Anglican Church in North America

===Anglican churches===
The ACNA's constitution expresses the goal to seek recognition as a province of the Anglican Communion.{{sfn|Anglican Church in North America|2014|p=3}} A total of nine Anglican provinces sent formal delegations to the inaugural assembly.<ref name="page110" /> The Anglican Church in North America has not yet requested formal recognition by the Anglican Communion office as a province recognized by the Anglican instruments of communion.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}{{contradict-inline|date=August 2018}} The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury has said it would possibly take years for the ACNA to gain official recognition from the rest of the Anglican Communion.<ref name="ctoday"/>

In several cases ACNA has become entangled in protracted legal disputes over church property (for example, when the ACNA's [[Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth|Diocese of Fort Worth]] split from the Episcopal Church), with some of these lawsuits continuing for years.

The [[Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans|Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans]] primates' council has said that the new church is "fully Anglican" and called for its recognition by existing provinces of the Anglican Communion.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gafcon.org/news/gafcon_communique_issued_-_ACNA_recognized/ | title = GAFCON Communiqué issued&nbsp;— ACNA recognized | publisher = GAFCON / Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans}}</ref> Archbishop Robert Duncan was present at the [[Global South (Anglican)|Global South]] Fourth Encounter that took place in Singapore, in April 2010, where he presided at the Eucharist and met primates and representatives from 20 Anglican provinces. The Global South Encounter final statement declared: "We are grateful that the recently formed Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a faithful expression of Anglicanism. We welcomed them as partners in the Gospel and our hope is that all provinces will be in full communion with the clergy and people of the ACNA and the Communion Partners."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/blog/comments/fourth_trumpet_from_the_fourth_anglican_global_south_to_south_encounter | title = Global South Encounter&nbsp;— Fourth Trumpet | publisher = Global South Encounter | access-date = June 30, 2010 | archive-date = May 29, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170529203556/http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/blog/comments/fourth_trumpet_from_the_fourth_anglican_global_south_to_south_encounter | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In March 2009, the Anglican Church of Nigeria declared itself to be in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America,<ref name="nigeria">{{cite web|url = http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/church-of-nigeria-in-full-comm.html|title = Church of Nigeria in full communion with Anglican Church of North America|publisher = Dallas Morning News|access-date = March 21, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090625082835/http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/church-of-nigeria-in-full-comm.html|archive-date = June 25, 2009|url-status = dead}}</ref> followed by the [[House of Bishops]] of the Anglican Church of Uganda in June 2009 and the [[Episcopal Church of Sudan]] in December 2011.<ref name="uganda">{{cite web|url=http://www.acnaassembly.org/index2.php/acna/page/109 |title=Church of Uganda Declares itself in Full Communion with Anglican Church in North America |author=Church of Uganda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628104434/http://www.acnaassembly.org/index2.php/acna/page/109 |archive-date=June 28, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="sudan">{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/339|title=Advent Letter from Archbishop Duncan|access-date=December 16, 2011}}</ref> Inasmuch as these churches report approximately 30,500,000 members,<ref>[http://www.anglican-nig.org/enuguconsecration.htm "ENUGU CONSECRATION: 'Serve and Suffer for Christ'"]. Church of Nigeria (estimate) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927065421/http://www.anglican-nig.org/enuguconsecration.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ubos.org/2002%20Census%20Final%20Reportdoc.pdf 2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census, Bureau of Statistics (PDF)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124144651/http://www.ubos.org/2002%20Census%20Final%20Reportdoc.pdf |date=November 24, 2007 }}</ref> and the Anglican Communion reports over 80,000,000 members,<ref>{{cite web |author=Anglican Communion Office |title=Welcome |url=http://www.aco.org/index.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126182506/http://www.aco.org/index.cfm |archive-date=January 26, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2015 |work=The Anglican Communion}}</ref> the ACNA is in communion with churches comprising somewhat over one-third of the membership of the Anglican Communion.{{dubious|date=August 2018}}{{original research inline|date=August 2018}}

