Today I and the entire CEEC family remember our fellow Bishop, Tony Palmer. Bishop Tony passed into eternity six years ago today. July 20, 2014. He truly was and remains a great inspiration to us.

Bishop Tony was the founder of The Ark Community of the CEEC (Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches). He worked with “Acres of Love” (a ministry for orphans in South Africa) for many years. Bishop Tony was the ecumenical officer for the CEEC.

Bishop Tony often remembered as the spiritual son and dear friend of Pope Francis. Bishop Tony and Pope Francis became friends; friends who shared the hope for unity within the Body of Christ. At the request of Pope Francis, Bishop Tony used his iPhone to record a message entitled “The Miracle of Unity.” That little video would inspire millions of believers and irritated others. Either way the call for “unity” was heard around the world. It is amazing what two friends can do.

A few days before Bishop Tony death he wrote these words: “People are God’s conduits through which He releases His blessings to us. He blesses us, but uses people to do it. Therefore if we break a relationship or a friendship we are effectively eliminating a possible sacred conduit, through which our prayers could be answered.” “This means that respecting, nurturing and even investing in right relationships, is as important as our prayers themselves.

Our relationships are vital for our prayers to be effectively answered - People are sacred conduits. But not all see the sanctity of relationships. Many do not honor relationships - some ‘use’ relationships and others even descend to abusing them.” “Relationships are sacred. Destruction is the fruit of broken relationships, but respected and nurtured relationships bring us life. Let us commit ourselves to see our relationships with those around us in a new light. Ask God to become aware of the Sacred Conduits in your life.” Bishop Tony truly was a “sacred conduit” into our lives.

I am personally blessed to have known Bishop Tony as a friend. He truly blessed my life. Today I am reminded of how precious relationships are to each one of us. After finishing a conversation with Bishop Tony a few months ago I realized that I was, and will remain, “a friend of a friend.” My friend Tony was a “friend” of Pope Francis. Therefore, Pope Francis and I are also friends because of our mutual friendship with Tony. Due to their friendship many of us have been encouraged that “visible unity” is a real possibility in the Body of Christ. We still grieve at the passing of our friend and brother Bishop. And yet we rejoice knowing that he awaits each of us at the great feast.

Today we renew our commitment to pray and seek the manifestation of the prayer of the dying Messiah: “....that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21). If we think about it, we are all “a friend of a friend.” Real friendship is what brings real transformation in the world. Real friendship will manifest the unity that Christ prayed for.

Archbishop Quintin D. Moore

Presiding Bishop of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches