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The '''Anglican Communion''' is a confederation of national regional churches, each considered independent, yet sharing [[Full Communionfull communion]] or, in some cases, impaired communion, with one another and the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], who is the spiritual (although not administrative) head of the Communion. The Anglican Communion maintains the traditional three-fold hierarchy of clergy: Bishops, Priests and Deacons. In some member churches, women have been admitted to one or more of these orders, whereas some member churches have maintained an all-male clergy. Beyond the three-fold order, though the administration and leadership of each national regional church is decided by that particular church. In the Church of England, for example, the Queen appoints Bishops. In the Episcopal Church (USA), on the other hand, bishops are elected by diocese and then confirmed by the House triennial General Convention, or standing committees of Bishopsadvice in the majority of the diocese (depending on when a bishop-elect is chosen by a diocese).

Of particular interest to Orthodox inquirers is the current [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] the Most Reverend and Right Honorable Honourable Rowan Williams, formerly Archbishop of Wales. Dr. Williams, an academic, has written two books on the spirituality of [[iconography]] ("''The Dwelling of the Light: Praying With Icons of Christ" '' and "''Ponder These Things: Praying With Icons of the Virgin"'') and did his doctoral thesis on the theology of Orthodox theologian [[Vladimir Lossky]].

Other major thinkers to come out of the Anglican Communion have been reformers and founders of the Methodist Church John and Charles Wesley, convert to [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] Cardinal John Henry Newman, social activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and authors Dorothy Sayers and [[C. S. Lewis]].

Within Anglicanism there is a wide variety of theological thought. Some Anglicans would be comfortable under ==Relationship with Orthodox Christians=====Anglican/Orthodox Organizations===Largely through the general heading initiative and work of "Protestant" whereas others would shun this title Oxford Movement figure Father John Mason Neale, in favor of "Anglo-Catholic1863 there was formed the '''Anglican and Eastern Churches Association'''." In actuality, Anglicanism has had This organization publishes a remarkable ability to hold together people journal (''Eastern Churches News Letter'')and encourages interaction of varying views on many theological issuesAnglican and Orthodox Christians, some of them quite majorparticularly through encouraging pilgrimages. Bishop In 1928 an organization with similar goals, the '''[[Kallistos WareFellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius]], himself ''' was formed and also publishes a convert to Orthodoxy from Anglicanism, writes in journal (''The Orthodox ChurchSobornost'' that "There are individual Anglicans whose faith is virtually indistinguishable from that ). In the 1960s an international commission of an Orthodox; but there are others within and Anglican clergy and theologians entitled the Anglican communion, on the extreme liberal wing, who openly repudiate fundamental elements in the doctrinal -Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Commission was formed and moral teaching of Christianity" (p. 321)has issued two historic statements which will be addressed below.

Among [[Raphael of Brooklyn]] was for two years the Vice President of the more "orthodoxAnglican and Eastern Orthodox Association" or conservative , but resigned in protest following a series of events that led him to examine Anglican voices have been author and apologist [[C. S. Lewis]] doctrine, and Archbishop conclude it was incompatible with that of Canterbury Michael RamseyEastern Orthodoxy. On Specifically, Anglican clergy, on the basis of his membership in the other handassociation, Anglicanism has had been poaching members of Antiochian Orthodox Parishes, citing the home existence of such extreme liberal theologians the association as Bishop John Spongproof of a non-existent episcopal endorsement from St. Raphael, and encouraging members thereof to take the sacraments exclusively at Anglican churches. In response to this unethical behavior, author St. Raphael of ''Why Christianity Must Change or Die''Brooklyn undertook an extensive review of Anglican doctrine, and concluded it was fundamentally incompatible with that of Orthodoxy, and in an encyclical, [http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/Raphael.html forbade his parishioners from attending Anglican and other non-Orthodox services].

==History=Agreed statements===In the 1960s, largely through the ecumenical work of Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]], both the Anglican Communion and the Orthodox Churches established commissions to consider Anglican-Orthodox relations. Between 1973 and 1976 an "Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Commission" met which led to the '''Moscow Agreed Statement''' which dealt with "the Knowledge of God, the Inspiration and Authority of Holy Scripture, Scripture and Tradition, the Authority of the Councils, the ''Filioque'' Clause, the Church as the Eucharistic Community, and the Invocation of the [[Holy Spirit]] in the Eucharist."

Christianity reached England by In 1984 the middle of the second century. As St. [[Bede]] relates in his Commission again produced a joint doctrinal work entitled '''Dublin Agreed Statement'Ecclesiastical History of the English People'', in 156 a British King by the name of Lucius wrote to Eleutherus, bishop of Rome, asking to be made a Christian. (Bk 1, Chap 4) With This one dealt with the work Mystery of missionaries throughout the first few centuries ADChurch, Christianity spread the Holy Trinity and took rootworship and tradition.

In 596 Pope [[Gregory the Great]] decided to send a mission to Another report was released by the Anglo-Saxons Commission in the British Isles. He chose a to send a group of Benedictine monks2006, under the leadership including all of St. [[Augustine of Canterbury]] (not to be confused with [[Augustine of Hippo]]). Augustine and his fellow monks arrived in Kent in 597 and eventually a see city was set up in Canterbury, Augustine being the first Archbishopinterim agreements since 1989. It is said that that when they arrived they were "carrying a silver cross and an image of Jesus Christ painted on a board, which thus became, so far as we know, entitled 'Canterbury's first icon.'" (The Church of the Triune God: The Cyprus Agreed Statement''Lesser Feasts and Fasts'' p. 252)

With Augustine At the time of the first agreed statement, the hope of the Commission had been for the eventual reunion of the Anglican and those who came after himOrthodox Churches. However, in between the British Isles were slowly put under two, a major development in Anglicanism changed the authority direction of the Commission. In 1978 both the [[Episcopal Church U.S.A.]] and the Lambeth Conference put forth positions accepting the ordination of Romewomen. As with This drastically changed the rest understanding of the Western ChurchCommission. Following the Lambeth Conference in 1978, it had now come to be seen, in the words of co-chairman Archbishop Athanagoras, "simply as an academic and informative exercise, this authority increased over and no longer as an ecclesial endeavour aiming at the union of the next 500 yearstwo churches."

In the 16th centuryAs there is much theological variation within Anglicanism, Bishop [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia]] has explained rightly when he writes, "The Orthodox Church, however deep its longing for reunion, as Western Continental Europe was struggling cannot enter into closer relations with the Protestant ReformationAnglican communion until Anglicans themselves are clearer about their own beliefs" (Ware, the winds of change would eventually sweep England as wellp. However, as the Continental Reformation would begin in matters of religion and lead to matters of politics, the English Reformation would begin in matters of politics and end in matters of faith321).

==Sources==*''Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue: The national churches below are all self-governing members of the Anglican CommunionDublin Agreed Statement 1984''. There are Anglicans in other countriesCrestwood, howeverNY: St. In these casesVladimir's Seminary Press, the parishes are under the jurisdiction of one 1985.*Bede. ''Ecclesiastical History of the national churchesEnglish People.'' New York: Penguin, 1990.*Bernadin, J. The "Primates" B. ''An Introduction to the Episcopal Church'' (head bishopsRev. Ed.) . Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse, 1983. *''The Book of each national church meet periodically to discuss matters of faith Common Prayer''. New York: Church Hymnal Corporation, 1979.*''Lesser Feasts and disciplineFasts 2003''. In additionNew York: Church Hymnal Corporation, every 10 years (1988, 19981993.*Ware, etcTimothy.) the Anglican bishops from around the world are gathered to Lambeth Palace ''The Orthodox Church'' (home of the Archbishop of CanterburyNew Edition) for the "Lambeth Conference." The decisions of the Lambeth Conference are seen as advisoryNew York: Penguin, not binding, on the member churches1997.

''==External links==* [http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ The Anglican Communion Secretariat]* [http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ The Episcopal Church USA]* [http://www.anglicansonline.org/ Anglicans Online]* [http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/ Official Website of the Archbishop of Canterbury]* [http://www.sobornost.org/ The Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius]* [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/orthodoxy/index.html Project Canterbury: Writings on Anglicanism & Orthodoxy]* [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/nonjurors/langford1.html The Non-Jurors and the Eastern Orthodoxy] by the Rev. H. W. Langford* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/inq_anglican.aspx The Orthodox Christian Information Center: Page for Anglican Inquirers into Orthodoxy]* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/hawaweeny.aspx Pastoral Direction and Instruction on Orthodox/Episcopal Relations and Ministrations in America (This list is not exhaustive1912)''] by St. [[Raphael of Brooklyn]]* [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/6947_9598_ENG_HTM.htm Statement on the Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue from the Episcopal Church Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations]

*The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia *The Anglican Church of Australia *A Igreja Episcopal do Brasil *The Church of the Province of Burundi *The Anglican Church of Canada *The Episcopal Church of Cuba *The Church of England *Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui *The Church of North India*The Church of South India*The Church of Ireland*Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Holy Catholic Church in Japan)*The Anglican Church of Kenya *The Anglican Church of Korea *La Iglesia Anglicana de México *The Church of the Province of Myanmar *The Church of the Province of Nigeria *The Church of Pakistan*The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea *The Philippine Episcopal Church *The Lusitanian Church of Portugal *The Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda *The Scottish Episcopal Church *The Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church *The Church of Sri Lanka *The Episcopal Church of the Sudan *The Church of the Province of Tanzania *The Church of the Province of Uganda *The Episcopal Church in the United States of America *The Church in Wales  ==Anglican Schisms== Several times throughout the history of Anglicanism, there have been movements which led to schism. The various resulting bodies have maintained their Anglican heritage to differing degrees. Among these groups are the various Methodist churches, the Reformed Episcopal Church, the Anglican Catholic Church and the Anglican Church in America. ==Movements Within Anglicanism==[[Category:Non-Orthodox]]

===The Methodist Movement=== ===The Oxford Movement=== ==Relationship with Orthodox Christians== ===Agreed Statements===In the 1960s, largely through the ecumenical work of Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey and Patriarch Athanagoras of Constantinople, both the Anglican Communion and the Orthodox Churches established commissions to consider Anglican-Orthodox relations. Between 1973 and 1976 an "Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Commission" met which led to the '''Moscow Agreed Statement''' which dealt with "the Knowledge of God, the Inspiration and Authority of Holy Scripture, Scripture and Tradition, the Authority of the Councils, the ''Filioque'' Clause, the Church as the Eucharistic Community, and the Invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist." In 1984 the Commission again produced a joint docrinal work entitled the '''Dublin Agreed Statement'''. This one dealt with the Mystery of the Church, the Holy Trinity and worship and tradition. At the time of the first agreed statement, the hope of the Commission had been for the eventual reunion of the Anglican and Orthodox Churches. However, in between the two, a major development in Anglicanism changed the direction of the Commission. In 1978 both the [[Episcopal Church U.S.A.]] and the Lambeth Conference put forth positions accepting the ordination of women. This drastically changed the understanding of the Commission. Following the Lambeth Conference in 1978, it had now come to be seen, in the words of co-chairman Archbishop Athanagoras, "simply as an academic and informative exercise, and no longer as an ecclesial endeavour aiming at the union of the two churches." ==Current Issues Within Anglicanism== ==External Links== httpro://www.anglicancommunion.org <br>http://www.ecusa.anglican.org <br>http://www.anglicansonline.org <br> {{stub}} [[Category:Non-OrthodoxComuniunea Anglicană]]