1. confessional unity, expressed in matters of Faith and Order;
2. subsidiarity, where what may be wisely left to the local level (both diocesan and congregational) is left to the local level, including property ownership;
3. missionary focus, especially in structures, roles and representation;
4. flexibility, recognizing the diversity of Godly approaches common among the partners coming into union;
5. disciplinary reform, including address of concerns for Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders, as well as provision of a provincial tribunal.
6. collegial accountability, especially in matters relating to bishops.

The charge to the Governance Task Force was to provide a strong skeleton around which a living Church could be built.

This letter is being sent to the whole Church as an introduction to the basic work that has been done, and in order to outline the process of discussion, adoption and ratification now ahead of us. Simply put, the whole Church discusses, the Provincial Council adopts, and the Provincial Assembly ratifies or sends back.

The principal time for suggesting changes to the draft canons is between now and the April meeting of Council. Comments and suggestions should be given to the jurisdictional representatives who compose the Common Cause Leadership Council by April 24th or sent to the chair of the Governance Task Force, Mr. Hugo Blankingship (ahblankingshipjr@theacna.org), no later than noon on Monday, April 20th. The Council can then consider these matters in deciding the form in which the canons are adopted. Once adopted, another period of publication and comment follows, but this time the advice from the local Church to its representatives to the Provincial Assembly (June 22-25) would take the form of recommendations on whether to ratify or reject individual canons or sections of canons. If, however, substantial concerns are identified in this latter period, it should be noted that it would be possible for the Council to meet, adopt and circulate further revised canons prior to the Provincial Assembly.

Along with the draft canons now being released by the Governance Task Force, the preliminary schedule for the June meeting of the Provincial Assembly (and the College of Bishops preceding) is also being published. As previously announced, St. Vincent's Cathedral and School in Bedford, Texas, has agreed to host both the College of Bishops and the Inaugural Provincial Assembly.

Canons and schedules are, in themselves, not meant to be exciting, only a framework. What is exciting is the rebirth of the biblical, missionary and united Anglicanism in North America for which so many have prayed for so long and that the proposed constitution, canons and schedule represent. Just three weeks ago, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) - representing one-quarter of the world's Anglicans - declared "abiding and full communion" with our movement. We trust that many other parts of the Anglican and Christian world will see in us their true gospel partners. God's vision for us is that we reach our continent and the world with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

St. Richard prayed that we might "see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, and follow Thee more nearly, day by day." Let that be our prayer and our work in all of the challenges and tasks now before us.

Faithfully in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan Anglican Bishop of Pittsburgh Moderator of the Common Cause Partnership Archbishop-Designate of the Anglican Church in North America

Attachments (4 in pdf format):

http://www.united-anglicans.org/stream/2009/04/ACNA-canons-published-comments-welcome.html

Constitution

Canons

Appendix A

Proposed Schedule