The PEP press release revealed that the new organization called Anglican Global Initiative shows a constitution with decision-making synods uniting Global South with North American networks, dioceses, convocations, parishes and congregations, especially those in need of alternative episcopal oversight. "The membership of the AGI shall also consist of twelve non-clerical, lay Anglicans, both men and women above the age of eighteen years, committed to the purposes of this organization, nominated by member Dioceses, Networks, and Convocations, two-thirds of whom reside in Global South, and elected by the Executive Council, one of whom shall serve on the Executive Council."

But Peter Frank told VirtueOnline that "providing it is genuine, this document looks to be something that was drawn up sometime in 2004, before the Communion spoke unequivocally in support of mainstream Anglicanism at the Dromantine meeting. That meeting made it quite clear, that what we have been teaching is the teaching of the Communion." Why would we need an alternative structure when the Communion supports us fully on these issues?"

Frank blasted the press release saying, "Talking of one of many actions not taken and one of many documents not signed strikes me as a as a sign of desperation on the part of organizations like PEP. The real issue that the Anglican Communion is grappling with is not what orthodox Anglicans might do and how our efforts to work together might hurt our unity as a Communion, but the grave damage certain Anglican leaders in the West, who continue to appear insensitive to the concerns of the majority of the Anglican Communion, have already done to that unity. That is the fact that we must deal with, not an unenacted, undated, unsourced draft document."

Frank said that conversations are ongoing on how orthodox Anglicans relate to one another within the Anglican Communion, especially in the area of missions.

"This document appears to be an idea floated in the early stages of those conversations. Even had this document been acted on, and by Bates' and PEP's own admission it was not, it would have simply formalized relationships that are already in place, not lead to the formation of a new church and not taken anyone out of the Anglican Communion."

Bishop Duncan, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburg, heads the NETWORK of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes (NACDP), an informal organization to provide a safe harbor for orthodox parishes being persecuted in revisionist dioceses.

Frank said, "I cannot emphasize enough, [that] our goal has always been to enable people to stay within the Anglican Communion. We regret that two provinces seem still determined to walk away from that communion which is such a precious means by which to bring those who do not know Christ into saving relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit. These distracting attempts by others to divert us from mission and from the Anglican Communion shall not divert us from our primary focus."

One of the archbishops, the Most Rev Drexel Gomez, primate of the West Indies, told the Guardian, "There is a group which is supposed to be meeting here in July to discuss the possibility of forming something but I was not aware of the name." A spokesman for the Archbishop of Canterbury also denied any knowledge of the Anglican Global Initiative.

The contextual evidence suggests the document was drawn up last year not this year and had it been true, a structure of formal interaction would have been created among churches and organizations that already are working together very closely.

END

From the PEP website

REALIGNMENT GUIDELINES

THE ORGANIZING CONSTITUTION OF THE ANGLICAN GLOBAL INITIATIVE IN THE NAME OF THE ONE, HOLY, AND TRIUNE GOD,

FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

ARTICLE I. The name of this organization shall be “ANGLICAN GLOBAL INITIATIVE” (hereinafter referred to as “AGI”).

ARTICLE II Recognizing the exigency of the crisis of unity within the Anglican Communion worldwide, the AGI is hereby established as a not-for-profit association of churches, to be later incorporated as a charitable and religious nonprofit corporation, in such style and form, and at such time and place, as its leadership finds appropriate to its growth and ministry, and until the establishment and first meeting of its Executive Council, the interim Presidency shall be co-chaired by the Most Revd Dr. Peter Akinola and the Most Revd Drexel Gomez, with the administrative duties delegated as the co-presidents deem appropriate.

ARTICLE III The purposes of this organization shall be as follows:

1. To affiliate and unite in love, holiness, and true godly fellowship through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Anglicans in Global South with Anglicans in North America and the United Kingdom as an authentic expression of the world-wide Anglican Communion, specifically, the Provinces of Global South with those recognized Anglican organizations, networks, dioceses, convocations, parishes, congregations, whether local churches or missions, as may now be in North America, and which hold to the centrality and authority of Holy Scripture, and who seek to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order, and to pursue the apostolic mission of the Church to a troubled and fallen world,

2. To collaborate with members, ecumenical partners, non-Anglican churches, humanitarian organizations, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations such as the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, in the development and execution of mission and ministry projects, programs, and sponsorships to alleviate human need and to provide an effective means to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ while promoting unity through common action within the Anglican Communion, especially enabling AGI partners in North America and the United Kingdom to bring human and physical resources to Global South in furtherance of provincial episcopal leadership initiatives to meet human need, both spiritual and physical.

