Notes from the 2025 Synod of the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Province of America

This past week July 29-31, the parishes of the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Province of America gathered for synod in Greenville, South Carolina. The theme of this year’s gathering was missions.

The business portion of the synod began with Bishop Chad’s state of the diocese address. The APA is growing. The Diocese of the Eastern United States has grown by 2% since last year and the overall province has grown by 1%. The Bishop also pointed out that we are seeing a revival of interest in traditional and liturgical worship. Currently, the diocese has 29 persons enrolled in the formation process to prepare for ministry. He also enthusiastically informed us about the continued positive relations between the Anglican Joint Synod churches—the APA, Anglican Catholic Church, and the Anglican Church in America. Recently, the ACA has decided to merge with the ACC which is an exciting development. In keeping with the theme of missions, Bishop Chad urged us to remember that the Church’s mission to go into the world to preach the Gospel is a reflection of God’s very essence and character. Moving forward, missions churches are going to be an important part of the APA’s mission. To that end, Bishop challenged the diocese to resolve to establish a new mission in each deanery in the next three years.

Some other highlights of the business portion of our meeting included the appearance of retired Bishop Walter Grundorf who has been battling cancer. It was fantastic to see him and his wife, Mary. Archbishop Mark Haverland of the Anglican Catholic Church was also present and greeted the synod. We also met the 2026 diocesan budget through parish pledges.

You can watch the synod proceedings here:

Liturgically, it was a full week. Each day included Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, and Evening Prayer. The Synod Mass was at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Greenville. Bishop Chad’s cousin is the Pastor there. It was an amazing facility.

The Mass itself was phenomenal. Bishop Chad’s cousin processed with the Altar Party and said a few words about their youth and spiritual formation. You can watch the Mass here:

Liturgically, each of the St. Paul’s priests had roles in the various services throughout the week. Fr. Dennis was the reader at Solemn Evensong on Wednesday night, Fr. Wesley led a sung Matins on Thursday morning, and Fr. David was the emcee at the Synod Mass.

Overall, it was a wonderful time of fellowship, an efficient business meeting, and a beautiful time for worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from across the diocese. Also, it is important that we give a special thanks to our synod lay delegates: Ken Sabel and David Smith. It was a pleasure to have them and it should be encouraging to the parish to know that they attended to the synod with great diligence and care.

To close, it would be good for everyone in the parish to pray the Collect for Missions (BCP 38) as frequently as possible:
O God, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the whole earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh; Grant that all men everywhere may seek after thee and find thee. Bring the nations into thy fold, pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten thy kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.