Anglican Church

Technically it is not possible to speak of the Anglican Church as a whole; it is better referred to as the Anglican Communion, which consists of national churches in communion with the Church of England. Some of these churches are known as Anglican, others call themselves Episcopalian. The ultimate head of any Anglican church is the Primate, head of the church at the national level; but Anglican primates acknowledge the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury as primus inter pares, or "first among equals".

There are also a number of denominations which are not in communion with the Church of England but consider themselves Anglican in doctrine, such as the Free Church of England and "continuing churches" such as the Anglican Province of Christ the King.

Recently, disagreement between the differing church views of homosexuality has strained the unity of the communion, as well as their relationships with other Christian denominations; see Anglican views of homosexuality.

"The Episcopal [or Anglican] Church has a long tradition, and over that time has inherited, created, or retained many words that might not be familiar...These special terms, though confusing at first, are part of [the church's] rich heritage."

Churches of the Anglican Communion

• Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
• Anglican Church in Australia
• Anglican Church of Canada
• Anglican Church of Kenya
• Anglican Church of Korea
• Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
• Church in Wales
• Church of England
• Church of Ireland
• Church of Nigeria
• Church of Uganda
• Church of the Province of Burundi
• Church of the Province of Central Africa
• Church of the Province of Melanesia
• Church of the Province of Myanmar
• Church of the Province of Rwanda
• Church of the Province of South East Asia
• Church of the Province of Southern Africa
• Church of the Province of Tanzania
• Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
• Church of the Province of the West Indies
• Church of the Province of West Africa
• Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
• Episcopal Church
• Episcopal Church of Cuba
• Episcopal Church of the Sudan
• Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
• Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central America
• Iglesia Anglicana de México
• Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sud de las Americas
• Igreja Episcopal do Brasil
• Lusitanian Church of Portugal
• Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Japan)
• Philippine Episcopal Church
• Scottish Episcopal Church
• Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church
• Sydney Anglicans

External links

• Official website
• Decentralised nature of worldwide Anglicanism
• Comprehensive Anglican vocabulary
• Conservatives rebuff gay Episcopal bishop (Washington Times, August 7, 2003)

Referenced By