Chuck Alley had some very helpful questions after 
the recent Episcopal Evangelical Assembly in Alexandria. We post them here in the hope that all Evangelicals in PECUSA, whether they attended the conference or not, will think about them, share your thoughts about them, and help create a future for the Evangelical Movement in our church.
Here are Chuck’s questions and comments:
- Is there any plan for the future? What is that plan? Who is going to make it happen?
- We need to define ourselves more clearly and articulate our direction and purpose.
- Who is going to step forward as the leader of this enterprise? The answer need not be one person, but a leadership team.
In his talk, which can be read here, Chuck also raised the question of whether the word ‘Evangelical’ is still useful, given the baggage it carries in today’s society. Bob Prichard comments:
- One way to choose a name would be to take it from a Biblical passage, but then to include the tag of ‘Anglican Evangelicals in the Episcopal Church’ in a subtitle or accompanying text. The group could then take any number of names. It could be based on one of Jesus’ parables, a gospel figure, or–and this would be my prefernece at this point–a reference to Acts. How about the Barnabas Project (picking up on the meaning of Son of Encouragement)?
Leave your comment or suggestion below:
September 20, 2009 at 4:23 pm
How about the encouragement God gave Elijah in the cave. He said that there were more than 7,000 who were faithful and had not bowed the knee to Baal. If the suggestion is that others are Baal worshippers for going along with GC2009 it may be too strong a reference. If not, you might call the group “the 7,000+ group.” Granted it is an OT reference but there are clear parallels with being faithful against opposition from Ahab and Jezebel and the current liberals who are persecuting the faithful in the TEC.
September 20, 2009 at 6:37 pm
In Canada the evangelicals took on the name “Barnabas Anglican Ministries” about 25 years ago. Adopting the name Barnabas for ourselves may offer seen as a much-need sign of a desire for working more closely with our Canadian neighbors, who labor under similar opposition.
September 21, 2009 at 10:59 am
Realistically, encouragement is about the only focus that is within the realm of possibility right now. Encouragement could take the form of continuing education, preaching seminars, clergy support, identifying a constituency for those who fear that all their friends have left TEC. So perhaps Bob’s suggestion of “Barnabas Project” would be very apropos. It also fits with the conversation at the conference about conducting everything with graciousness and charity.
September 21, 2009 at 11:35 am
09/21/09 I don’t think the name is as important as the “Mission Statement”
As a recent parishioner at a small “evangelical” Episcopal Church who left to join a broad-based TEC church, this is what I found: *Personal experience only–”)
The evangelical approach (at my old church) imparted a sense of self-righteousness, of continual criticism of TEC, of near personal animosity toward certain bishops, and was accompanied by statements such as “They’re going to hell!” In addition, going only by St. Paul’s doctrine of election, there were virtually no “good works” undertaken or required.
(After all, if “We’re” Going To Heaven, and THEY’RE not, why do anything? I mean, we got it made… All two or three of us)
As a result, the parishioners are elderly and for the most part, this church is in decline.
I think any evangelical mission statement has to be accompanied by a sure description of exactly WHAT is meant. Otherwise you ebnd up with what I saw on a bumper sticker: “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You … The Anglican Communion Not So Much!”
September 22, 2009 at 11:38 am
I like the name Barnabas. We do need lots of encouragement and the Canadian connection is…well…encouraging.
September 24, 2009 at 10:09 am
I like the name Barnabas as well. Finding this site and reconnecting wih fellow evangelicals in TEC has been so encouraging! Is there a process of joining this group? Do you have a Facebook presence?
September 24, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Hi Mark, glad you found us!
Barnabas seems to be pulling further and further ahead… Henry Blackaby’s advice to ‘watch for what God is doing, then join in’ seems relevant at this point! Are we the Barnabas Fellowship yet?
There is at the moment no process of joining, apart from what you’ve already done by making your interest known. Bob, Mario, Jerry and I decided to invite Evangelicals staying in PECUSA to get together and think about how we could support each other, and Chuck has urged us to get a bit more organised. Thinking about a name, and thinking about a formal organisation with officers and dues is part of that, and thinking about it on-line on this blog was suggested as the best way of doing that. We’re getting somewhere with the name, and formal organisation may well follow if there’s enough people willing to do the work involved. I’m certainly willing to do some of it…
But I don’t think I’d be up to the Facebook task, although it’s a great idea. Any volunteers to put that together?
September 25, 2009 at 6:41 pm
“Barnabas Fellowship” sounds great to me, as do the elements of Jeff Murph’s concise summary of our task.
Regarding Mark Wright’s experience: the negativity and character assassination practiced by many is something I personally want to avoid and of which I must continually repent.
September 28, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I’ve enjoyed listening to the downloaded talks from your recent gatherings and am just encouraged to hear that the evangelicals that are left are meeting and networking. I would like to be included (as much as I can being down here in Louisiana). I took part in several EFAC events in the 90′s, but those disappeared. Though we have some “Evangelical Catholics” in the Diocese of Louisiana, I believe I’m the only priest that would sign on as an “Evangelical.” So it gets lonely down here in the deep South /college ministry world. I’m glad to have the contact with this group.
Drew Rollins
St. Alban’s Chapel
Louisiana State University
October 6, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Here are several comments on this subject received by e-mail:
Good call Philip. The Canadian wing of EFAC was called Barnabas for years (may still be). I vote for this. –Jerry Smith
I like the name, ‘Barnabas Fellowship’–Scott Quinn
The name “Barnabas Fellowship” works for me, too. I’m also willing to join the leadership team, but it has been (and will be) hard to make regular, quick trips to the DC area from the Texas Hill Country–Stockton Williams, St. Peter’s Church, Kerrville
Barnabas get my vote too–The Reverend John Thomas Sheehan
Me too!–Chris Ditzenberger
I like that better…because if SC’s plan works..there WILL be a plan B–David Dubay+
Holy Trinity, Charleston SC
Maybe, The Barnabas Mandate?–The Rev. Canon Dr. B W Pete Wait
Yes…that is nice..but to reach my emergent crowd we might call it the
Barnabas Posse, or Crew, or Entourage–
David Dubay+
I like the original “Barnabas Project.” It sounds more active, plus we can spin off a myriad Barnabas Fellowships or Posses (PLURAL) that are all actively participating in the Barnabas Project at a grassroots level–Lenny Anderson
I like Barnabas Project also. In Canada we chose Barnabas Ministries for the same reason, Lenny. Plus we felt that the word “fellowship” can connote a certain cliquishness–John Newton
October 6, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I guess we weren’t the Barnabas Fellowship yet–I’ll just keep the Barnabas name on the banner in some way while the discussion goes on.
It’s a good thing Elijah didn’t get more votes, the Elijah Project would have meant axes all round–No Plan B indeed!
August 30, 2010 at 2:33 am
The Barnabas Mission