Dear Friends,
Waiting on the Lord
It has been over four months since the allegations surrounding Archbishop Steve Wood were made public, and yet the matter remains unresolved as we wait for the process to unfold. Waiting for a resolution is difficult and frustrating. Delay means pain is prolonged. As a congregation, we feel pain for Steve and Jacqui and for those who brought forward complaints, some of whom are former staff members, known and loved by our congregation.
Through the Psalms, God invites us to bring our painful waiting, confusion, anger, or distress before him. As we do so, he strengthens our trust in his sovereign care and timing. Scripture also reminds us not to make premature judgments, which often do more harm than good. There is an understandable desire to have answers. But if we rush to judgment, we too easily base it on partial truths, or worse, gossip and hearsay.
As we wait on the Lord, we must hold together two things that are often difficult to keep together. First, we maintain a commitment to the presumption of innocence, which is the bedrock of a just legal tradition. Second, it is right to approach everyone involved in the situation with compassion and credibility. As we wait for resolution, I urge you to cast your cares on God, wait upon him, seek the unity of the church, and pray for all involved.
Update on the Trial
Though it may feel like nothing is happening, there has been progress on the trial. The Court members have been set, and on February 20th, they updated their Rules of Procedure and indicated that the Summons in the Wood case is forthcoming. You may check the Anglican Church in North America’s website for updates on the trial. While we hope that the process moves along expeditiously, we also want a trial involving such serious allegations to be conducted in a fair and orderly manner for all involved.
Important News for You to Know
1. Financial Integrity
As Rector, I want to ensure that all ministry of St. Andrew’s, offered in our Lord’s name, is carried out with financial integrity. In January, the Vestry received a clean audit report with no exceptions. Our financial reports also indicate that, by God’s grace working through your generosity, the church is in a very strong financial position. You may review the reports for the last two fiscal years elsewhere on our website, StAndrews.Church.
2. St. Andrew’s Staff
Over the last four months, I have also sought to prioritize the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of our staff and our relationships with one another. The Vestry generously provided resources for any staff member who needed some help processing the changes of the last four months. We also reviewed our employee policies, and the staff and clergy were retrained on them. Furthermore, we have discussed the importance of approaching conflict with each other in a biblical way, seeking grace and peace in our interactions. I am incredibly grateful for our outstanding staff and all that they do to extend the ministry of the gospel through St. Andrew’s.
3. Ministry Moving Forward
We continue to move forward in our purpose of Connecting People to the Presence and Power of Jesus Christ so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. We continue to see lives changed by the Holy Spirit. At Christmas, we welcomed over 3000 people through our doors to hear about the hope of the Christ-Child. In January, over 100 students went to West Virginia to ski, build friendships, and encounter God’s love in a deeper way. In February, men and women were met by the Lord at our retreats on St. Simon’s Island (I experienced firsthand the Spirit’s healing power as man-after-man came forward to be anointed with oil).
And there’s more to come! Our Easter celebrations, including Boone Hall, are just a month away. On May 15th, we will have my Institution as Rector, and in June we will welcome hundreds of kids for VBS and also celebrate God’s work outside our building through Fishin’ for a Mission.
Though our life in Christ sometimes includes challenges and seasons of painful waiting, we take heart that the gospel continues to go forward. God delights to use his imperfect yet beloved children to be part of his life-changing work.
Peace in Christ,
+Randy
The Rev’d Canon Randy Forrester
Rector, St. Andrew’s Church