Our Structure
On every level the Anglican Mission values creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
We believe the local congregation is the primary missionary unit, and as such, we call them to multiply. Structurally, our churches cluster in affinity and geographically-based groups called Mission Networks, working together to fulfill the Great Commission.
Because of our emphasis on mission and flexible organization, theAM has moved slowly to structure in order to facilitate grassroots ministry growth. The Mission Center staff located in South Carolina is charged with centralized tasks such as leadership development, communications and financial oversight.
Over our ten-year history, we have faced the challenges inherent in long-distance leadership and have worked diligently to make the necessary adjustments. For example, our Charter for Ministry outlines how the Canons of Rwanda function within a North American missionary movement. (Download the Charter Doc.)
In order to manage growth, our Council of Bishops casts the big picture vision for theAM, balancing oversight for "what already is" with a commitment to envisioning "what is yet to be." Today our structures have expanded to include Canada, new Mission Networks, new Network Leaders, new Canon Missioners and new bishops, including the three who were consecrated September 2009 in California.
Click on a link to learn more about...
Anglican Mission Council of Bishops
Anglican Mission Board of Directors and Executive Director
Legal Structure
The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
Episcopal Vicar
Canon Missioners
Mission Networks
Relevant Links
- Meet our current leaders
- Learn more about our Rwanda Connection
- What You Need to Know About Mission Networks
- Leadership Development
Anglican Mission Council of Bishops
As a missionary outreach, the Anglican Mission is under the direct authority of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and its Archbishop. The Province has authorized the consecration of missionary bishops, giving them the responsibility to lead Rwanda's missionary outreach to North America. The bishops who provide oversight to the Anglican Mission are not "Anglican Mission bishops" but rather bishops of the Province of Rwanda and members of its House of Bishops.
Primary oversight of the Anglican Mission is provided through its Chairman who is appointed by the Province of Rwanda. Missionary bishops form a Council of Bishops, and the Chairman of the Anglican Mission also chairs this Council. The Council of Bishops provides oversight to clergy, congregations and Mission Networks; casts the "big picture" vision for the Anglican Mission; and ensures theological alignment with historic Christianity as received by the historic Church. As missionary bishops, the Council focuses on establishing missionary initiatives - breaking into new territory - designed to reach the 130 million people in North America who do not presently know Jesus Christ. Their work, therefore, is a balance of oversight for "what already is" and a commitment to both envisioning and implementing "what is yet to be."
Anglican Mission Board of Directors and Executive Director
As a religious not-for-profit corporation, the Anglican Mission has established Bylaws as well as a Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for overseeing general business and legal matters for the Anglican Mission, emphasizing accountability and proper stewardship of our resources.
As Executive Director of the Anglican Mission, the Ven. HG Miller, serves on the Board of Directors. The Executive Director is responsible for managing daily operations of the Anglican Mission and its Mission Center staff. This national team implements the "big picture" vision cast by the Council of Bishops and provides support to the bishops, Leadership Development, Mission Networks and local congregations.
Legal Structure
In 2007, the Anglican Mission expanded its tent at the request of Archbishop Kolini by creating the Anglican Mission in the Americas. This umbrella organization includes the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), the Anglican Coalition of Canada (ACiC) and the Anglican Coalition in America (ACiA). This structure embraces two countries (Canada and the US) as well as two positions on the ordination of women. Both the ACiC and the ACiA ordain women to the priesthood, as does the Province of Rwanda, while the Anglican Mission in America maintains its policy of ordaining women only to the diaconate. The Anglican Mission in the Americas provides a way to maintain the integrity, and honor the consciences, of those with differing positions and policies on women's ordination.
While we have an umbrella organization called the Anglican Mission in the Americas which includes the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), the Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC) and the Anglican Coalition in America (ACiA), all governance and assets are held by the Anglican Mission in America as the only legal corporation within the umbrella entity.
Learn more about the ACiC
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The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
The Anglican Mission played a significant role in establishing the Anglican Church in North America. We are committed to supporting the new province while retaining our primary call to build this Mission, and we enjoy a dual citizenship which allows us to support the province while maintaining our distinctives and focus. We remain a missionary outreach of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (PEAR) and under the authority of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini.
ACNA's Constitutions and Canons were designed to be "generous and flexible" in order to enable membership by two countries (Canada and the US) and several jurisdictions, demonstrating flexibility for the various jurisdictions. Lead bishops, the Common Cause Leadership Council and the Governance Task Force have unanimously supported this "both/and" strategy and membership for the Anglican Mission, and this design is embedded in the ACNA's Canons.
Several ACNA jurisdictions have developed individual "protocols" outlining specifics for their group. Click here to read the Anglican Mission's protocol in its entirety.
Learn more about the ACNA
Learn more about the PEAR
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Episcopal Vicar
The Anglican Mission remains focused on enhancing our approaches to the challenges of long-distance leadership as it continues to make adjustments in its organizational structure. To that end, Bishop Chuck Murphy, Chairman, appointed the Very Rev. Canon Mike Murphy as his Episcopal Vicar for the Anglican Mission. In his new role, Canon Murphy will be working closely with Bishop Murphy to carry out specific responsibilities and assignments delegated to him by the Chairman. He will both accompany Bishop Murphy to significant gatherings and represent him when appropriate and will be particularly involved with defining and shaping the Anglican Mission's role and work with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Canon Murphy will also continue with the responsibility to identify and explore new opportunities for mission, a commitment he shares with the other canon missioners.
Canon Missioners
Canon Missioners are special clergy representatives or ambassadors charged with extending missionary efforts throughout the Anglican Mission. These leaders multiply the efforts of bishops and network leaders to plant churches and launch new works across the US and Canada. Their strategic work is paying off as the Anglican Mission continues to expand and grow week-by-week, year-by-year.
Mission Networks
The Anglican Mission is organized into Mission Networks which are affinity and geographically-based groups of congregations working organically together to live out the Great Commission and fulfill specific ministry initiatives. Mission Networks are designed to fulfill the Anglican Mission's commitment to "glorify God by gathering, planting and serving dynamic congregations." Mission Networks serve as a gateway to develop communities in which leadership and churches grow and flourish.
