About
Mission Statement
Our Vision
Who Are We?
We are natives of San Angelo, Texas, numerous other states, Canada, Western Europe, and several African nations.
We are doctors, nurses and hospital workers, lawyers, steelworkers, ranchers and Master Gardeners, teachers, technicians, students, engineers, counselors and therapists, librarians, dads, moms, children and teens, home makers, grandparents and empty nesters. Some of us are retired, some are looking for employment. We are young and old, with many talents, gifts and abilities. We come from varied economic and social backgrounds. Our tastes differ almost as much as our political opinions. We are active volunteers in many community charities, ministries and organizations. We are Anglicans.
Our mission is to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. We have come to know and experience the unconditional love of God personally, individually and intimately in Jesus Christ.
We are not perfect. We have many flaws, character defects, and at times we are downright self-willed and rebellious, but we have one thing in common… a desire to know and grow in our knowledge and love for God, and to love others as He loves us. To that end we are:
Grounded In Scripture: Our faith, practice, moral values and parameters are based on the Bible. We study God’s Word to discover His will, purpose and plan for us.
Strengthened Through The Sacraments: Continuing in the practice of the ancient Church, we admit members through Holy Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as through confirmation of the faith, and celebrate Jesus’ life in us weekly through the Holy Eucharist (also called the Holy Communion, Lord’s Supper, Divine Liturgy or Mass.)
Dependent On The Holy Spirit: We are incapable of living the Christian life apart form the presence of the Holy Spirit, and seek continually to filled with His power and sensitive to His guidance and direction.
The Anglican Church is the third largest Christian church in the world. As of June 2010 The Anglican Church in North America is comprised of 20 regional fellowships (or Dioceses), more than 800 congregations and committed to starting 1000 new churches by 2015.
Our History
The Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd is a community of Christians, joyfully proclaiming the Good News of Christ Jesus. In 1961, Bishop George Quarterman of the Episcopal Docese of Northwest Texas began exploring the establishment of a mission church on the west side of San Angelo. Since its establishment in the late 19th century, Emmanuel parish had been the only Episcopal presence in San Angelo. Bishop Quarterman enlisted Dr. Lloyd Hershberger, Mr. Armistead Rust and Mr. Henry Charless in 1965 to gather support for a second Episcopal congregation. After these laymen had recruited a nucleus of individuals to join a mission, they bought the property on the bluff where the church now stands.
Throughout 1965, Dr. Hershberger led 49 Episcopal communicants and their friends in house church services.
On September 26th, 1965 they petitioned the diocese to recognize them as a mission. On November 1st, 1965,
Bishop Quarterman and the diocesan standing committee formally recognized the new mission. The bishop appointed Dr. Herspberger and Bishop’s Warden and selected John “Pat” Coyan, Mark McLaughlin, Armisted Rust, Jack Ray, Craig Porter, Ward Weste and William Mieher for the Bishop’s Committee. Mrs. John D. Robertson represented the women of the church. The Church of the Good Shepherd was formally accepted as a mission church at the Episcopal diocesan council held in Vernon on May 13, 1966.
Under the leadership of Mr. Rust, monies were raised for the construction of a sanctuary, similar in design to St. Mark’s in Abilene. November 14th, 1965 marked the groundbreaking ceremony. Mr. E. G. Kingsbery and his son-in-law, Mr. Jack Bleakley, donated limestone found on their ranch to face the building and subsequent additions. The first communion service in the new building was held on September 11th, 1966. By 1972, the lien on the new church was free and clear of debt and so the bishop officially consecrated the edifice. The church became a parish in 1974. Since construction, there have been three major property additions to the church, the most recent in 2005 with the acquisition of the 5 acres next door.
In January 2007, the Vestry and Congregation voted to become part of the Anglican Province of Uganda, and was assigned by Archbishop Henry Orombi to the Diocese of Mityana, and the oversight of Bishop Dunstan Bukenya. In 2008, +John Guernsey, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was consecrated by the Ugandan House of Bishops to serve as Bishop for Congregations in America. In June of 2009, Archbishop Orombi and the House of Bishops of the Anglican Province of Uganda transferred Bishop John, all clergy and congregations currently under their care into the Anglican Church in North America. Good Shepherd is a parish in the Diocese of The Holy Spirit, the Midland Deanery and the Anglican Fellowship of the Southwest (West Texas and New Mexico).
