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Born out of the need to preserve the traditional faith, the Anglican Church Worldwide (ACW) was formed in 1997 from the roots of the African Orthodox Church (AOC), which began in South Africa, and was commissioned in the United States. It was formed in 1919 by Archbishop George Alexander McGuire, a black Moravian minister from the Caribbean country of Antigua, who was rejected by his Anglican brethren after he had been elected to the office of Bishop in the Church. Moving to New York he declared that he was forming a Church 'for our race.' Thus the unity of the AOC, South Africa and the USA, began.
After his death in 1934, within the AOC, there was a Schism in which our beloved Archbishop George Ford, 1897-2004, carried on the mantle. In 1997 a group of like-minded, Bishops and Priests began the Anglican /African Orthodox Church; the AAOC. From its inception the AAOC set out to prevent the notion that we are a black church. We made it clear that we serve all God’s people. In 2002, there was a name change to Anglican Church Worldwide.
The work of this body began in earnest in that year, developing a strong foundation. We began in New York and Illinois, but are now represented on five continents.
In 2003 we began to look at mergers with other Anglican branches. But we found that while those with which we sought mergers were true to the faith, their administrative positions were not close enough to ours, as there were always minor conflicts in what was right or wrong. So we decided to build on that which we already had, and leave mergers alone.
History will decide on the work of the ACW, but it will be left to our successors to carry the vision. It is our hope that we, who have planted the seeds of growth, while we will not see it, will bear fruit that bring others to the Kingdom of God. We pray at that time that much will not be said of who we were, but that what we have done as our motto proudly declares "Reaching out to the World and Beyond."
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Why Anglican Church Worldwide (ACW)?
As many Anglican branches moved away from the Word of God into Liberal theology and political correctness. the ACW was born to ensure the upholding of the faith and the word of God. This does not mean that the ACW is the only traditional church to do so, or that we have all the answers, but we strive to be true to our faith and enforce the Word of God in all our practices. From time to time it is necessary to make adjustments" and minor theological corrections, but always within the framework of the Word of God.
The ACW holds to the principles of the traditional faith which we believe is the word of God and the fulfillment of Christian Faith. We believe that Christ died for our sins. To that, there is no variation, question or counter-thought. These positions are true matters of faith, not to be changed, compromised or ignored by the stewards and clergy of the ACW.
We believe the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, contain all things necessary to salvation, and are the ultimate rule and standard of faith. We present our faith in the Nicene and Apostles' creeds as positive statements of the Christian faith and growth. We emphasize the necessity of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and we support and promote Apostolic Succession.
The ACW is a worldwide Church that has set its goals of “Reaching out to the World” seeking to reach out to all, as we send forth the necessary message of salvation.
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