Is CANA more Anglican than ACNA?

Thinking Anglicans reports on how the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) views the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). While Uganda immediately transferred their American parishes to ACNA, Nigeria did not. Martyn Minns talks about CANA churches having "dual" citizenship. He admits that ACNA churches are not part of the Anglican Communion, but says that CANA churches have better Anglican bona-fides because of their continuing connection to Nigeria.

Minns says they completely support ACNA in all they do, except that CANA will maintain its distinctive identity. He then goes on to list all the things that CANA is and by implication all the things that ACNA is not.

From the CANA press release:

…Since day one, CANA has been and will continue to be a full participant in the life of the new province, and will continue to maintain our own identity. We will encourage groups of congregations, when they are ready, to establish themselves as free-standing dioceses. Our goal is to support the work, mission, and ministry of the Gospel on this continent and bring our own particular distinctive to that task.

“CANA congregations now have a ‘dual citizenship.’ They are members of the Church in Nigeria and as a result of that relationship, full members of the global Anglican Communion. CANA congregations are also members of the Anglican Church in North America and will participate fully in the life of the new province.


The Church of Uganda has said:
Likewise, the Bishops resolved to release, effective immediately, the Bishops, clergy and churches in America under its ecclesiastical oversight and to transfer them to the Anglican Church in North America. The House of Bishops further resolved to continue its partnership and friendship with them in mission and ministry, extends its hand of fellowship, and wishes them well.

Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said, “This really is the moment we have been waiting for. We have been longing to be able to repatriate our clergy and congregations to a Biblical and viable ecclesiastical structure in North America, and that day has now come. To God be the glory.”


More here.

It seems that the cracks are already beginning to appear in ACNA. Besides the issue of who's more Anglican, the ordination of women is simmering between those who support it and those who oppose it.

Posted by Ann Fontaine on June 30, 2009 10:15 AM | |
Comments (4)

So now we have AMiA, CANA, ACNA all out there independent of one another and NONE who are part of the Anglican Communion, despite Minns' delusion to the contrary.

Soon fissures will develop within ACNA over women as priests.

It should make for entertaining chancel drama.

Posted by Michael Russell [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 30, 2009 10:39 AM

There is a story, perhaps aprchryphal, about a meeting between Martyn Minns and Rowan Williams. After many failed attempts to become a bishop in the Episcopal Church, Minns had finally been made a bishop by the Church of Nigeria, and was dressed in purple finery.

He approached Williams at a gathering--perhaps a meeting of the Compass Rose Society--and introduced himself.

"I recognize the name," Williams said, "but not the shirt."

Posted by Jim Naughton [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 30, 2009 10:44 AM

While you all know I have serious issues with TEC and its leadership, this aspect of ACNA (being more of a coalition than a commuion) with separate structures for CANA, AMiA, REC, etc. is very troubling for me. As I have said to those who have left TEC for the CANA or AMiA or Southern Code or Uganda, Kenya, or what have you, you cannot restore catholic faith by violating catholic order.

YBIC,
Phil Snyder

YBIC,
Phil Snyder

Posted by Phil Snyder [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 30, 2009 12:58 PM

I can't keep up with who's in charge and which group is allied with which other group and who amongst the members of the alphabet soups is still allied with the Anglican Communion, if any of them are. They've moved to complications beyond what I am able to grasp. I give up.

June Butler

Posted by GrandmèreMimi [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 30, 2009 1:56 PM

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