Elected Executive Committee Begins Work

The Executive Committee of the Anglican Church in North America, a body of 12 elected members (six clergy and six laity), formally took their positions and began work on August 10 in Ambridge, PA. The executive committee is chaired by the Archbishop.

Executive Committee members were elected from among the members of the provincial council that met June 7-11 in Amesbury, MA. They serve as the Board of Directors for the Anglican Church in North America. Members are Mr. Claus Lenk, Mrs. Diana Lopez, the Rev. Travis Boline, the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, the Rev. Cn. Julian Dobbs, Dr. Michael Howell, Mrs. Nancy Norton, The Rev. Cn. Phil Ashey, the Rt. Rev. Royal Grote, the Rev. Russell Martin, Mr. Samuel Thomsen, and Mr. Tad Brenner. The elected members of the Executive Committee come from California, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Ontario, Newfoundland, Arkansas, Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Officers of the Province are also included in Executive Committee meetings as appropriate. Officers appointed by the Provincial Council under Canon 1, Section 5 of the Canons, are Mr. Hugo Blankinship, Esq., Chancellor and Deputy Chair; Mr. Scott Ward, Esq, Council to the Executive Committee; Mr. William Roemer, Treasurer; the Rev. Travis Boline, Secretary; and the Rev. Lynne Ashmead, Registrar.

The duties and responsibilities of the Executive Committee, explained under Canon 1, Section 4 of the canons of the Anglican Church in North America, include guiding the province’s financial and property decisions and setting the agenda for the yearly provincial council.

The elected Executive Committee replaces a transitional arrangement, laid out in Article VII, Section 10, of the Anglican Church in North America’s Constitution, where the Common Cause Executive Committee also served as the Executive Committee for the Anglican Church in North America until elections could take place. Under the bylaws of the Common Cause Partnership, the Common Cause Executive Committee was formed by bringing together the lead bishops of each of the member jurisdictions.

“This transition is an important milestone for the Anglican Church in North America, said Archbishop Duncan. The Common Cause Partnership, which ultimately brought together 12 distinct jurisdictions and organizations and birthed our province, was truly a work of the Holy Spirit. I know I am speaking for all of the leaders of the Anglican jurisdictions who served with me on the interim executive committee when I say we have long prayed for the day when we could hand over what Common Cause began to the elected leaders of our united Anglican Church.”

Though their formal work is complete, the members of the transitional executive committee will continue to function as a “cabinet” for Archbishop Duncan. Their role will be that of a “council of advice,” not a governing body. “We owe a great deal to the leadership of these bishops. I am glad we will continue to benefit from their wisdom and advice in the future,” said Mr. Hugo Blankinship, Esq, chancellor and deputy chair of the Executive Committee. Members of the cabinet are: the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, the Rt. Rev. David Anderson, the Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood, the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, the Rt. Rev. Don Harvey, the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, the Rt. Rev. Charlie Masters, the Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, and the Most Rev. Leonard Riches.

“The Lambeth Conference of 1930 described the classic polity of Anglicanism as “episcopally led and synodically governed,” the emerging executive committee/cabinet system honors this distinction. The Executive Committee carries forward the business, fundraising and operational life of the Province. The challenges of global Anglican relations beyond the Province, the opportunities of the present ecumenical realignment alongside the Province, and the day-to-day mission of the church as believers confront secularism and Islam by presenting the good news of Jesus Christ within the Province are matters that exceed the mandate of the Executive Committee, yet constantly demand the attention of the Archbishop and the wisdom of the lead bishops in cabinet,” added Archbishop Duncan.