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ACNA orders valid state Archbishops of Canterbury and York
Recognition of the Orders of the Anglican Church in North America
By Donald Allister
http://transfigurations.blogspot.com/2017/02/acna-orders-valid-state-archbishops-of.html
Feb. 10, 2017
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have recognised the orders of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) under the Overseas and Other Clergy (Ministry and Ordination) Measure 1967. The Measure gives the Archbishops authority to determine whether the orders of any Church are 'recognised and accepted' by the Church of England for the purposes of the Measure.
This follows work undertaken by the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) in consultation with the Council for Christian Unity both (a) to clarify the general criteria by which the Church of England recognises the ministry of those whose orders are of churches within the historic episcopate and with whom the Church of England is not in communion, and (b) to consider whether the orders of ACNA meet these criteria. The work on the general criteria is presented in Recognition by the Church of England of Orders Conferred in Other Churches, available on the FAOC page of the Church of England website. The work on ACNA specifically was communicated to the Archbishops, whose responsibility it is to make the decision in such cases. The Archbishops, having carefully reflected on this advice, have decided to act on it by formally recognising ACNA's orders.
When someone who was originally ordained in ACNA or any other church whose orders are recognised under the Measure wishes to minister in the Church of England, the first questions to be considered are those of whether the person concerned is suitable for ministry in the Church of England and if so, whether any further training is necessary. Where those questions are resolved satisfactorily, the Archbishop of the relevant Province can decide to give the minister permission to officiate in the Church of England without being ordained in the Church of England, either permanently or for a specified period.
Other churches whose orders the Church of England recognises although it is not in communion with them are the Roman Catholic Church, the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (formerly known as the Church of England in South Africa), and the Free Church of England.
These churches are distinct from those with which the Church of England is in communion, which include all churches of the Anglican Communion. For up to date information on this, please see Part 5 of the current edition of the Church of England Yearbook.
The Bishop of Peterborough Chair, Council for Christian Unity
Bishops Respond to Archbishops canterbury and York announcement
The recognition of orders, as the statement makes clear, is not a statement of being in communion. The Church of England recognises validly, if irregularly, conferred orders of bodies like CESA or the FCE. This does not mean it is in communion with them or that they are members of the Anglican Communion. --- Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
This will allow, however, some of our clergy who have had resistance from CoE bishops, to be able to respond to requests to serve in CoE congregations. --- Archbishop Foley Beach
This is what we expected when this matter was first considered. I would have been very shocked if the report had been different. It does not put us in communion with the C of E, but that would be the next step, and that is what the C of E had indicated it would like to see. Remember the Resolution of several years ago urging some recognition? --- Bishop William Wantland
Sorry, I don't care what the Church of England thinks or decides anymore. Canterbury and the CofE are no longer the center of the Anglican Communion. As long as ACNA is a full member of GAFCON, that is what matters. - Dr. Bruce Atkinson
