Delegates, Attendees kick off Inaugural Assembly

More than 900 people - including 234 delegates and 533 attendees, as well as staff, volunteers and media - began the Inaugural Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America today at St. Vincent’s Cathedral in Bedford Texas.

The assembly will formally create an Anglican church with 28 dioceses and dioceses-in-formation, more than 700 congregations and 100,000 members – with an average Sunday attendance of 69,100 as of the spring of 2009. 

“Though the journey took its toll, we know that we have been delivered, and have found that deliverance very sweet indeed,” said Bishop Robert Duncan, archbishop-designate for the Anglican Church in North America.  Duncan addressed delegates, attendees, and other guests during the opening worship service at St. Vincent’s.

More than 35 Anglican and ecumenical guests from around the world, including the primates or official delegations from eight Anglican provinces, are joining delegates and attendees in Bedford to observe or participate in this historic moment.

The formation of the Anglican Church in North America is the culmination of years of work and prayers for unity among mainstream Anglicans in North America.  It ultimately unites 12 separate Anglican jurisdictions into a single church. 

“Our God is up to something very big, both with us and with others.  The Father truly is drawing His children together again in a surprising and sovereign move of the Holy Spirit.  He is again Re-Forming His Church,” said Bishop Duncan.

Leaders of a number of the world’s Anglican churches, representing a significant majority of the more than 55 million practicing Anglican Christians, have already stated their intention to be in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America. 

In the days ahead, Anglicans in Bedford will hear from Christian leaders such as Pastor Rick Warren, Metropolitan Jonah, and the Rev. Todd Hunter.  Delegates will work to ratify the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America and on Wednesday, June 24, Christ Church Plano will host a festive Eucharist and installation ceremony of the new archbishop at 7:30 pm.

Jurisdictions which are joining together to form the Anglican Church in North America are: the dioceses of Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy and San Joaquin; the Anglican Mission in the Americas; the Convocation of Anglicans in North America; the Anglican Network in Canada; the Anglican Coalition in Canada; the Reformed Episcopal Church; and the missionary initiatives of Kenya, Uganda, and South America’s Southern Cone. Additionally, the American Anglican Council and Forward in Faith North America are founding organizations.