Bishops to Create Anglican Council for North America
Diocesan Press Service. October 23, 1968 [70-9]
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Bishops of the Episcopal Church of the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada meeting here jointly for the first time in the history of the two Churches moved cautiously today towards bringing into final form an Anglican Council for North America. Both Churches are members of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Since the Council, already approved by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and Provincial Synod of Canada, also involves the Anglican Province of the West Indies, the Bishops put off key decisions until representatives from that area can join in planning.
The Council, at present known as the North American Regional Council, will consist of seven representatives from each church or Province. Canada has already named its members. The Episcopal Church is expected to do so soon, but the West Indies cannot take action until its Synod meets in the summer of 1969.
In the meantime, the Rt. Rev. Stephen Bayne, program director of the Episcopal Church, who chaired this morning's presentation, said that it would be possible for the Council to meet with one representative from the West Indies.
The Bishops made some definite proposals which were referred to the Council for consideration:
One would add a new and broader purpose "as giving direction and impetus looking towards achieving one church of the Anglican Communion on the North American continent and adjacent areas."
Another would change the name to "The Anglican Planning Council of North America" in order to emphasize the nature of the group.
Two other proposals would create an Anglican Congress for North America in 1973 providing cross-cultural exchanges for clergy and laity as is now happening in Augusta with the Bishops, and jointly exploring ways of expressing the Church's mission to meet the challenges of today.
Much of the discussion today centered on the ecumenical movements and the hope that the formation of an Anglican Council would not interfere with unity approaches now being explored in Canada and the United States with other non-Anglican Churches.
Bishop Bayne summed up the meeting with a call for the Church to respond across the borders to the appeal for the Church to become a "lobby for the poor." This lies on the conscience of the whole of the Anglican Church in North America, he said, and action cannot be put off.
Bishop Bayne also pointed to the unique nature of the occasion now being experienced here of the Bishops of the two Churches meeting jointly.
"I would hope we would never again meet separately," he said. "Unity is being proclaimed in our actions. "