Who We Are......
St. Michael the Archangel is the all-encompassing name given to the orthodox Anglican Church emerging here in Indiana. All congregations, whether forming or established, are Bible-based, Anglican, and committed to upholding the historic teaching of Christianity expressed in the Bible, the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.
St. Michael the Archangel Anglican Church has been established to provide a safe haven for traditional Anglicans, as well as to reach out to others sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
Many of us are former Episcopalians. However, over the past few years, the Episcopal Church through particular decisions and actions, as a denomination, moved away from Biblical and historic Christianity. In doing so, it placed itself and its member Dioceses and churches, in a state of "impaired Communion," or even "excommunicated" from the majority of the worldwide Anglican Church. Calls to "repent" from our worldwide Church fell on deaf and defiant ears. So after many years of protest, struggle, prayer and heartache, many of us made a difficult, but prayerful decision to officially disassociate from the Episcopal Church. Subsequently we affiliated with the Right Reverend Frank Lyons and the Anglican Diocese of Bolivia in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, which enabled us to remain true to the “faith once delivered by the saints” and therefore, also to remain a full constituent member of the world-wide Anglican Communion.
In October of 2007, Bishop Lyons transferred us to CANA, the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a Missionary effort here in the United States of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. We therefore continue as a full member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, but are now under the spiritual authority of the Anglican Archbishop of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Peter Akinola, and the Right Reverend Martyn Minns, Missionary Bishop of CANA.
As God's people here in Indiana we acknowledge the Presence and empowering of
the Holy Spirit for all believers in Jesus, and we affirm His Lordship in our
Church and in our lives. We come from various and diverse backgrounds and draw
from communities all over Indiana. Our mission is to form and plant
congregations wherever the Lord calls us to do so! And we welcome you to
join us!
We are energized and motivated to form and plant Anglican Churches here as our Lord, and as our Bishop, calls us! Come join us as we joyously grow together in Christ and fulfill God’s Kingdom work in our region, and beyond.
What we believe........
The mission of the Church is according to Jesus’ Great Commission: “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The doctrine of the Anglican Church is contained in an historic document called the 39 Articles of Religion. Click Here
The statements of belief found in the Nicene and Apostles Creeds Click Here
A Common Confession of the Gospel
The Gospel and the Triune God: We rejoice in the grace of the Triune God, who has forgiven our sins and given us redemption in Jesus Christ. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, lived a life of perfect obedience to his heavenly Father, died on the cross to atone for the sins of the world, and rose bodily in accordance with the Scriptures. God the Holy Spirit draws us to faith in Jesus Christ, through whom alone we are justified and found acceptable by God the Father.
Christian Obedience: We confess Jesus as the Lord to whom all authority in heaven and earth has been given by the Father. We commit ourselves to follow him and love him above all else and to conform our lives to his example and teaching by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Scripture: We believe all scriptures were “written for our learning” (Romans 15:4), that they are “God’s Word written,” and that we are to “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.” We commit ourselves to regular Bible study and to preach and teach only that which is in accordance with Holy Scripture.
Congregational Life: We hold corporate worship, discipleship, and mission to be interconnected and indispensable aspects of our response to God as he revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. We are committed to being sacrificially involved in all three aspects of congregational life.
Mission and Missions: The Risen Lord commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel and to follow his commandments. The mission of the Church includes both evangelistic proclamation and deeds of love and service. Since the biblical pattern of witness moves from the local to the global, we will endeavor to be well-informed about our local communities and active in church planting, evangelism, service, social justice, and cross-cultural international mission, with particular concern for the poor and the un-reached peoples of the world.
Historic Faith, Ecumenical Vision: We affirm the Faith of the Church as it is set forth in the Classical Prayer Book, contained in the “Historical Documents” section of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
Contemporary Implications of the Gospel
Christian mission is rooted in unchanging biblical revelation. At particular times, however, specific challenges to authentic faith and holiness arise which require thoughtful and vigorous response. We therefore speak to the following issues of our time and culture.
The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ. While religions and philosophies of the world are not without elements of truth, Jesus Christ alone is the full revelation of God. In and through the Gospel, Jesus judges and corrects all views and doctrines. All persons everywhere need to learn of him, come to know and believe in him, and receive forgiveness and new life in him, as there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Church and State. Biblical social commandments and Christian ethical principles are foundational to the well being of every society. Recognizing the call of Christians to be faithful witnesses and a challenging presence in society, we are committed to seek ways to express these commandments and principles in all spheres of life, including the public life of the nation.
Sanctity of Life. All human life is a sacred gift from God and is to be protected and defended from conception to natural death. We will uphold the sanctity of life and bring the grace and compassion of Christ to those who face the realities of previous abortion, unwanted pregnancy, and end of life illness.
True Inclusivity. In grateful response to Christ Jesus, in whom there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, we will extend the welcome of the Church to every person, regardless of race, sex, social or economic status, sexual orientation, or past behavior. We will oppose prejudice in others and ourselves and renounce any false notion of Inclusivity that denies that all are sinners who need to repent.
Marriage, Family, and the Single Life. God has instituted marriage to be a life-long union of husband and wife, intended for their mutual joy, help, and comfort, and when, it is God’s will, for the procreation and nurture of children. Divorce is always contrary to God’s original intention, though in a fallen world it is sometimes a tragic necessity. The roles of father and mother, exercised in a variety of ways, are God-given and profoundly important since they are the chief providers of moral instruction and godly living. God honors the single life, either by call or by circumstance. It is therefore important for unmarried persons to embrace and be embraced by the Christian family.
Human Sexuality. Sexuality is inherent in God’s creation of every human person in his image as male and female. All Christians are called to chastity; husbands and wives by exclusive sexual fidelity to one another and single persons by abstinence from sexual intercourse. God intends and enables all people to live within these boundaries, with the help and in the fellowship of the Church.
