History and Founding of the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches (ACAC)
The Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches (ACAC) is a global fellowship of Anglican-heritage jurisdictions united by apostolic succession, sacramental worship, and evangelical witness. It was formally established on April 16, 2005, as a joint communion between two ecclesiastical provinces — the Apostolic Anglican Church (now known as the African Episcopal Church) and the United Evangelical Episcopal Church (UEEC).
The ACAC was conceived as a restorative and unifying body for continuing Anglican jurisdictions committed to biblical orthodoxy, apostolic order, and ecumenical cooperation. Its founding expressed a shared desire to preserve historic Anglican faith and practice while fostering greater communion among autonomous episcopal churches.
The Founding Provinces
The United Evangelical Episcopal Church (UEEC)
The United Evangelical Episcopal Church (UEEC) traces its founding to 1977, when bishops and clergy from New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania joined together to preserve the orthodox faith, episcopal order, and traditional liturgy of the historic Anglican tradition.
The UEEC emerged in response to theological and moral liberalization within mainstream Anglicanism, seeking to uphold:
The authority of Holy Scripture;
The historic episcopate;
The Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds; and
The centrality of the Eucharist as the chief act of Christian worship.
Through its commitment to evangelical orthodoxy and catholic order, the UEEC became a respected and stabilizing voice within the continuing Anglican movement — providing a foundation of ecclesial integrity for cooperative communion-building.
The Apostolic Anglican Church
(Now the African Episcopal Church)
The Apostolic Anglican Church (AAC) was formally organized in 1999 in the United States as a Convergence Church, intentionally bringing together the Evangelical, Catholic, and Charismatic streams of the Christian faith into one ecclesial identity.
Its founders envisioned a Church that would:
Affirm Evangelical commitment to the authority of Scripture and the proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ;
Preserve Catholic continuity in apostolic succession, the sacraments, and liturgical worship; and
Embrace Charismatic openness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within the life of the Church.
This “Three-Streams Convergence” model gave the Apostolic Anglican Church its distinctive theological character — blending historic Anglicanism with spiritual renewal and contemporary mission.
Over time, the AAC evolved into what is now known as the African Episcopal Church (AEC), retaining its Convergence heritage while embracing a distinctly Afro-Episcopal identity rooted in the spiritual traditions, culture, and history of the global African diaspora.
Formation of the Apostolic Communion (April 16, 2005)
On April 16, 2005, bishops and representatives from the Apostolic Anglican Church and the United Evangelical Episcopal Church met in joint assembly to constitute the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches (ACAC).
The act of formation was not a merger, but a covenantal communion — affirming mutual recognition of ministries, sacraments, and apostolic succession, while maintaining the autonomy of each province.
The founding charter of the ACAC declared its purpose:
To restore visible unity among Anglican jurisdictions of shared faith and apostolic lineage;
To affirm the authority of Scripture and the Creeds of the undivided Church;
To preserve apostolic succession and episcopal collegiality as signs of unity;
To promote fellowship, cooperation, and mission partnership among its member provinces; and
To advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ through liturgical worship, evangelism, and social witness.
The ACAC thus became an instrument of unity and mission, embodying the convergence of evangelical faith, catholic order, and charismatic vitality that characterized both founding provinces.
Apostolic Anglican Church’s Continuing Role and Identity
Following the Communion’s establishment, the Apostolic Anglican Church continued to develop in scope and theological depth, eventually adopting the name African Episcopal Church (AEC).
This change reflected the Church’s expanding mission within the global African diaspora and its commitment to articulating Afro-Episcopal Christianity — a theology and practice grounded in ancient orthodoxy, yet shaped by African heritage, liturgy, and spiritual expression.
Despite the change in name, the AEC remains a founding province of the ACAC and continues to embody its original Convergence ethos:
Evangelical in doctrine,
Catholic in order, and
Charismatic in worship and spirituality.
Theological and Missional Emphasis
The theological vision of the ACAC reflects a balanced synthesis of apostolic faith, evangelical proclamation, and charismatic renewal.
It seeks to express unity within diversity — allowing member provinces to maintain their liturgical and cultural distinctives while remaining in communion through shared apostolic foundations.
This ecclesiological philosophy guides the ACAC’s approach to:
Inter-provincial cooperation,
Ecumenical dialogue, and
Global mission engagement, particularly in Africa, the Caribbean, and the global South.
Continuing Legacy
Since its founding in April 2005, the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches has served as a continuing Anglican fellowship dedicated to mission, education, and unity in the apostolic faith.
Its April 16 founding date remains a defining moment — representing reconciliation, partnership, and a shared desire to reclaim the spiritual and apostolic vitality of the early Church within the Anglican heritage.
Summary Timeline
Date | Event |
|---|---|
1977 | United Evangelical Episcopal Church (UEEC) founded by bishops and clergy from New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to preserve orthodox Anglican faith and order. |
1999 | Apostolic Anglican Church (AAC) formally organized as a Convergence Church blending Evangelical, Catholic, and Charismatic streams of Christianity; later developing into the African Episcopal Church (AEC). |
April 16, 2005 | Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches (ACAC) officially constituted as a joint communion between the Apostolic Anglican Church and the United Evangelical Episcopal Church, forming a global fellowship of Anglican-heritage jurisdictions. |
Post-2005 | Apostolic Anglican Church adopts the name African Episcopal Church (AEC), continuing as a founding province of the ACAC and maintaining its Convergence identity within an Afro-Episcopal expression of Anglicanism. |