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THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION
There are nearly 70 million members
of the Anglican family in 36 self-governing Member Churches or
Provinces in more than 160 countries. The Anglican Communion
has developed in two stages. Following the first stage, which
began in the 17th century in Britain, Anglicanism was later
established by colonization in places such as Australia, Canada,
New Zealand, Southern Africa, and the USA. The second stage
began in the late 18th century. During that era Anglican
churches were planted all over the world as a result of the
missionary work of the Churches in England, Ireland, Scotland
and Wales, which were joined in this task by the Churches formed
in the previous two centuries. Anglican Churches uphold and
proclaim the Catholic and Apostolic faith, based on the
scriptures, interpreted in the light of tradition, scholarship
and reason. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the
Churches are committed to the proclamation of the Good News of
the Gospel to the whole creation. Faith, order and practice
have found expression in the Book of Common Prayer, Ordinals of
the 16th and 17th centuries, and most succinctly in the
'Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral' which was first approved by the
Lambeth Conference of 1888. This document affirms as the
essential elements of faith and order in the quest for Christian
unity:
- the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the
revealed Word of God;
- the Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the
Christian Faith;
- the two Sacraments—Baptism and the Eucharist—ministered
with the unfailing words and elements used by Christ;
- the historic Episcopate.
Central to worship for Anglicans
is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (also called the Holy
Communion, the Lord's Supper, the Mass). In this offering of
prayer and praise are recalled the life, death and resurrection
of Christ, through the proclamation of the word and celebration
of the Sacrament. Worship is at the heart of Anglicanism. Its
styles vary from simple to elaborate, from Evangelical to
Catholic, as well as from Charismatic to Traditional. The Book
of Common Prayer, in its various revisions throughout the
Communion, gives expression to the comprehensiveness found
within the Church whose principles reflect, since the time of
Elizabeth I, a via media in relation to other Christian
traditions. Baptism, with water in the name of the Trinity,
unites one with Christ and the Church. Other rites include
Confirmation, Holy Orders, Reconciliation, Marriage, and
Anointing of the Sick.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
The Churches of the Anglican Communion are linked by affection
and common loyalty. They are in full communion with the See of
Canterbury and thus the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his person,
is a unique focus of Anglican unity. He calls the once-a-decade
Lambeth Conference, chairs the meeting of Primates, and is
President of the Anglican Communion Council [formerly called
the Anglican Consultative Council]. The 104th Archbishop,
in the succession of St Augustine, is the Most Reverend and
Right Honourable Rowan Williams, enthroned in February 2003.
THE
LAMBETH CONFERENCE
The Lambeth Conference is a gathering
of bishops, meeting every ten years under the presidency of the
Archbishop of Canterbury. There have been 13 conferences to
date, with the first being held in 1867. Until 1978 the
conferences were for bishops only, but in 1988 the full Anglican
Consultative Council membership and representative bishops of
the Churches in Communion (the Churches of Bangladesh, North and
South India, and Pakistan) joined with the bishops in the
discussions, as did bishops of the Old Catholic Churches of the
Union of Utrecht.
THE PRIMATES MEETING
Since 1979, the primates (the senior archbishops or presiding
bishops) of the autonomous Churches of the Anglican Communion
have met every two or three years in consultation on
theological, social, and international issues. Meeting
locations: Ely, England 1979; Washington, USA 1981; Limuru,
Kenya 1983; Toronto, Canada 1986; Cyprus 1989; Ireland1991; Cape
Town, Southern Africa 1993; Windsor, England 1995; Jerusalem
1997; and Oporto 2000.
THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION COUNCIL
Origins
The ACC was formed following a resolution of the 1968 Lambeth
Conference which discerned the need for more frequent and more
representative contact among the Churches than was possible through
a once-a-decade conference of bishops. The constitution of the
Council was accepted by the general synods or conventions of all the
Member Churches of the Anglican Communion. The Council came into
being in October 1969.
Meetings
The ACC meets every two or three years and its present policy is
to meet in different parts of the world. Since it began there have
been nine meetings of the Council: Limuru, Kenya 1971; Dublin,
Republic of Ireland 1973; Trinidad 1976; London, Ontario, Canada
1979; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England 1981; Badagry, Nigeria 1984;
Singapore 1987; Wales 1990; Cape Town, South Africa 1993; Panama
1996 and Scotland 1999.
Activities
The following activities and projects were inaugurated,
implemented, and supported, in some way, by the Lambeth Conference,
the Primates Meeting and the Anglican Communion Council:
- Partners in Mission
- Companion Dioceses Programs
- Inter-Church Ecumenical Conversations (with
the Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox, Reformed, and Roman
Catholic Churches)
- Anglican Cycle of Prayer
- Anglican World
- Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal
Commission
- The Anglican Centre in Rome
- The Liturgical Consultation
- Inter-Anglican Publishing
- Inter-Anglican Information Network
- United Nation Observer
- Inter-Anglican networks
SECRETARIAT
There is a permanent secretariat, based in London, England,
led by its 99th Secretary General, the Rev. Canon John L.
Peterson. The staff serves the Lambeth Conference, the Primates
Meeting, and the Anglican Communion Council. All are funded by
the Inter-Anglican budget which is supported by all Member
Churches according to their membership and means. Member
Churches and other organizations are also invited to contribute
to special projects authorized by the Council, such as the
Personal Emergencies Fund.
The Anglican
Communion Secretariat
157 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UT, England
Tel: (0171) 620 1110
Fax: (0171) 620 1070
IAIN/Quest: ACC
Internet: acc@ecunet.org
All the
Churches of the Anglican Communion are listed on the
Anglican
Communion website.
THE
COMPASS ROSE
The emblem of the Anglican Communion, the
Compass Rose was originally designed by the late Canon Edward
West of New York. The modern design is that of Giles Bloomfield.
The symbol, set in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral, was
dedicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the final Eucharist
of the Lambeth conference 1988. The Archbishop dedicated a
similar symbol in Washington Cathedral in 1990, and one in the
original design in New York's cathedral in 1992, demonstrating
that its use is becoming increasingly world-wide. The centre
holds the Cross of St George, reminding Anglicans of their
origins. The Greek inscription 'The Truth Shall Make You Free'
(John 8:32) surrounds the cross, and the compass recalls the
spread of Anglican Christianity throughout the world. The mitre
at the top emphasises the role of the episcopacy and apostolic
order that is at the core of the Churches of the Communion. The
Compass Rose is used widely by the family of Anglican/Episcopal
Churches and is the logo of the Inter-Anglican Secretariat, and
is used as the Communion's identifying symbol.
The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Produced by the Communications Department—January
1997
Content: Copyright © 1997
Canon James Rosenthal
Director of Communications, The Anglican Communion
London, England
Editor, ANGLICAN WORLD
For more information visit the official
Anglican Communion site
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