The Rev. Dr. Titus Presler: Rebuilding the Anglican Communion

The Very Rev. Dr. Titus Presler is Sub-Dean and Professor of Mission and World Christianity at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in Manhattan. A researcher for the Global Anglicanism Project, his publications focus on Episcopal and Anglican mission and on African Christianity.

The Rev. Presler contributed a lengthy and useful examination of The Episcopal Church's relations with The Anglican Communion and other provinces, for the recent Diocese of New York study and report on the Episcopal Church and The Anglican Communion. The full New York report is now online at The Diocese of New York, as a large downloadable pdf (41 mb).

The Rev. Presler's comments serve as a good introduction to and examination of current controversies and differences. He urges each one of us to do our part to secure the trust and faith essential to maintaining and strengthening the Communion.

Here is an excerpt of the Rev. Presler's contribution:

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Search out opportunities to get to know personally Anglicans from other parts of the world. Your congregation may have visitors or members with whom conversation about the issues would be illuminating. Explore how you and your parish can participate in the diocese’s international progams and missions. Sometimes we Episcopalians are global citizens in our work while remaining very limited in our Church awareness.

If your work takes you abroad, make a point before traveling to find out about the Anglican province where you’ll be. Begin web-surfing at www.anglicancommunion.org, which can lead you to service times at and directions to parishes in Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Nairobi, Mexico City or wherever. Episcopal missionaries working in the area are especially valuable contacts, and you can find them by checking the missionary roster at www.episcopalchurch.org.

A hurting world needs desperately the kind of global network for companionship in mission that the Anglican Communion historically has provided. Now in the hurt and alienation of our own Communion, each of us can play a part in rebuilding the trust, the companionship and the mission.