Anglican Communion Network

The Network Shapes Structure and Strategy

The Steering Committee of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes (commonly referred to as the “Anglican Communion Network”) met March 2-4, 2004, in Pittsburgh for strategic planning. The committee is composed of one representative from each of the 12 original dioceses who signed the Anglican Communion Network’s structural Charter, as well as Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan, and Secretary, the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson. The Committee was joined by acting Convocation Deans, representatives of Global Mission Partners and the American Anglican Council’s Strategy Group.

“We accomplished an enormous amount of organizational work and are committed to rapid forward movement,” said Bishop Duncan, Moderator. “This is an action-oriented group focused on addressing the urgent crisis of the men, women and children in the pews who feel disenfranchised and abandoned by ECUSA, many of whom are experiencing intimidation and harassment in revisionist dioceses.”

Defining the Anglican Communion Network as a “biblically driven missionary movement,” the Steering Committee developed Mission and Vision Statements as well as Core Values based upon the structural and theological charters. A centerpiece of Steering Committee actions was election of Convocation Deans who had previously served provisionally. Convocation Deans are the Rev. John Guernsey, Mid-Atlantic Convocation; the Rev. James McCaslin, Southeast Convocation; the Rev. Ron McCrary, Mid-Continental Convocation; the Rev. William Thompson, Western Convocation; and the Rev. David Moyer, Forward in Faith North America Convocation. Appointment of Dean for the New England Convocation is pending. These Deans established Convocation structures and developed procedures for association with the Anglican Communion Network, procedures which will be available in mid-March. In addition, they are developing a framework to provide organizational, spiritual and pastoral care in the Convocations.

The Steering Committee also began a funding and budgeting process and approved formation of an Anglican Communion Network Missionary Society. This Missionary Society’s primary purpose will be to bring into fellowship groups of people who have left ECUSA and those who are seeking to explore the tradition and worship of Anglican orthodoxy.

In addition, the Committee unanimously voted to appoint the American Anglican Council as provisional Secretariat for the Anglican Communion Network, providing the necessary infrastructure to implement plans and strategies during this time of transition and growth. The Committee also discussed relationships between the Anglican Communion Network and other organizations and coalitions such as the Anglican Communion Institute, Ekklesia and Global Mission Partners. In addition, various committees were formed to define and implement tiered priority goals and action plans.

“The American Anglican Council is delighted to continue to serve the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes,” said Canon Anderson, AAC President. “We have pledged the resources and staff necessary to meet the demands and fulfill the realignment goals established by the Steering Committee.”