Anglican Mission Announces President's Transition: Brust to Church Plant
by Staff
July 1, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- The Anglican Mission announced today that the Rev. Canon Ellis E. Brust, President, will be leaving his position this fall to plant a church in south Orange County, California. In addition, Canon Brust will partner with Bishop-elect Todd Hunter who leads Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO). Serving as the Bishop's Canon, Brust will assist in identifying, training and sending out missionary leaders to reach the goal of planting well over 100 new congregations during the next 10 years.Canon Brust assumed the position as President of the Anglican Mission in January 2007, responsible for overseeing daily operations and management of the Anglican Mission and its Mission Center in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of the American Anglican Council, Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Florida and has led four congregations in Texas since his ordination to the priesthood in 1985.
"It has been an honor to serve the Anglican Mission and work alongside the great leaders of this missionary movement," said Canon Brust. "After a decade away from parish ministry, I am responding to God's call to return to my first love as a minister of the Gospel -- the local church. I look forward with great anticipation to building a church that reflects God's love for the world as well as the opportunity to work with Bishop-elect Hunter and fulfill the Kingdom vision of C4SO," he added.
Bishop Murphy enthusiastically affirmed this new call for Canon Brust.
"We have greatly valued Ellis' time in the position of President, and I'm grateful for his accomplishments during his tenure," Bishop Murphy noted. "But I have also seen his heart for parish ministry and his passion for planting new Anglican Mission churches. This is an exciting time for him and for the Mission as he now joins one of our key initiatives."
Bishop Murphy has asked Cynthia P. Brust, Director of Communications, to continue in her position after the couple's relocation to California.
Launched in early January, C4SO is a church planting movement designed to develop churches and leaders committed to beginning new congregations located primarily, but not exclusively, on the west coast. These churches will emphasize multiplication as each congregation plants daughter churches at the rate of at least two every five years.
"Having Ellis join this movement will make all the difference as we go forward," said Bishop-elect Hunter. "In our model, Ellis and I will be planting our own churches while simultaneously working in partnership to lead C4SO. I believe our unique backgrounds and experience in church leadership will be complementary and blend in an authentic synergy for exciting and fruitful ministry together. I am also excited that Cynthia will not only continue in her role within the Mission but also be at Ellis' side as an integral part of the new church plant."
During this period of transition, Bishop Murphy will consider next steps in Mission Center leadership and appropriate announcements will follow in the weeks to come.
