STATEMENT FROM THE MOST REV. MARK D. HAVERLAND OF THE ANGLICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONCERNING CHURCH UNITY
For the past twelve years, the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) has had an official policy of seeking unity among Continuing Anglicans in general, but of seeking it first with the Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK) and the United Episcopal Church of North America (UEC), which are the other two Churches that share our beginnings in the Congress of Saint Louis (1977), in the Affirmation of Saint Louis, and in the "Chambers Succession" of consecrations of bishops in Denver (1978).
In part, this beginning point rested on a judgment of principle, namely that the
unfulfilled hopes of 1977-
In any case, it seems to us now desirable to state firmly and clearly the following
points:
1. The ACC believes itself to be in a state of full communio in sacris with
the APCK and the UEC;
2. The ACC believes that anything which divides these three bodies from each other is regrettable and should be stopped or overcome;
3. The ACC believes that anything that undermines the internal unity and stability of any of these three bodies harms us all and harms the cause of unity among Catholic and Orthodox Anglicans. In particular we believe that one cannot serve the cause of unity by undermining or dividing any of the foundational Churches of the Continuing Church movement;
4. And, finally, the ACC believes that we cannot be in a state of full communio in sacris with any ecclesial body which is a member of the Lambeth Communion or which is in communion with any body that has such membership.
I now call upon the bishops of the UEC and the APCK to join me in affirming these points. I pledge to assist them in sustaining their own unity and stability. And I pledge to work with them, quietly and patiently, in order to build full organic unity amongst ourselves.
The Most Reverend Mark Haverland, Ph.D.
Archbishop & Metropolitan
July 3, 2007
Athens, Georgia
STATEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP REBER OF THE UNITED EPISCOPAL CHURCH ENDORSING ARCHBISHOP HAVERLAND'S STATEMENT CONCERNING CHURCH UNITY
We concur with Archbishop Mark Haverland's statement and hope that this would be a great moment for all of our three churches to respond together to the exigencies of Anglicanism in the United States.
The Most Reverend Stephen C. Reber
The Presiding Bishop
United Episcopal Church
July 5, 2007
RESPONSE FROM THE ANGLICAN PROVINCE OF CHRIST THE KING TO THE ACC STATEMENT ON CHURCH UNITY
As one of the original jurisdictions stemming from the Chambers Consecrations and the Affirmation of St. Louis, the Anglican Province of Christ the King fully agrees with and supports the statement regarding unity issued by The Most Rev. Mark Haverland of the Anglican Catholic Church. The APCK, the ACC and the UECNA represent the three main branches coming from the root of the Chambers Succession. We share a responsibility to the trust that Bishop Chambers placed in us to be a beacon for unity among traditional Anglicans in the United States. The Anglican Province of Christ the King will do all that we can to foster that unity.
The Most Rev. James E. Provence
Archbishop
Anglican Province of Christ the King
July 10, 2007
San Francisco, California
Inaugural Statement by Archbishop Province, July 10, 2007 to the Clergy and People of the Province of Christ the King.
Dearly Beloved Brethren,
The Feast of St. Peter this year was one of historical significance for the Anglican Province of Christ the King. On that day, in the cathedral church dedicated to Peter, the fisherman who became a fisher of men, Robert Sherwood Morse handed over apostolic responsibility for the clergy and people of the APCK to his successor, James Eugene Provence. To underscore the sacramental character of the office of archbishop, the election took place at the offertory of the Mass. Following the announcement of the new archbishop, the Mass continued, reminding us that without Christ, our work is in vain.
After the Liturgy, many clergy and laity approached Archbishop Morse to offer their thanks for his nearly thirty years of leadership and for giving us an orderly succession.
The election of the Second Archbishop is also a fitting tribute to the courage of Bishop Albert Chambers who entrusted us with the Apostolic Ministry. Acknowledging that trust, your bishops are committed to increased efforts toward unity with the other two branches that spring directly from the root of the Chambers Succession: the Anglican Catholic Church and the United Episcopal Church, North America. We believe that any progress toward unity must begin at that source.
While unity is an important goal, the primary responsibility of bishops is to feed the flock of Christ with the Word of God and the sacraments of the Church. This is the commission given to Peter, to the rest of the Apostles and to the bishops in their direct succession. Aware of this solemn responsibility, it is our commitment to continue leading this branch of Christ's Church in this most holy mission.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
The Most Rev. James E. Provence
Statement from the House of Bishops, Anglican Church in America reference APCK
IN a Pastoral Letter recently read to parishes and missions of the Anglican Province of Christ the King's (APCK) Diocese of the Eastern States, Bishop Rocco Florenza pledged increased "cooperation and fellowship" and declared "a state of genuine unity and full communion" with the Anglican Church in America. In response, the following statement has been issued by Bishop George Langberg, speaking for the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America:
"We rejoice at the news that this significant step toward the greater unity of the
Church has been taken by Bishop Florenza and others. We join our brother in Christ
in proclaiming that we are in full and unimpaired communion with each other, and
we are committed to working with him toward the vision our Lord expressed for His
Church in John 17 -
When asked to explain what shape Bishop Florenza's "genuine unity" and the ACA bishops'
"working together" would take, Bishop Langberg referred to the "form follows function"
principle of architecture and engineering, saying, "We first need to focus on getting
everyone on both sides thoroughly committed to following our Lord's clearly-
[A parallel statement also came from Archbishop John Hepworth, Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion. 30th June 2007]
