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June 17, 2004
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Cynthia P. Brust
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ANGLICAN COMMUNION NETWORK ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT OF ANGLICAN GROUPS TO COMMON CAUSE
200,000 come together in new alliance
The Anglican
Communion Network (ACN) announced today an unprecedented alliance of six
groups in the Anglican tradition. The groups, all based in the U.S. have
committed to a "common cause" under the chairmanship of the
Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, ACN Moderator. In a letter to the Archbishop of
Canterbury, leaders of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC), the Anglican
Mission in America (AMIA), Forward in Faith North American (FiFNA), the
Anglican Province in America (APA) and the American Anglican Council (AAC)
pledged "to make common cause for the gospel of Jesus Christ and
common cause for a united, missionary and orthodox Anglicanism in North
America." As a whole, the groups represent or provide pastoral oversight
for approximately 200,000 Christians in the Anglican tradition.
Calling divisions among orthodox Anglicans in North America "scandalous",
the letter goes on to state that the signatories clearly committed to
cooperation through "additional steps as will help all observers
to recognize that a new day is dawning."
"To see orthodox Christians in the Anglican Tradition move from competition
and divisiveness to cooperation signifies a new season in the life of
the Church," Bishop Duncan said. "This is not a declaration
of organic unity - far from it - but it is a proclamation that we can
function as allies in the common cause of Jesus Christ," he added.
The Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province in America had
been engaged in ecumenical dialogue with the Episcopal Church for years,
but actions of ECUSA's General Convention 2003 halted such efforts. Both
welcomed the opportunity to join the common cause initiative undertaken
by the Anglican Communion Network.
"The events of history have resulted in separations among those who
claim the same Anglican heritage. The circumstances of the present compel
us to find ways of reestablishing and rebuilding relationships among all
those in the Anglican world who remain steadfast in holding 'the faith
once delivered to the saints'," said the Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches,
REC Presiding Bishop. "We share a common heritage with our orthodox
brethren in the Episcopal Church and pledge our support in building unity
among faithful Anglicans," said the Rt. Rev. Walter Grundorf, Presiding
Bishop of the APA.
Leaders of the various Anglican groups pointed to the growing crisis within
ECUSA and the importance of working cooperatively for creative solutions
to fulfill the mission of the Church. "Even as we watch with some
sadness the painful yet necessary realignment in the Anglican Communion,
I am encouraged by the willingness of a growing number of orthodox groups
and voices to work together and to shape a new Anglican witness for the
21st Century," noted the Rt. Rev. Charles Murphy III, Chairman of
the Anglican Mission in America.
"The Holy Spirit is uniting Biblically-centered Anglican jurisdictions
and organizations for the common cause and integrity of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ; and for the necessary re-alignment of the Church,"
the Rev. Dr. David L. Moyer, FiFNA President. "The crisis of faith
and authority in this Episcopal Church that cripples, undermines and damages
the witness of the Anglican Communion in North America has impelled us
as leaders to embrace and uphold each other in unity of spirit and action.
We have prayerfully committed ourselves to each other in this new relationship
for the maintenance and growth of our Anglican heritage for our children
and our children's children."
The American Anglican Council, which, with other orthodox groups in ECUSA,
assisted in organizing the Anglican Communion Network and serves as its
interim Secretariat, considers this a key alliance. "We have maintained,
since the debacle of General Convention 2003, that realignment in North
America is a necessity," said the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, AAC
President. "Our common cause effort with these other Christian communities
increases our numbers, our strength and our witness."
The Anglican Communion Network is a growing ecclesial structure that counts
nine Episcopal Dioceses and scores of individual Episcopal congregations
as affiliates. The affiliated dioceses provide pastoral oversight for
approximately 140,000 communicants in 595 local congregations. The scores
of individual Anglican Communion Network parishes account for thousands
more.
Approximately 14,000 communicants worship in the 137 churches of the Reformed
Episcopal Church. The Anglican Province of America includes 55 congregations
in the United States with some 5,000 members as well as a further 15,000
members overseas. The Anglican Mission in America counts 65 member congregations
and numerous church plants where some 15,000 Anglican Christians worship.
Though many in Forward in Faith North America and the American Anglican
Council are also members of a Network-affiliated diocese or parish, both
have memberships that number in the tens of thousands.
_____________________________________________
6th June, A.D. 2004
Trinity Sunday
The Most Rev. & Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams
Archbishop of Canterbury
Lambeth Palace
London SE1 7JU ENGLAND
Dear Archbishop Williams,
Grace and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Much has been made of the divisions among the orthodox here in North America.
The divisions are, in fact, scandalous and we recognize that we must do
everything we can to bring them to an end.
We write to you as leaders of key Anglican movements in North America.
We write to you in cooperation with and under the chairmanship of Bishop
Bob Duncan, Moderator of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and
Parishes.
This letter is a first step in signifying our commitment to make common
cause for the gospel of Jesus Christ and common cause for a united, missionary
and orthodox Anglicanism in North America. While little trumpeted, there
are already numerous specifics of cooperation among us. Our intention
is to take such additional steps as will help all observers to recognize
that a new day is dawning among us.
As we seek to do our part, please be assured of our prayers for you as
you strive to give leadership at this extraordinary moment in the history
of the Christian Church and of the Anglican Communion.
Faithfully in Christ,
Robert Wm.
Duncan, Moderator, Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes
Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop, Reformed Episcopal Church
Charles H. Murphy III, Bishop Chairman, Anglican Mission in America
David L. Moyer, President, Forward in Faith North America
Walter H. Grundorff, Presiding Bishop, Anglican Province of America
David C. Anderson, President, American Anglican Council