3. To plant churches, make disciples, and provide pastoral care and oversight for persons from Global South living in North America and for any others needing an Anglican parish with godly spiritual leadership and orthodox episcopal oversight;

4. To affiliate and unite Global South with North American networks, dioceses, convocations, parishes and congregations, especially those in need of alternative episcopal oversight adequate to them, whose episcopal leadership in 2003 schismatically separated itself from the fellowship of most of the members of the Anglican Communion by (i) disregarding godly admonition from the instruments of Anglican unity, as well as biblical teaching, (ii) denying the application of Scriptural and apostolic authority to their synodical decision making process, (iii) claiming orthodoxy while eschewing orthodox belief and biblical teaching concerning marriage and the relationship of moral practice to salvation held throughout the Anglican Communion and the history of the Christian Church, (iv) deeply disturbing ecumenical relationships nurtured over years of consultations, (v) disregarding Lambeth statements on moral issues of concern to the Anglican Communion, (vi) harming the Anglican witness to unbelievers throughout the world, and (vii) failing to repent and accept responsibility for the implications of their actions.

ARTICLE IV 1. The membership of the AGI shall consist of all Anglican bishops in good standing, whether active or retired, within all Provinces, Networks, Dioceses and Convocations, committed to the purposes of this organization, and who are duly and officially authorized to participate on behalf of their pastoral charge by a Province or Diocese similarly committed, so as to include within the AGI’s representative membership all Anglicans under the episcopal care and oversight of said bishops. The bishops may constitute a Synod as necessary for extraordinary purposes, but regular triennial meetings shall be regarded as convocations.

2. The membership of the AGI shall also consist of twelve non-clerical, lay Anglicans, both men and women above the age of eighteen years, committed to the purposes of this organization, nominated by member Dioceses, Networks, and Convocations, two-thirds of whom reside in Global South, and elected by the Executive Council, one of whom shall serve on the Executive Council.

3. The members of this organization shall be (i) committed to the historic Anglican formularies as essential to Anglican identity, (ii) submitted to the ultimate authority of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as essential to the historic Faith and Order of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, (iii) respectful of the historical role and authority entrusted to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates’ Meeting, and the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion.

ARTICLE V The AGI shall be led by an Executive Council comprised of (i) all Primates of the Anglican Communion who publicly support the purposes of this organization, (ii) those person(s) recognized by said Primates as providing comparable leadership for Anglican constituents within the AGI in North America, and (iii) a lay representative selected by the Executive Council from the lay membership referred to in Article IV. These leaders will elect a President from Global South to serve as the initial chairman of the Executive Council for a term not to exceed six years, and to organize and preside over annual meetings of the Executive Council and triennial meetings of the episcopal membership.

ARTICLE VI The Executive Council shall appoint a Chancellor and Vice Chancellor(s) to provide legal counsel to the Executive Council and to develop policies, protocols, procedures, and model canons for member Provinces and Dioceses to enhance mutual accountability within the AGI membership and to facilitate pastoral care for matters of Faith and Order.

ARTICLE VII 1. The Executive Council shall authorize its President to have a plenary power of appointment to establish officers and a secretariat, hire employees, delegate tasks and functions, and to do all things necessary to carry forward the work of the AGI between meetings of the Council, but shall consult, whether by personal meeting, telephonic conference call, or by telephonic consultation with the members of the Executive Council, insofar as is practicable, prior to taking any action that affects the Executive Council or the membership as a whole.

2. The Executive Council may conduct its meetings by telephonic conference call provided that such a meeting is called by the President and each Council member present can hear each other person who participates on the conference call. 3. Meetings, including telephonic conferences, may be called by the President or by five members of the Executive Council, upon three days notice to all members of the Executive Council, and such notice shall be given by any reasonable means, including telephone call, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail, from the President, a member of the Executive Council, or a designated agent, unless unanimous consent of the Executive Council is otherwise obtained.

ARTICLE VIII The executive offices of the AGI shall be initially located in Lagos, Nigeria and Nassau, Bahamas in order to coordinate mission and ministry projects between Global South and North America.

ARTICLE IX All assets of the AGI are irrevocably dedicated to and inure to the benefit of the charitable and religious purposes of the AGI and used according the lawful requirements of nonprofit and charitable laws of the jurisdiction in which the AGI is engaged in activity, and no part thereof shall inure to the private benefit of any individual or used for any impermissible purpose. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the AGI’s property shall be distributed as directed by the Executive Council in accordance with applicable law for advancing the work of Anglican missions in Global South.

ARTICLE X This Constitution may be amended by the affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3rds) of the members of the Executive Council at a duly called meeting, noticed for the purpose of proposing amendment(s)

EXECUTED this _______ day of _________, in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand Four at _____________________, in the presence of Almighty God and the below named Witnesses who hereinafter have set their hands and affixed their seals.

THIS ORGANIZING CONSTITUTION OF THE ANGLICAN GLOBAL INITIATIVE WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY ON (DATE) AT (PLACE) BY (CONVENING AUTHORITY). SIGNATORIES’ NAMES WILL BE PROVIDED ON REQUEST.

END

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EDITOR's NOTE: Quotes made by Mr. Peter Frank in this article were earlier attributed to Bishop Robert Duncan. VirtueOnline has made corrections to this article and apologies for this error.

Further, a statement in the first paragraph was inaccurately attributed to Mr. Frank. This correction has also been made to the article.