Changes

In 1977 a statement of beliefs called the Affirmation of St. Louis was issued by the dissenting churches and clergy who agreed to form a new church, the Anglican Church in North America (Episcopal).  However, this church quickly split into three separate bodies over other doctrinal matters.  The Continuing Anglican movement has been notably fractious, with other issues such as the debate between "high church" and "low church" worship styles coming into play.  There are currently over 20 such church bodies, and each of them remains small. A few have affiliated together to form such associations as the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas<ref>[http://anglicanfederation.org/members.html Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas]</ref> and the Common Cause Partnership.<ref>[http://www.united-anglicans.org/ Common Cause Partnership]</ref>

In 1977 a statement of beliefs called the Affirmation of St. Louis was issued by the dissenting churches and clergy who agreed to form a new church, the Anglican Church in North America (Episcopal).  However, this church quickly split into three separate bodies over other doctrinal matters.  The Continuing Anglican movement has been notably fractious, with other issues such as the debate between "high church" and "low church" worship styles coming into play.  There are currently over 20 such church bodies, and each of them remains small. A few have affiliated together to form such associations as the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas<ref>[http://anglicanfederation.org/members.html Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas]</ref> and the Common Cause Partnership.<ref>[http://www.united-anglicans.org/ Common Cause Partnership]</ref>

Continuing Anglican churches in the U.S. usually use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the 1940 hymnal, and the [[King James Version]] of the [[Bible]], in preference to their modern counterparts used by the ECUSA.  Thus, these churches seek to continue the practices, worship, and beliefs of Anglicanism as they were prior to the drastic changes that rocked the church after the 1960s. The name "Continuing Anglican," however, refers specifically to the concept held by these new church bodies that the Episcopal and Anglican churches that they formerly adhered to had cut themselves off from valid Apostolic Succession by permitting the ordination of women as priests. The Continuing churches, therefore, see themselves as continuing or prepetuating that lineage of priests and bishops which the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, and others have allegedly abandoned.

Continuing Anglican churches in the U.S. usually use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the 1940 hymnal, and the [[King James Version]] of the [[Bible]], in preference to their modern counterparts used by the ECUSA.  Thus, these churches seek to continue the practices, worship, and beliefs of Anglicanism as they were prior to the drastic changes that rocked the church after the 1960s. The name "Continuing Anglican," however, refers specifically to the concept held by these new church bodies that the Episcopal and Anglican churches that they formerly adhered to had cut themselves off from valid Apostolic Succession by permitting the ordination of women as priests. The Continuing churches, therefore, see themselves as continuing or prepetuating that lineage of priests and bishops which the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, and others have allegedly abandoned. Among the better known Continuing Anglican church bodies are the following:

 

In the 1990's and 2000's, additional Anglican groups have formed, most often over the issue of the primacy of scripture with regard to the eligibility of [[homosexual]] persons for (same-sex) marriage and/or ordination. These newer offshoots from the Anglican Communion consider themselves to be conservatives and orthodox, if not "Continuing Anglicans." While they oppose same-sex marriages ceremonies in the church and homosexual clergy (as do the Continuing Anglican bodies), many of these churches permit the ordination of women and the use of the controversial 1979 Book of Common Prayer--opposition to both of which caused the Continuing Anglican Movement to be launched in the late 1970's.  

In the 1990's and 2000's, additional Anglican groups have formed, most often over the issue of the primacy of scripture with regard to the eligibility of [[homosexual]] persons for (same-sex) marriage and/or ordination. These newer offshoots from the Anglican Communion consider themselves to be conservatives and orthodox, if not "Continuing Anglicans." While they oppose same-sex marriages ceremonies in the church and homosexual clergy (as do the Continuing Anglican bodies), many of these churches permit the ordination of women and the use of the controversial 1979 Book of Common Prayer--opposition to both of which caused the Continuing Anglican Movement to be launched in the late 1970's.