ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA (ACNA)
ACNA is recommended because:
- Founded specifically to maintain biblical orthodoxy
- Clear statement of faith (Jerusalem Declaration)
- Traditional Christian sexual ethics
- Does not perform same-sex marriages or ordain LGBTQ clergy
- Connected to global Anglican orthodoxy through GAFCON
- Beautiful liturgical worship in Anglican tradition
- Strong commitment to historic Christian doctrine
DENOMINATION BACKGROUND
The Anglican Church in North America was founded in 2009 by conservative Anglicans who departed from the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada over their embrace of same-sex blessings and LGBTQ ordination.
The founding assembly brought together several existing conservative Anglican groups including the Reformed Episcopal Church, the Anglican Mission in the Americas, and numerous individual parishes that had departed the Episcopal Church.
ACNA is recognized by the majority of the global Anglican Communion through the GAFCON movement, though not by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It represents approximately 1,000 congregations and 125,000 members committed to biblical orthodoxy within the Anglican tradition.
ACNA was founded to maintain orthodox Anglican Christianity:
- Affirms biblical authority and the Jerusalem Declaration (2008)
- Maintains traditional Christian sexual ethics
- Does not ordain or marry same-sex couples
- Holds to historic Anglican formularies (39 Articles, Book of Common Prayer)
The denomination represents a return to orthodox Anglicanism rather than a shift. Some congregations ordain women to certain offices while others do not, reflecting historic Anglican diversity on this secondary issue.
- Robert Duncan: First Archbishop (2009-2014), former Episcopal bishop
- Foley Beach: Second Archbishop (2014-2024)
- Steve Wood: Current Archbishop (2024-present)
- Todd Hunter: Bishop, author, church planter
- Tory Baucum: Prominent pastor and author
- N.T. Wright (influence): Though Church of England, influential on ACNA theology
- Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, IL) - Stewart Ruch III's church
- Trinity Church (Greenwich, CT) - Historic church that departed Episcopal
- Falls Church Anglican (Falls Church, VA) - Historic church, contentious property case
- Christ Church (Plano, TX) - Large Texas congregation
- Church of the Good Shepherd (Dallas, TX)
- Redeemer Anglican Church (multiple locations)
