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The Articles of
The Federation of Anglican Churches (and Ministries)
in the Americas

Article 1: Name   (Back to Top)

The Name shall be called the Federation of Anglican Churches in (FACA)

Article 2: Basis   (Back to Top)

1. FACA is a Federation of Anglican Provinces or Jurisdictions in North and South America which hold to the primacy of Holy Scripture, the Ecumenical Creeds and Councils, adhere to the 39 Articles of Religion, and the principles of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. Each member jurisdiction has adopted one of the historical Books of Common Prayer (as the primary standard for worship). The autonomy of the individual Provinces, or Jurisdictions and their local parishes is in no way restricted or superceded by membership in FACA.

2. The Federation will seek to maintain the Patronage of orthodox Primates in the Anglican Communion. Such patronage will be for the purpose of expanding fellowship with those in the Anglican Communion and working in concert with the godly projects and programs of the Archbishops primarily in the Global South.

Article 3: Tasks   (Back to Top)

FACA has five tasks:


(1) Furthering mutual understanding of its member Provinces, Jurisdictions and Ministries with a view to eventual union when and if deemed practical;

(2) Propagating the truths of the gospel as articulated and practiced in the historic Anglican way;

(3) Taking appropriate public and private steps in common causes in order to speak with one voice and act in concert for the welfare and witness of member Provinces, Jurisdictions and parishes;

(4) Pursuing a communal and charitable relationship with the world-wide Anglican Communion; and

(5) Planting mission parishes in the Americas

Article 4: The Executive Body   (Back to Top)

The executive body of the FACA shall be the Executive Committee

Article 5: The Executive Committee   (Back to Top)

(1) The Executive Committee is empowered to conduct the current business of FACA . It represents FACA in external relationships both nationally and internationally. It is also available to member Provinces, Jurisdictions, and Ministries for spiritual and practical counsel. It decides on the admission into the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas .

(2) The Executive Committee consists of all Presiding Bishops of member Provinces and Jurisdictions, plus one Clergy (Bishop or Priest) and one lay person from each Province or Jurisdiction. The Executive Committee shall elect the Moderator of the Federation out of the Presiding Bishops of member Provinces or Jurisdictions. The General Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by the Executive Committee out of the clergy and lay delegates.

(3) The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by their respective Province, Jurisdiction, Diocese or Ministry for a five year term, subject to re-election. If the office of a member of the Executive Committee in his own Province, Jurisdiction or Diocese terminates between General Congress sessions, then the Executive Committee is authorized to seat a replacement chosen by the Province, Jurisdiction or Diocese affected.

(4) The Executive Committee shall hold at least one meeting annually. The travel expenses for members shall be paid by the FACA Province, Jurisdiction, or Ministry.

(5) The General Secretary shall work in assistance to the Moderator of FACA. He shall maintain communication between the FACA Provinces, Jurisdictions, Dioceses, Parishes and Ministries by appropriate means. He shall receive from the Provinces, or Jurisdictions regular reports about their status. He shall prepare the sessions of the Executive Committee and is responsible for their minutes. He along with the Moderator is responsible for the implementation of decisions taken, the correspondence and distribution of reports. An Assistant to the General Secretary may also be elected.

(6) The treasurer is responsible for the finances of FACA

Article 6: Membership   (Back to Top)

(1) Any Province, Jurisdiction, or Ministry may apply for membership in FACA if it supports and practices the principles stated in Article 2. An application should be filed with an Admissions Committee appointed by the Moderator. The Admissions Committee shall examine the application and report to the Executive Committee for disposition. The applying entity shall submit to the Admissions Committee the following items:


a. A copy of the constitution of the organization concerned
b. A written report on its own origin and historical developments
c. A report on its present ministry to include:

i. The total number of congregations in North or South America

a. For the purposes of membership, a parish is defined as a self-supporting congregation with a full-time minister. All other congregations are defined as missions.
ii. Contact information for the listed congregations.
iii. Consecration information for all the bishops of the applying Province or Jurisdiction or Diocese.
iv. Current ecumenical relationships with other jurisdictions.

d. A completed application form.

