[Compass Rose Society Press Release] The Compass Rose Society, an international charitable organization that provides financial support to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultative Council, held its annual meeting in London on October 27 and 28.
Since its founding in 1997, The Society has donated over $8.8 million [USD, approximately £5.82 million GBP] to support the mission of the Anglican Communion.
In 2014, the Society contributed nearly $500,000 [USD, approximately £331,000 GBP], including gifts to the Anglican Consultative Council; the Diocese of South Africa; the Diocese of Cape Coast, Ghana; St George's College Jerusalem; the Diocese of Jerusalem; the Diocese of Malawi; and the International Anglican Women's Network.
Speakers at the two-day annual meeting offered members an up-to-date view of the work of the Anglican Communion.
The Most Revd Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, recently appointed secretary general of the Anglican Communion, addressed the Society for the first time and said that his early explorations of the Communion were encouraging especially the prospect of the addition of several new provinces and the favourable response to Archbishop Welby's call for a primates meeting in January. He said enthusiastically, "This Communion is alive!"
Michael Hart, a financial consultant and vice-chair of the Communion's finance & administration committee, reviewed Communion finances noting that the Compass Rose Society donations provided 13 percent of the charity's unrestricted income in 2014.
The Most Revd Thabo Makgoba, Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, updated the Society on the progress of his province's e-reader project that the Society is supporting. This initiative, launched in January 2014, promotes electronic learning to ordinands in the dioceses of the Western Cape and at the province's principal residential college. To date, the Society has contributed nearly $90,000 [USD, approximately £60,000 GBP] to this effort.
Also addressing the meeting to discuss the Communion's women's rights programs were the Revd Terrie Robinson, Anglican Communion Office director for women in church and society and the Revd Alice Medcof of the International Women's Network. The Revd John Kafwanka, Anglican Communion Office director for mission, discussed the five marks of mission.
Canon David Porter, director for reconciliation at Lambeth Palace, described his work supporting ways to renew conversations and relationships around deeply held differences within the Communion. Archbishop Welby has made reconciliation a priority for his ministry.
During a visit to Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, members heard Archbishop Welby discuss the recently-established Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace, reconciliation in the Anglican Communion, and the ministry of Coventry Cathedral. He also highlighted the ministry of payday loan alternatives provided by local church communities in the UK. Following his remarks, he took members questions.
At St Paul's Cathedral, the Chancellor of the Cathedral, the Revd Canon Mark Oakley, described for Society members the Cathedral's work in the local community. He also spoke about the Cathedral's ministry of reconciliation, describing new sculptures in St Paul's and highlighting the plight of those in Gaza, Baghdad, and Damascus. A sung Eucharist followed his remarks.
The Rt Revd C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas and president of the Society announced that the Society will meet on October 3 and 4 in 2016 followed by a study trip to Rome to participate in the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
Doyle also noted that the Society will shortly launch a campaign to raise a $10 million [USD, approximately £6.6 million GBP] endowment to fund its annual commitment to the work of the Anglican Consultative Council.
Doyle commented, "The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Consultative Council, and secretary general do not lack opportunities to meet the challenges of reconciliation, mission and the need for ever deepening spiritual growth presented by the global church.
"The question remains, who will stand in the breach between the needs of the Anglican Communion and the resources to undertake its ministry? The Compass Rose Society is looking for partners to join us and meet this need squarely with the financial donations required to undergird the vision of Communion to which I firmly believe God has invited us."
Compass Rose Society Board of Directors
The Society elected three directors to four-year terms:
The Right Revd C. Andrew Doyle,
Houston, TX, bishop of Texas, president of the Society
Carlos R. Muñoz,
White Plains, NY
James W. Stevens,
Houston, TX
The Society's other directors are:
B. Norris Battin,
Newport Beach, CA
Michael J. Brown,
Montevideo, Uruguay
Bruce F. Chambers,
treasurer, Canadian Compass Rose Society
The Revd Canon Jan Naylor Cope,
Washington, DC, first vice president, provost, Washington National Cathedral
David J. H. Gannicott,
president Canadian Compass Rose Society
The Revd Canon Dr Michele V. Hagans,
Washington, D.C., associate rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Silver Spring, MD
The Revd Rick Lord,
Vienna, VA, rector, Holy Comforter Church
The Revd Canon John L. Peterson,
Hendersonville, NC, vice president, former secretary general of the Anglican Communion and past-president of the Society
Charles M. Royce,
Riverside, CT
The Revd Pamela Cotrell Shier,
Mount Morris, PA, rector, Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Salem, WV
The Most Revd Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon,
London, UK; secretary general of the Anglican Communion
Davis Tse,
Central Hong Kong
Della Wager Wells,
Atlanta, GA
Antonia Wong Tuen-Yee,
Central Hong Kong
Beverley Patterson Wood,
Aurora, ON
About the Compass Rose Society
Founded in 1997, The Compass Rose Society has over 400 members located primarily in the US, Canada, and Hong Kong. It takes its name from the symbol of the Anglican Communion.
Membership information is available at the Society's Web site.