Its key preoccupation was adhering to traditional, orthodox Christian doctrine in the Anglican Communion on subjects such as the infallibility of Scripture and sexual morality, particularly in the United States and Canada. Most of these dioceses and parishes were members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, while others were under the jurisdiction of overseas bishops from Uganda, Kenya, Bolivia and other countries. The ACN also included a Forward in Faith convocation of churches, some of which were in the Continuing Anglican Movement. In January 2007, the ACN claimed to have the support of 200,000 laity and 2,200 clergy in ten dioceses and 900 congregations in the United States and Canada.
Origins
The ACN was officially formed in January 2004 at a conference in Plano, Texas attended by several hundred priests and lay leaders, including 12 Episcopal bishops. Retired Florida Bishop Stephen Hays Jecko was a leader. Its main intent was to provide a system to supply theologically conservative leadership and church oversight to Anglicans in the United States and Canada. The ACN was formed in response to suggestions by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, in the wake of the controversy regarding Anglican views of homosexuality. In the United States the initial controversy was the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. At the time of his election, Robinson was openly living with a same-sex partner. Some issues date back to the adoption of 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Further controversy followed the election of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Statements made by Schori, such as "Our mother Jesus gives birth to a new creation", have also been disputed. In Canada the main trigger was the approval of the blessing of same-sex unions by the Diocese of Westminster, also in 2003. Most of the work in establishing the ACN was performed by the American Anglican Council, a group of theologically-conservative congregations within the Episcopal Church. The first ACN Moderator was Robert Duncan, seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, and first Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America.
Subsequently, the conventions of the dioceses of San Joaquin, Pittsburgh, Quincy, and Fort Worth voted to leave the Episcopal Church. The departing members joined the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone and it is those dioceses which participated in the Network. The members of those dioceses that remained in TEC did not indicated an interest in remaining a part of the Network.
Support from Anglican churches and ministries
The Common Cause Partnership, founded in June 2004, is an alliance of several churches and ministries which support ACN. The initial meeting was followed by a gathering in February 2005 which resulted in a . The Common Cause Partners are as follows:
American Anglican Council
Anglican Coalition in Canada
Anglican Mission in America
Anglican Network in Canada
Anglican Province of America
Convocation of Anglicans in North America
Forward in Faith North America
Reformed Episcopal Church
Ecumenical relations
In a 2005 meeting, the ACN requested that its moderator send a letter to Pope Benedict XVI in order to express its greetings and support for upholding the historic teaching and faith of the Church.
