Bishop Keith Ackerman, FiFNA, Visits With Texas MSJ Chapter

+ Keith Ackerman spent a bit over three hours with the Texas Chapter at Holy Trinity Church in Hurst on Saturday, 19 September. During that time, Bishop Ackerman spoke frankly and personally to our questions, questions which are shared by many people. He acknowledged that there are flaws in the ACNA, but that this is the group that God has given us to work His will through, and that the ACNA is of an open mind, especially to the Anglo-Catholic mind.

He spoke of his great joy in visiting with evangelical Anglicans around the world and demonstrating to them that their views were actually the historic Anglo-Catholic views, while dismantling the caricatures built up regarding Anglo-Catholics as more interested in Mary than in mission and the spread of the Gospel in Christ Jesus. He said that his one of greatest moments of joy in dialogue were when J.I Packer said, after one of Bishop Ackerman’s presentations, “Well, if anyone had told me twenty years ago that I would be agreeing with the Anglo-Catholic position on anything, I would have laughed in his face. Today, I find that I agree to the point of calling myself an Evangelical Catholic.”

Bishop Ackerman also spoke of the great strides made in ecumenical progress with the Orthodox, especially the Orthodox Church of America, and of his hopes for the Nashotah House conference. “We are close, very close, to having an understanding which will lead to a deeper relationship.” He also spoke of the extraordinary flexibility regarding the new FiF-NA Diocese of All Saints, in accepting groups who are Anglo-papalist, Anglo-Orthodox, classic English High Church, Oxford Movement High Church, as well as making provision for various societies and religious orders under its umbrella.

Finally, he spoke of practicalities, of the sharing of ministries and talents among Anglo-Catholics and with others in the ACNA. He spoke of his own desire to celebrate and preach at Holy Trinity, and was overjoyed when Fr. Bob assured him that Bishop Fick has already given his blessing to do so. He is scheduled to speak to our cluster again on a Saturday late in November on the topic of pastoral counseling and then he will indeed preach and preside at Holy Trinity’s altar the next day.

The meeting ended with the clergy anointing and praying for his steady improvement in health and ministry, and his episcopal blessing upon us. The entire visit was truly a blessing and each man returned to his home parish refreshed and encouraged.

Dates Set For Society Annual Gathering

The Missionary Society of St John (FiF-NA) will hold its annual gathering in Hurst, (Dallas-Ft.Worth) Texas, October 25 thru October 27. Worship and most other activities will be held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. You may visit the parish's website here:

Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Clergy and Lay delegates are urged to secure housing arrangements in advance. Full details will be provided. Contact Fr. Bob Tomlinson by using Holy Trinity's website contact information. As our host, Fr. Bob will be able to provide direct, pertinent and timely information.

All Anglicans and all interested people are most welcome to share in the inspiring time of prayer, worship, work and fellowship with the hospitality of the M.S.J.

Evangelizing On Scooters????

Senior Warden Jay Myers and Vicar Jeff Johnston (he's the old one on the silver scooter) out scouring the Texas Hill Country for unsaved souls this day.......  well, that was the claim anyhow.

MSJ Cluster Meeting

Meeting for a time of prayer, conversation and encouragement, MSJ representatives from Florida and Texas will be holding a cluster meeting in Ft. Worth.  Addressing the cluster, on Saturday morning, March 14th, will be special guest, Bishop Jack L. Iker.  We are so pleased that Bishop Iker would give us this time from his schedule.  

Guests are most welcome and are encouraged to pre-register via email.  msjanglican "at" yahoo.com.

The MSJ cluster will be hosted by Holy Trinity Anglican Church,  

785 Treadwell Drive, Hurst, TX  76053

Hands On Housing

Smaller mission parishes have something in common, and that something is often a feeling of not being big enough, not having enough resources to make a difference in ministry to a community. St Brendan’s Anglican Church in Austin, Texas has found a way to overcome that sense (or excuse) of being too small to make a difference.

In most major towns there are cooperative ministries, often made up of many small faith communities such as our own. Getting involved in these groups via acquaintances with other clergy has led us to a significant involvement in our local community: ministering to the less fortunate through a program called Hands On Housing. Hands on Housing is dedicated to providing essential volunteer-based home repair services to the marginalized in our society - the elderly, the poor, the disadvantaged, the disabled. This ministry, overseen by Austin Area Inter-religious Ministries, is the largest volunteer home repair effort in Austin. We repair and revitalize homes for homeowners that cannot afford to do needed repairs and thus enable them to remain in their own homes.

There are two main repair events per year repairing 25-35 homes, engaging upward of 1,000 volunteers. Other smaller projects are ongoing throughout the year. The upcoming work project begins April 26.

The typical client served is over 70 years old living on less than $10,000 per year in a home he/she owns and loves but cannot maintain. The clients are often approached to sell their homes but they do not want to leave the home they love and have lived in for often well over 20 years. Our repair efforts enable them to remain in their homes in safety and dignity.

While making such repairs, we help build relationships across social and geographic boundaries. Working with others, we help our neighbors in need.

It is wonderfully satisfying to be united with other faith communities to foster respect, partnership and transformation in service of the common good. We, the small, are called to be, and can be instruments of His transforming love.


John 15:12 - My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you.

The Rev. Jeff Johnston
Saint Brendan Anglican Church (Austin, TX)

Confirmations - Receptions In Texas

Last Sunday, almost two dozen people were confirmed or received as members of Christ's one, holy, catholic and apostolic church by Bishop Frederick Fick during the morning liturgy at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Hurst, Texas. The Holy Spirit was present to bless and renew in a very real way.