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Globally, regionally and locally, Anglicanism is in the process of reformation. Within the last decades, the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada have increasingly accommodated and incorporated un-Biblical, un-Anglican practices and teaching.
In the context of this widening theological gap, the existing geography-based organizational model of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada became problematic for orthodox Anglicans. Orthodox parishes, clergy and dioceses that upheld Biblical authority and historic Anglican practice became isolated within their existing structures.
Distressed churches and entire dioceses began to disaffiliate from the established provinces in North America and seek episcopal oversight and spiritual care from Anglican Provinces and leaders in other parts of the world, including the primates and churches of Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South America and Uganda. Beginning in 2000 with the Church of Rwanda, these leaders have responded by accepting orthodox Anglican parishes and dioceses in North America into their care.
In February 2005, leading orthodox bishops and ministries representing a number of different Anglican jurisdictions in North America launched the Common Cause Partnership. In September 2007, the bishops of the partnership gathered to begin shaping a unified and orthodox Anglican church in Canada and the United States. The inaugural meeting of the governing council, held on 17 December 2007, elected the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan as the moderator of the Common Cause Partnership.
Then in June 2008, Anglican leaders from around the world gathered at the Global Anglican Future conference and, among other decisions, determined that the North American Anglican groups under their care and united in the Common Cause Partnership should form a united Anglican body and seek recognition as a province in the Anglican Communion.
Following significant formational work by the Common Cause Partners, these same Anglican leaders have now recognized the resulting ecclesial structure – the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) – as authentically Anglican and have commended formal recognition of ACNA to the other leaders in the Communion. During this period of transition, bishops within ACNA will retain membership in the House of Bishops of the province in which they were members prior to the formation of ACNA.
In bringing together so many faithful Anglicans and Anglican Churches, the ACNA has demonstrated its commitment to unity within the bounds of truth. It represents the reuniting of orthodox Anglicans who have been squeezed out of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada by successive changes to historic Christian teaching and Anglican practice.
Unique among the members of ACNA, the Reformed Episcopal Church was founded in 1873. It has remained faithful to the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ for its 135 year history and is now reuniting with others who share the same commitment to the Word of God.
Founding members of the Common Cause Partnership
The ecclesial and non-ecclesial organizations which have worked together to form the 28 dioceses of the Anglican Church in North America are:
Under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone
- Diocese of Fort Worth
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Diocese of Quincy
- Diocese of San Joaquin
- Anglican Network in Canada
- Various missionary initiatives in the United States
Under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of Nigeria
- Convocation of Anglicans in North America
Under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of Rwanda
- Anglican Mission in the Americas (including the Anglican Coalition in Canada)
Note: The Anglican Mission in the Americas subsequently changed, in mid-2010, from being part of ACNA to being a Mission Partner with ACNA.
Under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of Kenya
- various missionary initiatives in the United States
Under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of Uganda
- various missionary initiatives in the United States
Independent Anglican Church
- Reformed Episcopal Church
Non-ecclesial founding members of the Common Cause Partnership
- American Anglican Council
- Forward in Faith North America
- Anglican Communion Network
For more information see: www.theacna.org
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