing and inviting our Spanish-speaking neighbors here in Vienna into our lives and into the life of our church.  Ultimately our prayer is that Jesus would take the different groups that exist in our community that are all too easily divided, isolated and unknown one to another, and reconcile us to himself to create something new as we are all welcomed into one extended family, with Christ as our head.

We wish we could communicate the joy in our classes as we teach, learn, laugh, and enjoy community.  Our students come from the Middle East, Asia, South America, and Central America with the majority being Spanish speakers from Bolivia and Guatemala.

I have two things that are uppermost in my mind as I write to you today. The first has to do with an emerging sense of vision that I’m seeing for our diocese and our churches. The second is related to the book of Revelation and Hispanic Heritage month.

On September 11, 2023, residents of the coastal city Derna in Libya awoke to the explosive sounds of two dams breaking, releasing a wall of water that quickly destroyed sections of the city and killed thousands.

It took six years, but after much help from an Anglican bishop in Burundi, the American ambassador in Burundi and “Team Michel” – the group of Christ the King parishioners that consisted of French speakers, doctors, lawyers and friends – the Katulas were all together again in Alexandria.

The Anglican Relief and Development Fund has been around since 2004, but with this long name it can sometimes be confusing to know who they are and what they do. Thankfully, their mission can be explained by their acronym: ARDF.

Have you desired to visit the Holy Land but were waiting for the right opportunity? I invite you to join me and our Faith Pilgrimage partners based in Israel for an 11 Day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to "Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus" (not to mention the Old and New Testament saints) January 22 – February 1, 2024. 

The Kigali Commitment (2023) asserts that the primates who align with the statement “represent the overwhelming majority (estimated at 85%) of Anglicans worldwide.” The accuracy of this number has been publicly challenged, and so an explanation is in order.

The "Love in Action Challenge" is a virtual race that was organized last year in honor and in memory of the Rev. Jack Grubbs (former Canon for Ordinations for the Diocese), an avid runner, and Board Chairman of Shade, an organization that helps children with albinism who are mistreated or in danger.

The month of May is designated as Asian Heritage Month. But in Korea, May is designated as the Family Month where we honor our parents on Parent’s Day and celebrate our children in Children’s Day. And it is my honor to share the wondrous works God has been doing with our Family in Christ.

Intro

Launched in Jerusalem in 2008, GAFCON stands as a response to the crisis in our Communion. Its goal is to offer a biblical counter to progressive Anglicans’ errors in doctrine and practice and a spiritual home for the faithful.

Greetings from Kigali, Rwanda where we are attending GAFCON 4 (Global Anglican Futures Conference).

Around 17 participants, including Bishop Chris and Catherine Warner, from the Diocese have arrived in Kigali, Rwanda for the fourth meeting of the Global Anglican Future Conference (April 17-21, 2023).

Anglican Frontier Missions (AFM) is hosting A Virtual Evening Meeting for Missionary Inquirers for individuals discerning a call to missionary service. 

A one-hour introduction to global Anglican mission opportunities with SAMS.

The arc of redemption may be long, but by the rich mercy of Jesus Christ, it is sure.

Incarnation Anglican, Arlington, VA, partners with Vera Fernandes of For the Nations DC, who provides trauma recovery work for Afghan refugee women.

Churches around the Diocese gather regularly to discuss international mission opportunities. Alan MacDonald shares about the most recent gathering on Feb. 15 at Truro Anglican in Fairfax, VA.