Anglican Church in North America

Anglican Church in North America
source
Name	Anglican Church in North America
Main classification	Anglican
Orientation	Evangelical Anglicanism, Anglo-Catholicism
Polity	Episcopal
Founded date	2009
Founded place	Dallas, Texas
Separated from	The Episcopal Church (United States)

Anglican Church in North America is a province of the Anglican tradition formed in 2009 as a response to controversies within The Episcopal Church (United States), Anglican Church of Canada, and other provinces. It brought together clergy and laity from groups including the Anglican Mission in the Americas, Reformed Episcopal Church, Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and various dioceses and networks. The body seeks alignment with several Global Anglican leaders and provinces such as the Church of Nigeria, Church of Uganda, and Anglican Church in North Africa and the Middle East while asserting continuity with historic Anglican formularies like the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-nine Articles.

History

The formation involved realignments following debates over human sexuality, ordination of women, and interpretation of Holy Scripture that intensified after events like the consecration of Gene Robinson in 2003 and decisions at the General Convention of The Episcopal Church (United States) and meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council. Early realignment movements included the Common Cause Partnership, the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA), and the Reformed Episcopal Church, with oversight from primates such as Peter Akinola of Church of Nigeria and Henry Orombi of Church of Uganda. The inaugural provincial assembly convened in Dallas, Texas, producing a constitution and canons and electing leadership; subsequent developments saw recognition from provinces like Anglican Church of Rwanda and tensions with the Anglican Communion Office and the Archbishop of Canterbury over communion status. Legal disputes over property echoed cases involving All Saints, Long Island and other congregations that had departed from The Episcopal Church (United States), engaging courts in states such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Theology and Beliefs

The church affirms traditional Anglican doctrines grounded in the Thirty-nine Articles and places emphasis on authority of Holy Scripture, ecumenical creeds such as the Nicene Creed, and the sacraments defined in the Book of Common Prayer. Its theological spectrum includes Evangelical Anglicanism and Anglo-Catholicism, alongside expressions influenced by leaders like J. I. Packer and Michael Nazir-Ali. On moral theology it aligns with conservative positions articulated by bodies such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and statements made at provincial gatherings of the Church of Nigeria and Church of Uganda. Doctrinal education often references the work of theologians like Timothy Keller and historical figures such as Richard Hooker.

Organization and Governance

Governance follows an episcopal polity with a College of Bishops, diocesan synods, and a provincial council. The church is structured into dioceses and missionary districts led by bishops with consecrations sometimes attended by primates from provinces including Anglican Church of Rwanda, Province of the Southern Cone of America, and Church of the Province of South East Asia. Its constitutions and canons mirror models from The Episcopal Church (United States) and historic Anglican instruments like the Canons of 1604 in form, while incorporating oversight mechanisms for clergy discipline and doctrinal adherence reminiscent of structures in Church of England dioceses. The Reformed Episcopal Church remains a distinct jurisdiction in full communion, reflecting earlier unions such as those seen between provinces like Church in Wales and Scottish Episcopal Church in broader Anglican practice.

Membership and Demographics

Membership draws primarily from former The Episcopal Church (United States) and Anglican Church of Canada congregations, clergy, and laity, with demographic concentration in United States states such as Texas, Florida, California, and Virginia as well as Canadian provinces like Alberta and Ontario. Constituency profiles often emphasize evangelical and orthodox Anglican identity similar to cohorts found in dioceses of the Church of Nigeria and Church of Uganda, with significant participation by parachurch networks and academic institutions tied to Wycliffe-aligned training and seminaries influenced by figures like J. I. Packer.

Worship and Liturgy

Liturgy centers on versions of the Book of Common Prayer adapted regionally; rites reflect eucharistic traditions found in Anglo-Catholicism and Evangelical Anglicanism, with services including Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, and ordinations. Musical worship incorporates hymnody from sources like Hymns Ancient and Modern and contemporary evangelical composers associated with movements akin to Sovereign Grace Ministries and Integrity Music. Liturgical formation draws on patrimony from historic texts such as the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and modern American adaptations from The Episcopal Church (United States), while some congregations utilize liturgies authorized by partnering provinces like the Church of Nigeria.

Relations with Other Anglican Bodies

Relations are shaped by alignment with GAFCON networks and mutual recognition with provinces such as Church of Nigeria, Church of Uganda, and Province of the Southern Cone of America, while formal relation with the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury remains complex and contested. Ecumenical interactions include dialogues with Roman Catholic Church authorities in local contexts and cooperative ventures with evangelical bodies like the National Association of Evangelicals. The province has been involved in wider Anglican disputes over recognition, participating in conferences convened by primates including Peter Akinola and organizations like Global South Anglican.

Social and Political Positions

The church generally espouses conservative positions on issues such as marriage and sexual ethics, aligning with statements from GAFCON, provincial communiqués of the Church of Nigeria, and pastoral guidelines modeled after resolutions from the General Synod of the Church of England and conservative synods in Africa. On public policy it often engages with civic debates in jurisdictions including United States states and Canada provinces through advocacy aligned with organizations comparable to Family Research Council and faith-based coalitions seen in partnerships with groups influenced by Evangelical Anglicanism leaders. In social ministry the province maintains relief and outreach programs resembling initiatives by Anglican Relief and Development Fund partners and faith-based charities operating in regions such as Haiti, Kenya, and Latin America.

Category:Anglican denominations in North America