AAC President Transfers Canonical Residency to Anglican Church of Nigeria

January 12, 2007

The Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, President and CEO of the American Anglican Council, recently announced that he has transferred his canonical residency from The Episcopal Church (TEC) of the United States to the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), the U.S. missionary branch of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. The switch, which places Canon Anderson under the oversight of Bishop Martyn Minns, was made Nov. 1, 2006.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Canon Anderson served approximately 35 years in ordained ministry in TEC, including service in the dioceses of Washington, D.C.; Montana; Wyoming; South Dakota; Los Angeles; and Springfield. He retired in 2002 from St. James Church, Newport Beach, Calif., where he served for 16 years as the parish’s rector.

Canon Anderson’s decision to move to CANA stems from the growing severity of the theological crisis in The Episcopal Church nationally, which has become, in many places, hostile toward biblical orthodoxy and apostate in belief and practice. In addition to orthodox clergy, hundreds of churches and more than a third of the denomination’s members have been driven from the church over the past four decades as the church has persisted in its refusal to repent and return to the faith once delivered.

“For nearly 20 years, I worked to reform and renew the Episcopal Church,” Canon Anderson said. “Since my retirement from active parish ministry and during my work over the past six years with the AAC, I have watched with sadness as the orthodox church of my childhood has disappeared from the landscape.

“Over the past year, I came to realize that TEC was not turning back and that it was time for me to chart my course with the majority of the Anglican Communion,” he continued. “The hope of the future of North American Anglicanism lies with the global Anglican Communion and, more specifically, the Global South primates, who robustly live out the Christian faith in the Anglican model. I am blessed and honored to become part of a church that is excited about sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with others and seeing the church grow, and that is guided by the godly and courageous leadership of Archbishop Peter Akinola.”

In speaking of his departure from TEC, Canon Anderson said, “I give thanks for the faithfulness of the Network bishops still in The Episcopal Church, and especially for Bishops Peter Beckwith and Robert Duncan, but it was time for me to move.”

The AAC’s work with churches both within and outside of TEC, including those in the midst of departing TEC, will continue despite his move to CANA, Canon Anderson said. He emphasized the AAC’s vision and hope for a “soon-to-be-united orthodox Anglican entity in North America,” as well as the organization’s ongoing desire to join together with other orthodox Christians to “defend the uncorrupted truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” END