Breakaway Chaplains Incorporate New Continuing Anglican Church

 

By Robin G. Jordan

You may have read David Virtue’s article, “JAFC Bishop Form New Anglican Denomination,” https://www.virtueonline.org/post/jafc-bishops-form-new-anglican-denomination-the-anglican-reformed-catholic-church-will-be-led-by-bi,  or Michael Gryboski’s article, “Embattled chaplains group forms new denomination named Anglican Reformed Catholic Church” https://www.christianpost.com/news/embattled-anglican-chaplains-group-forms-new-denomination.html .The new ecclesial entity will be led by Bishop Derek Jones, whom earlier in December an ACNA Board of Inquiry charged with four alleged canonical law violations.

Bishop Jones is a former bishop of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches who was received into the Anglican Church in North America in 2010, fifteen years ago. His reception was not without controversy and questions were raised at that time about the regularity of Bishop Jones’ reception and the ACNA’s commitment to transparency, the historic episcopate, classical Anglicanism and Reformation Christianity.  I wrote several related articles in July and August of that year, links to which are given below.

“Episcopi Vagantes in the Anglican Church in North America”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/07/episcopi-vagantes-in-anglican-church-in.html

“The Sound of Silence”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/sound-of-silence.html

“A view of the emerging Anglican Church in North America”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/view-of-emerging-anglican-church-in.html

“More unanswered questions in Derek Jones’ reception as an ACNA bishop”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-unanswered-questions-in-derek.html

The preceding article contain links to other relevant articles

“More than One Episcopi Vagantes Bishop in the Anglican Church in North America”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-than-one-episcopi-vagantes-bishop.html

While the leaders of the newly formed Anglican Reformed Catholic Church (ARCC) claim that the jurisdiction will be “classic Anglican,” one is prompted to question this claim due Bishop Jones’ background and the group’ past affiliation with the ACNA. Time will show whether the ARCC is committed to the classical Anglican formularies and genuine historic Anglicanism or is just another Convergence or Independent Catholic denomination masquerading as an Anglican entity.