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The '''Continuing Anglican''' movement is a group of churches that broke away from the [[Anglican]] Communion, particularly from the [[Episcopal Church]] in the [[United States]] (ECUSA) and the Anglican Church in [[Canada]].   

The '''Continuing Anglican''' movement is a group of churches that broke away from the [[Anglican]] Communion, particularly from the [[Episcopal Church]] in the [[United States]] (ECUSA) and the Anglican Church in [[Canada]].   

Continuing Anglican churches maintain Anglican/Episcopal beliefs, [[liturgy]], and practices, and are generally more [[conservative]] on matters of [[theology]] than the ECUSA.  However because they are separate from the main Anglican bodies in their respective countries, Continuing churches are not "in full communion" with the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]. Conversely, the Continuing Anglican churches do not seek such a relationship, owing to the differences in belief and practice which exist between the two.

Continuing Anglican churches maintain Anglican/Episcopal beliefs, [[liturgy]], and practices, and are generally more [[conservative]] on matters of [[theology]] than the ECUSA.  However, because they are separate from the main Anglican bodies in their respective countries, Continuing churches are not "in full communion" with the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]. Conversely, the Continuing Anglican churches do not seek such a relationship, owing to the differences in belief and practice which exist between the two.

The movement began during the late 1970s, largely over two issues:

The movement began during the late 1970s, largely over two issues:

*United Episcopal Church of North America  

*United Episcopal Church of North America  

In the 1990's and 2000's, additional Anglican groups have formed, most often over the issue of the eligibility of [[homosexual]] persons for (same-sex) marriage and/or ordination. These newer offshoots from the Anglican Communion consider themselves to be conservative and orthodox, but they are not "Continuing Anglicans." Most of them permit the ordination of women and the use of the controversial 1979 Book of Common Prayer. These newer Anglican churches are usually referred to as part of the "Anglican Realignment" because, again unlike the Continuing Anglicans, they aspire to remain part of the Anglican Communion headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

In the 1990s and 2000s, additional Anglican groups have formed, most often over the issue of the eligibility of [[homosexual]] persons for (same-sex) marriage and/or ordination. These newer offshoots from the Anglican Communion consider themselves to be conservative and orthodox, but they are not "Continuing Anglicans." Most of them permit the ordination of women and the use of the controversial 1979 Book of Common Prayer. These newer Anglican churches are usually referred to as part of the "Anglican Realignment" because, again unlike the Continuing Anglicans, they aspire to remain part of the Anglican Communion headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

The Reformed Episcopal Church cannot technically be included as "Continuing Anglican," as it separated from ECUSA in 1873, and for different reasons,<ref>[http://rechurch.org/recus/recus/history.html Reformed Episcopal Church]</ref> but it shares most of the distinctive beliefs of the Continuing Anglican churches.

The Reformed Episcopal Church cannot technically be included as "Continuing Anglican," as it separated from ECUSA in 1873, and for different reasons,<ref>[http://rechurch.org/recus/recus/history.html Reformed Episcopal Church]</ref> but it shares most of the distinctive beliefs of the Continuing Anglican churches.