(2) If there is a single local parish in a non-member jurisdiction or diocese, which seeks communion with like-minded Anglicans in the sense of Article 2 Sentence 1, it may apply for parish membership in the Federation. Such membership provides no voting rights but does provide the opportunity for fellowship and interaction.

(3) Societies, Communities and Theological Institutions and other Ministries may also apply for parish membership.

(4) Each member Province or Jurisdiction agrees to pay an annual membership fee to Federation Treasury. Such fee shall be fixed by the Executive Committee.

(5) If a member Province, Jurisdiction, or Ministry ceases to follow the principles of Article 2, membership in the FACA can be terminated by the decision of the Executive Committee.

Article 7: Communication Office   (Back to Top)

(1) The FACA shall maintain and fund a Communications office which shall be responsible for:

a. Website administration
b. Magazine preparation
c. Creation of promotional materials for the FACA and member jurisdictions
d. Process inquiries and direct to member jurisdictional offices

Article 8: Mission Work   (Back to Top)

(1) In order to foster missionary cooperation among the membership, a Mission Committee shall hold a working session at least once every year. More sessions may be held, if necessary. The Committee consists of two representatives from each member Province, or Jurisdiction appointed by the respective presiding Bishops. The Chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Moderator of the FACA in consultation with the Executive Committee.

(2) The Mission Committee shall be available to provide coordination and assistance in forming and cultivating mission congregations begun by FACA members and make itself available for help in establishing corporations, administering an Anglican parish, finding supply clergy for holy days and seasons and fostering a greater sense of mission in the life of wider Anglicanism worldwide.

(3) Travel and accommodation costs for members of this committee shall be born by the respective member Provinces, and Jurisdictions.

Article 9: Education   (Back to Top)

(1) A Committee for ecclesiastical education shall be available to coordinate theological education standards for the member jurisdictions and make recommendations to the Executive Committee concerning guidelines for common theological examinations which may be used by the Provinces, Jurisdictions and Dioceses of FACA.

(2) The Committee shall also be responsible for providing and, if needed, producing materials for use in Christian education.

(3) The Committee consists of two representatives from each Province, or Jurisdiction appointed by the respective presiding Bishops. The Chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Moderator of FACA in consultation with the Executive Committee.

Article 10: Regulations   (Back to Top)

(1) Decisions shall, whenever possible, be taken unanimously. If unanimity cannot be reached, a three-quarters majority shall be sufficient for general business. Elections to office shall be held by ballot, with the highest number of votes being sufficient for election.

(2) In each executive Committee Meeting of FACA, a simple majority of its members shall constitute a quorum.

(3) If a member Province or Jurisdiction makes a recommendation to change any of these articles, such motion shall be treated as general business as provided by Section 1. Sentence 2.

(4) A decision to dissolve FACA may only be taken by a four-fifths majority of the votes cast at a special Executive Committee meeting convened for that purpose.

(5) Member Provinces, Jurisdictions, Parishes and Ministries may withdraw from FACA by action of their own governing bodies.

Article 11: Privileges   (Back to Top)

(1) As an evidence of the union existing between the several Provinces, Jurisdictions, Dioceses, a delegation of ministers and laymen from one Province or Jurisdiction, may be sent to the Synods of other Provinces, Jurisdictions with the invitation to take part in the deliberations of said bodies respectively.

(2) In the Consecration or Ordination of Bishops or other Ministers in the several Provinces. or Jurisdictions, the Bishops and Clergy of the other member Provinces, or Jurisdictions may be invited to participate.

(3) The Ministers of member Provinces, Jurisdictions or Dioceses shall be entitled to officiate transiently in the congregations of member jurisdictions subject to the canonical requirements of the several Provinces, Jurisdictions and Dioceses, and also, subject to the respective regulations of said entities, shall be eligible to hold a cure of souls in the other.

(4) Communicants of any member Province, or Jurisdiction shall be received by all the others, on presentation of letters dimissory.

(5) Missionary or other congregations of any member Province, or Jurisdiction may transfer their membership to any other member Province, or Jurisdiction, on such terms as may be mutually be agreed upon.

(6) The member Provinces, or Jurisdictions, recognizing the fact that they are working together in the same great cause, and on the same basis, pledge, each to the other, their co-operation, sympathy, support and prayers.