Pittsburgh: NACDP Network Moves into High Gear

Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes 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, PA for strategic planning.

The committee is comprised 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 the 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

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.”

The Anglican Communion Network held their Organizing Convocation in January 2004 during which they adopted both structural and theological Charters. Twelve dioceses voted to provisionally associate with the Network and to date six dioceses — Central Florida, Ft. Worth, Pittsburgh, Rio Grande, San Joaquin, Springfield — as well as the Forward in Faith North America (FiFNA) Convocation have ratified association.

The American Anglican Council is a network of individuals, parishes, specialized ministries and Episcopal Bishops who affirm Biblical authority and mainstream Anglican orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church. For more information on the AAC, please visit http://www.americananglican.org

Contact: Cynthia P. Brust 202-296-5360 (cell), 202-412-8721

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