by Lydia Marshall

Attending a provincial assembly as a youth delegate expanded my picture of the church as a community and allowed me to grow relationships and connections with peers and priests. We debated and voted, but we also participated in the Communion table. Sharing the Eucharist reminded us what we are all about and, in return, enabled us to do the sometimes painful tasks of organizing the church.

During the assembly, we attended two Eucharistic services, one where most clergy donned their vestments and one where Archbishop Beach transferred spiritual authority to Archbishop Wood. I had the honor of participating in both services, first by presenting the elements and then by processing with my fellow youth delegates. Both services beautifully portrayed the church's mission of discipleship as a group mission, not an individual’s, beginning with the archbishop, continuing through the diocesan bishops, and then dispersing into communities through clergy and lay leaders. The visible display of this truth was inspiring. Further, I have appreciated how my involvement with Anglican churches in Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Michigan has allowed me to develop connections between various geographical areas of the ACNA. At the assembly, clergy and other delegates from these three dioceses, and many others, supported each other in their work. It was a joy to see these intersections and relationships. 

By sitting in on the voting sessions, I witnessed God’s hand at work, holding together the provincial church as it labored over compromises on governance questions. This assembly’s primary issue covered details of reporting, addressing, and preventing misconduct in the church. While tension existed over these and other issues, I was impressed by the commitment of clergy and lay attendees who toiled, through much disagreement, to produce unified policies and procedures to protect priests and congregants. It was a powerful image, a display of God’s redemptive hand at work, guiding his church through hurt and brokenness. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent DOMA at this assembly, and I am eager to watch Archbishop Wood’s leadership of the ACNA as he seeks to grow us in the fundamentals of the faith.

Lydia Marshall is the Youth Delegate from the Diocese to Provincial Assembly and a member of Restoration Anglican Church, Arlington, VA.