The Future of the Arizona Deanery

Last Sunday several of us were able to attend the consecration of our new bishop, Keith Andrews. Keith has served in Tempe for decades, and in Paradise Valley before that. Many of us have known Keith for several years, and all who do know him attest to his deep faith, passion, and integrity. As we begin this new chapter in the life of our diocese, let us pray regularly and fervently for Keith as he takes up this incredibly important and challenging ministry. We anticipate Keith being with us on a Sunday sometime in the spring for Confirmation and a general update on life in the diocese.

One of the challenges of ministry in our diocese is the vast geographical area it covers. In addition to churches in San Diego, Los Angeles, Yuma, and Phoenix, we have congregations in Spokane, Boise, Missoula, and Cheyenne. In an effort to simplify ministry in the diocese, our former bishop, Bill Thompson, divided the diocese into four regions, known in Anglican-speak as deaneries. There is a deanery for San Diego, Los Angeles, the Interior Rockies, and, finally, Arizona.

Since the creation of the deaneries Keith had served as the Dean (i.e., leader of the deanery) of Arizona. A dean, while retaining duties in his local parish, works closely with the bishop, assisting the bishop in supervising the congregations within the deanery. When Keith was elected bishop he needed to transition out of his role as Dean of Arizona, thus creating a vacancy.

At this point in the life of ACNA churches in Arizona, there isn’t an obvious candidate for this vital role. After discussion and prayer, however, our own Chuck Collins has agreed to be the interim (emphasis, Chuck would add, on interim) Dean of Arizona. The hope is that once I return from sabbatical in the fall, and once Living Faith in Tempe (Keith’s former congregation) calls a new rector sometime in the next year, we’ll be in a much better place to designate a dean.

Chuck and I have worked with the diocese to ensure that his responsibilities as interim-dean won’t distract him from the vital work that he does here. Also, we’ve made it clear that, while I’m on sabbatical this summer, there will be little or no activity with the deanery, which will allow Chuck to devote all of his energy to the ministry at Christ Church.

As we enter this new season of life in the diocese, please pray for wisdom for our leaders. There is a lot of potential, and yet a lot of challenges. The good news is that God is in the business of doing great things in the midst of great challenges.