Bishop Robert Duncan, archbishop-designate of the Anglican Church in North America, writes this as the ACNA releases its proposed canons:

The draft canons attempt to order the life of the Church, consistent with the Provisional Constitution (now proposed for slight amendment) and nine initial canons adopted by the Council in December of 2008. Several principles should be obvious:

1. confessional unity, expressed in matters of Faith and Order;





2. subsidiarity, where what may be wisely left to the local level (both diocesan and congregational) is left to the local level, including property ownership;





3. missionary focus, especially in structures, roles and representation;





4. flexibility, recognizing the diversity of Godly approaches common among the partners coming into union;





5. disciplinary reform, including address of concerns for Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders, as well as provision of a provincial tribunal.





6. collegial accountability, especially in matters relating to bishops.

The charge to the Governance Task Force was to provide a strong skeleton around which a living Church could be built.

This letter is being sent to the whole Church as an introduction to the basic work that has been done, and in order to outline the process of discussion, adoption and ratification now ahead of us. Simply put, the whole Church discusses, the Provincial Council adopts, and the Provincial Assembly ratifies or sends back.

Here are direct links to PDFs of four ACNA documents:

• Constitution

• Canons

• An application for recognition as a new diocese, cluster or network

• Proposed schedules for ACNA's College of Bishops and Provincial Assembly, June 20-25

Hat tip: Mary Ailes of BabyBlueOnline