CANA Quadruples Congregational Membership in One Year

HERNDON, Va. (February 12, 2008) – The Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) has experienced momentous growth in one year, quadrupling its congregational membership.
“CANA is leading the way for the new era of American Anglicanism. CANA is modeling the unifying presence for which many of us have longed,” said CANA Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns.

In November 2006, CANA began with 19 clergy and 14 congregations. By March 2007, the number of clergy grew to 47 and the number of congregations totaled 34. By November 2007, CANA was comprised of 118 clergy and 61 congregations. Overall, CANA clergy have increased by 621% and congregations have increased by 436%.

Bishop Minns attributed several factors to CANA’s growth, including the 10 congregations that Bishop Francis Lyons of Bolivia (Anglican Province of the Southern Cone in South America) recently transferred to CANA.

“Also, among CANA’s clergy we currently count no less than three bishops or archbishops from other continuing Anglican bodies who have humbly laid down their Episcopal positions in order to join CANA as priests. These clergy recognize CANA as a key part of the emerging orthodox Anglican ecclesiastical structure in North America,” Minns continued.

“CANA’s mission is to reach and serve the least, the last, and the lost. Our growth is a testament to committed orthodox Christians who want to be transformed by the Good News of Jesus Christ and to then transform our culture for Christ through evangelism, discipleship and church planting.”

The Convocation of Anglicans in North America currently consists of approximately 60 congregations and 100 clergy in 20 states. About a fifth of the congregations are primarily expatriate Nigerians. CANA was established in 2005 to provide a means by which Anglicans living in the USA, who were alienated by the actions and decisions of The Episcopal Church, could continue to live out their faith without compromising their core convictions. CANA is part of the Common Cause partnership that includes representatives of more than 250 Anglican congregations that are connected to the rest of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide fellowship of some 70 million, through various pastoral and missionary initiatives. For more information, please visit CANA at www.CanaConvocation.org.

To schedule an interview with a CANA representative, please contact Kelly Oliver at 703–683–5004 (ext. 140) or Caitlin Bozell (ext. 119)