Anglican Catholic Church

The Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) is a Christian denomination that emerged from the continuing Anglican movement, distinguishing itself from the mainstream Anglican Communion. Its formation was a direct response to significant liturgical, theological, and moral changes perceived within the Episcopal Church, particularly the revision of the Book of Common Prayer and the decision to ordain women. The ACC views itself as a preserver of historic Anglican traditions, drawing inspiration from "Henrician Catholicism," the theological scholarship of figures like Hooker and Andrewes, the liturgical recovery efforts of the Non-Jurors, and the Oxford Movement.

The organization that would become the Anglican Catholic Church was formally named at a constitutional assembly held in Denver, Colorado, between October 18–21, 1978. The name "Anglican Catholic Church" was officially registered with the US Patent Office in 1979. The church's self-understanding of its name reflects its belief that "Anglican" signifies its English heritage, while "Catholic" denotes its adherence to the universal, undivided Christian Church.

History and Development

The foundational event for the ACC was the 1977 Congress of St. Louis. This congress brought together Anglicans who felt the Episcopal Church had departed from core tenets of scripture and historical Anglicanism. The resulting "Affirmation of St. Louis" served as a declaration of principles for the new church, asserting that the Anglican Church of Canada and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America had deviated from the "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." Following the congress, four bishops were consecrated in January 1978 to lead this new movement.

Initially, the church faced internal challenges related to jurisdiction and authority, leading to divisions. American parishes eventually formed separate bodies, including the Anglican Catholic Church, while Canadian parishes established the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada. Despite these splits, the ACC experienced periods of growth and reorganization. By 1981, it comprised eight dioceses and a missionary district with approximately 200 congregations. A statement of unity in 1983 led to further coalescence, though some members departed over disagreements regarding the church's constitution and canons.

The ACC has actively sought to establish a global presence, expanding to six continents and numerous countries since 1990. As of the end of 2015, its membership in the Original Province was reported at over 30,000. The church engages in worldwide mission and development through the St. Paul Mission Society. Significant developments in recent years include the reception of the Diocese of Aweil in Sudan into the ACC in 2007, the erection of a new province in South Africa in 2021, and expansion into Tanzania in 2024.

Ecumenical Relations and Doctrine

The Anglican Catholic Church holds the Affirmation of St. Louis as a central guiding document. Its governance is episcopal and synodal, organized through a constitution and canons that detail the establishment of dioceses, provinces, and the election of bishops. The church maintains a strong stance against what it perceives as the "innovations" of recent decades within some Anglican bodies, such as the ordination of women and revisions to liturgical texts.

The ACC has actively pursued ecumenical relationships with other continuing Anglican churches, including the Anglican Province of America, the Anglican Church in America, and the Diocese of the Holy Cross, with whom it signed the Atlanta Concordat in 2017, affirming full communion. It has also engaged in dialogue with the Polish National Catholic Church and the Nordic Catholic Church. The church has expressed reservations about ecumenical overtures that it believes do not sufficiently address fundamental theological and doctrinal differences, such as the establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter by the Roman Catholic Church.