Traditional Anglican Communion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Background
Part of a series on the Continuing Anglican Movement

Christianity · Western Christianity English Reformation · Anglicanism · Book of Common Prayer Ordination of women Homosexuality and Anglicanism Bartonville Agreement
People
James Parker Dees · Charles D. D. Doren Scott Earle McLaughlin · William Millsaps Robert S. Morse . Council Nedd II Stephen C. Reber
Churches
Anglican Catholic Church Anglican Catholic Church in Australia Anglican Catholic Church of Canada Anglican Church in America Anglican Episcopal Church Anglican Orthodox Church Anglican Province of America Anglican Province of Christ the King Christian Episcopal Church Church of England (Continuing) Diocese of the Great Lakes Diocese of the Holy Cross Episcopal Missionary Church Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England Free Church of England Orthodox Anglican Church Orthodox Anglican Communion Reformed Episcopal Church Traditional Anglican Communion Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church United Episcopal Church of North America This box: view • talk • edit

The Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) is an international communion of churches in the Anglican tradition that are independent of the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The TAC upholds the theological doctrines of the Affirmation of St. Louis and a Catholic interpretation of the Thirty-Nine Articles. Each of the respective jurisdictions utilizes a designated Book of Common Prayer that is deemed free of innovation. Most parishioners of these churches would be described as being traditional Anglo-Catholics in their theology and liturgical practice. Some parishes use the Anglican Missal in their liturgies. The TAC is guided by a college of bishops from across the communion and headed by an elected Primate ^[1].

The Coat of Arms adopted by the Traditional Anglican Communion.

The international communion was formed by Louis Falk in 1991, which elected him its first Primate that same year. He was succeeded in 2002 by Archbishop John Hepworth of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia.

The TAC churches have separated from their parent Anglican Communion churches over a number of different issues. The principal issue has been the ordination of women. Other issues include liturgical revisions, the acceptance of homosexuality and the importance of tradition. The TAC seeks unity, without losing core Anglican distinctives, with the Roman Catholic Church [1]. If this union is successful the TAC churches may be permitted to form their own Anglican Rite, analogous to the Byzantine and other Eastern Rite jurisdictions which are in communion with Rome. The TAC could also simply be absorbed into the Pastoral Provision of the Anglican Use. If successful, it would be the first Anglican jurisdiction to reconcile with Rome since Mary I briefly returned England to Roman Catholicism in 1553, only to have her successor, Elizabeth I, reverse the move.

In a statement authorised by Archbishop Hepworth on October 16, 2007^[2]:

The College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) met in Plenary Session in Portsmouth, England, in the first week of October 2007. The Bishops and Vicars-General unanimously agreed to the text of a letter to the See of Rome seeking full, corporate, sacramental union. The letter was signed solemnly by all the College and entrusted to the Primate and two bishops chosen by the College to be presented to the Holy See. The letter was cordially received at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Primate of the TAC has agreed that no member of the College will give interviews until the Holy See has considered the letter and responded.” + John

At present the Traditional Anglican Communion consists of 14 member churches:

In Africa: