The 'G4' Communion

Four continuing church groups have signed a concordat of full communion at the close of a joint synod today.

On 6 Oct 2017 the primates of the Anglican Catholic Church, the Anglican Province of America, the Anglican Church of America, and the Diocese of the Holy Cross signed an agreement pledging to seek “full, institutional and organic union with each other”.

The four continuing churches affirmed their common doctrines and disciplines set forth in the 1977 Affirmation made at the Congress of St Louis, the traditions of the undivided catholic church, and the seven ecumenical councils of the catholic church. They further recognized the orders of the clergy of each of the jurisdictions and acknowledged a common episcopal succession arising from the Denver Congress of 1978.

The affirmation opened the door to reunion with other Anglican groups who share their core principles.

Leaders of the Atlanta joint synod told Anglican Ink that they were open to reunion with the Anglican Church of North America, but at present the question of women’s orders blocked that avenue. The ACNA practices what its leaders calla “mixed economy” on ordination of women to the priesthood and diaconate, allowing a local option for each diocese to decide....