New North American Anglican Province Draws Praise, Criticism

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9559

[VirtueOnline] 15 Dec 2008--The formation of a Biblically-based Anglican Province on North American soil as an alternative to The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada– the first such division in 400 years in the US - is drawing both praise and criticism.

Episcopal Church leaders, clearly angered that anybody would challenge their ecclesiastical turf, issued a statement saying that proponents of a new Anglican province in North America could face a years-long process for gaining official recognition by the rest of the Anglican Communion despite claiming to have God and history on their side.

They cited Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' response to the Common Cause Partnership's (CCP) December 3rd actions. There are "legislative procedures" to follow in such instances.

"There are clear guidelines set out in the Anglican Consultative Council Reports, notably ACC 10 in 1996 (resolution 12), detailing the steps necessary for the amendments of existing provincial constitutions and the creation of new provinces," the statement said. "Once begun, any of these processes will take years to complete...it has not yet begun."