CANA Responds to Kenneth Kearon Press Release

STATEMENT FROM THE CONVOCATION OF ANGLICANS IN NORTH AMERICA (CANA)

We have made it clear that CANA exists, at this time, as a constitutionally and canonically established expression of the Anglican Communion as a gracious initiative of the Church of Nigeria. Indeed, we have not sought a separate free standing existence.

The language of the announcement, however, seems to acknowledge such a move may be made in the future in the phrase "CANA has not petitioned the Anglican Consultative Council for any official status within the Communion's structures" We do not anticipate making any such an application apart from the growing coalition of orthodox Anglicans in North America who can no longer function within The Episcopal Church.

We understand that the need for a "separate ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican Communion in the USA" will be a topic that will be discussed by the Primates when they meet in Dar Es Salaam next February and we will await the result of their deliberations.

We recognize the complexity of the situation that confronts the Archbishop of Canterbury and continue to hold him and all of the faithful leaders of the Anglican Communion in our prayers.


BB NOTE: Kenneth Kearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, has issued this press release this morning:

"The Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) is, to my knowledge, a "mission" of the Church of Nigeria. It is not a branch of the Anglican Communion as such but an organisation which relates to a single province of the Anglican Communion. CANA has not petitioned the Anglican Consultative Council for any official status within the Communion's structures, nor has the Archbishop of Canterbury indicated any support for its establishment."

It appears he is stating the obvious. We remember Canon Kearon's hand in organizing the New York Summit which collapsed. The Archbishop of Canterbury shouldn't be expected to indicate support for something if he hasn't been asked to. Hello? One wonders again why Canon Kearon is issuing press releases rather than just ringing up the Anglican Church in Nigeria if he needs clarification. The next step in this process will come in February when the Primates meet. Now is the time to pray.