Clergy

• • 1st – The Rev. Christopher J. Parrish “Indicators of Mature Christian Discipleship” This essay argues that mature Anglican discipleship is revealed through a believer’s growing intellectual engagement with the faith, ethical transformation, commitment to worship and community life, generosity, Spirit-led character, liturgical and prayerful depth, and pursuit of unity within the wider Church.
  • 2nd – The Rev. Josiah Jones “Marks of Discipleship” This essay examines the observable signs of mature Anglican discipleship: worship, holiness, prayer, study, service, and patient endurance. And considers how pastors can recognize and nurture these qualities in their congregations.
  • 3rd – The Rev. Canon Dr. Jon C. Shuler, PhD “Anglican Discipleship?” The essay reflects on the author’s realization that true Anglican discipleship is measured not by church growth, but by making disciples who are nurtured, equipped, and empowered to disciple others in Christ.

Laity

• • 1st – Heather Peterson “The Real I Who Speaks”: Five Signs of Spiritual Growth From the Screwtape Letters.” This essay identifies five marks of Christian maturity—spiritual habits, obedience in difficulty, emotional steadiness, honest communion with God and others, and confidence in God’s love—to show how C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters reveals the ways believers grow through these practices into a deeper, steadier faith.
  • 2nd –  Emily Goodwin “Little Christs: Enculturation Leads to Authentic Growth.” This essay argues that a parish fosters true spiritual growth when it cultivates a Christ-centered culture (paideia) that permeates worship, relationships, and service, forming Christians into “little Christs” whose faith integrates into every part of life.
  • 3rd – Hannah Lane “Encountering the Apostolic Faith: Reflections from a New Parishioner.” This essay reflects on how joining an Anglican parish deepened the author’s faith through liturgy, prayer, the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession, discipleship, and service, showing that true Christian growth is expressed in both spiritual formation and Christlike deeds.

Challenge

• Priest/Deacon – As those entrusted with leading our congregations through the ministry of Word and Sacrament, of pastoral care, and the rhythms of the Church’s life, how often do we reflect on the fruit of our labors? Particularly, how can we tell if are truly forming mature disciples of Jesus Christ? What does faithful, Anglican discipleship look like in your particular context?
• Laity – Each of us experiences discipleship in the daily practices of worship, relationship, service, and personal faith. From your vantage point, what does it look like when a parish is truly helping people grow as followers of Jesus Christ?

Clergy

• • 1st – Rev. Jeff Vermilya
  • 2nd – Rev. Joseph L Boysel
  • 3rd – Rev. Travis J. Bott

Laity

• • 1st – Elizabeth Demmon
  • 2nd – Ginny Mooney Gullett
  • 3rd – Michael Distefano

Challenge
There are many cultural and political currents that flow contrary to the Gospel, and they seem to be changing every day. Peter exhorts Christians to always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in them (1 Peter 3:15), and Paul tells the Ephesians that all Christians are called to defend their faith, not just leaders and teachers (Ephesians 4:1-16).

• • How do we equip our parishioners to share the reasons for their hope in Christ in the midst of the many counter currents?
  • Put another way, what does Christian apologetics look like in the 2020s and how can we equip the ACNA congregations to defend their faith with truth and love (Ephesians 4:15)?

Clergy

• • 1st – Rev. Justin Murff
  • 2nd – Rev. Seth Williamson
  • 3rd – Rev. Timothy Matkin

Laity

• • 1st -Todd Milton
  • 2nd – Tyler Leighton Ryder
  • 3rd – Craig Callon

Challenge

In April 2023, 1,300 Anglicans from around the world gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) to chart a new course for Global Anglicanism. The final Conference statement (the Kigali Commitment) calls for “resetting” the Anglican Communion on the foundation of Biblical authority and classic Anglican principles of doctrine, discipline and worship, as articulated in the Jerusalem Declaration (2008).

• • • Priests/Deacons – You have chosen or been tasked to preach on the topic: “What does it mean to be a global Anglican today?” Choose a biblical text or texts and write the sermon.
    • Lay Persons – You have been tasked by the clergy to present an adult forum on the topic: “How can we as a congregation participate in the wider movement of Global Anglicanism?” Introduce the topic “What is global Anglicanism?” and include practical steps for parish involvement.

Clergy

• • 1st – Rev. Mark Brians
  • 2nd – Rev. Travis J. Bott
  • 3rd – Rev. Logan Gates

Laity

• • 1st – Joshua Heavin
  • 2nd – Todd Milton
  • 3rd – Elizabeth Demmon

Challenge

For the 2022 Contest the Archbishop invites entrants to submit an essay telling how the church can effectively deal with controversial social issues of the day, while being true to the gospel and remaining loving to the people?” These topics could relate to but are not limited to the following:

• • Self-adopted sexual identity
  • Critical Race Theory
  • Censoring or canceling people
  • Group-think
  • Tolerating criminal behavior
  • Abortion as birth control

Clergy

• • 1st – Rev. Toby Larson
  • 2nd – Rev. Fabien Pering
  • 3rd – Rev. Marc Dean Wilson

Laity

• • 1st – Candidate Disqualified
  • 2nd – Marissa Burt
  • 3rd – Kathy Ciarlariello

Challenge
For the 2021 Contest, the Archbishop invites entrants to submit an essay that provides a Biblical and Theological perspective on pandemics. While there have been pandemics throughout history, and in the history of the Church, no one who is alive today has experienced anything like it.