On the final day of its 2009 synod, the [[Anglican Diocese of Sydney]] passed a resolution welcoming the creation of the ACNA and expressing a desire to be in full communion.<ref>Russel Powell. [http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/we_see_them_and_embrace_them "We See Them and Embrace Them"]. Sydneyanglicans.net, October 28, 2009.</ref> The resolution also called for the diocese's standing committee to seek a general synod motion affirming the [[Anglican Church of Australia]] to be in full communion with the ACNA. The Anglican Diocese of Sydney declared itself to be in "full communion" with ACNA during its synod on October 13, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ould |first1=David |title=Sydney Synod Declares 'Communion with ACNA' |url=http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/32022 |website=Stand Firm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016032529/http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/32022 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |date=October 14, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2010, the [[General Synod of the Church of England]] affirmed "the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America to remain within the Anglican family" and called upon the archbishops of Canterbury and York to report back to the synod after further study in 2011.<ref name=2010COEResolution>[http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2010/02/gsfeb100210pm.aspx General Synod - Summary of Business Conducted on Wednesday 10th February 2010], accessed 21 January 2012.</ref><ref name=CofErecognizebreakaway>{{Citation| last =Mackay | first =Maria | title =Church of England Recognises Breakaway US Anglicans | newspaper =Christian Today | date =February 10, 2010 | url =http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.of.england.recognises.breakaway.us.anglicans/25275.htm | access-date =2010-02-10| archive-url= https://archive.today/20100213043325/http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.of.england.recognises.breakaway.us.anglicans/25275.htm| archive-date= February 13, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Published in December 2011, the archbishops' follow up report recommended "an open-ended engagement with ACNA on the part of the Church of England and the Communion" but also stated that a definitive outcome would be unclear for sometime.<ref name=Archbishopsreport2011>[http://churchofengland.org/media/1389262/gs%20misc%201011%20-%20acna.pdf The Church of England and the Anglican Church in North America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619114724/http://churchofengland.org/media/1389262/gs%20misc%201011%20-%20acna.pdf |date=June 19, 2013 }}, report of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to the General Synod of the Church of England, December 2011, accessed 21 January 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanplanet.net/international-news/2012/2/24/cofe-report-generally-open-to-new-anglican-church.html|title=The Anglican Planet - International News - CofE report generally open to new Anglican&nbsp;Church|work=anglicanplanet.net|access-date=October 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234408/http://anglicanplanet.net/international-news/2012/2/24/cofe-report-generally-open-to-new-anglican-church.html|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Archbishop Robert Duncan met following his invitation the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in May 2013, to discuss the recognition of the ACNA ordinations in the near future.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/623|title=Anglican Church in North America|work=anglicanchurch.net|access-date=October 5, 2015}}</ref> Welby announced on January 16, 2014, that [[Tory Baucum]], Rector of Truro Church in [[Fairfax, Virginia]], a parish of the ACNA, had been elected unanimously to serve as one of the [[Six Preachers]] of [[Canterbury Cathedral]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5228/archbishop-appoints-us-priest-as-canterbury-preacher|title=Archbishop appoints US priest as Canterbury preacher|work=archbishopofcanterbury.org|access-date=October 5, 2015}}</ref> Baucum was installed on March 14, 2014, attended by both Justin Welby and Robert Duncan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/diary.php/5066/six-preacher-installation|title=Six Preacher Installation · Events|work=archbishopofcanterbury.org|access-date=October 5, 2015}}</ref> In October 2014, Welby stated that Tory Baucum had been ordained before ACNA's inception and because of that his Anglican orders were valid, so he was eligible to be elected to that office. He further stated that ACNA was a separate church and not part of the Anglican Communion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anglicanink.com/article/canterbury-buries-instruments-unity |title=Canterbury buries the instruments of unity |work=anglicanink.com |access-date=October 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017234616/http://anglicanink.com/article/canterbury-buries-instruments-unity |archive-date=October 17, 2015 }}</ref>

In October 2014, the [[Diocese of North West Australia]] passed a motion recognizing the ACNA as a "member church of the Anglican Communion".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acl.asn.au/diocese-of-nw-australia-recognises-acna-as-a-member-church-of-the-anglican-communion/|title=Diocese of NW Australia recognises ACNA as "a member church of the Anglican Communion"|work=Anglican Church League, Sydney, Australia|date=October 5, 2014|access-date=October 5, 2015}}</ref> On October 9, 2014, following the ceremony of investiture of [[Foley Beach]] as archbishop and primate of ACNA, an official statement, which recognized Beach as "a fellow Primate of the Anglican Communion", was signed by the seven Anglican archbishops present: [[Mouneer Anis]] of Jerusalem and the Middle East, [[Eliud Wabukala]] of Kenya, [[Nicholas Okoh]] of Nigeria, [[Stanley Ntagali]] of Uganda, [[Onesphore Rwaje]] of Rwanda, [[Stephen Than Myint Oo]] of Myanmar, and [[Tito Zavala|Héctor "Tito" Zavala]] of the Southern Cone of America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/890|title=Anglican Church in North America|work=anglicanchurch.net|access-date=October 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/blog/comments/a_statement_from_the_primates_of_the_global_south_and_the_global_fellowship|title=Global South Anglican|work=globalsouthanglican.org|access-date=October 5, 2015|archive-date=July 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730213653/http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/blog/comments/a_statement_from_the_primates_of_the_global_south_and_the_global_fellowship|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the authority to decide whether ACNA should be admitted to the worldwide Anglican Communion lies with the [[Anglican Consultative Council]], and not with individual member churches or provinces. Member churches and provinces are, however, able to develop bilateral relations, which do not bind the rest of the Anglican Communion.

At a meeting of the Anglican Primates of the Global South (a coalition representing the majority of the world's Anglicans) on October 14–16, 2015, in Cairo, Egypt, ACNA was declared to be an official partner province of the Global South by representatives of twelve churches, with Archbishop Beach being seated as a member of the Global South Primates Council with voice and vote.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1113|title = Anglican Church in North America Declared Partner Province by the Global South|access-date = 16 October 2015|website = Anglican Church in North America}}</ref>

Despite the ACNA not being recognized as a province of the Anglican Communion, Welby invited Beach to attend a gathering of [[primates in the Anglican Communion|primates in the communion]] in January 2016.<ref name="Vatican Insider 2016-01-10"/><ref name="Anglican Journal 2016-01-20"/><ref name="Communiqué from the Primates' Meeting 2016">{{cite news |date=January 15, 2016 |title=Communiqué from the Primates' Meeting 2016 |url=http://www.anglicannews.org/features/2016/01/communique-from-the-primates-meeting-2016.aspx |newspaper=Anglican Communion News Service |location=London |publisher=Anglican Communion Office |access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> While not permitted to vote, Beach was allowed to attend the first four days of the five-day session.<ref name="Anglican Journal 2016-01-20"/><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.primates2016.org/articles/2016/01/17/statement-votes-given-primates-meeting-canterbury/|title = Statement on votes given to Primates at the meeting in Canterbury|date = January 17, 2016|access-date = January 20, 2016|website = Primates 2016|publisher = Anglican Communion Office|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160119235907/http://www.primates2016.org/articles/2016/01/17/statement-votes-given-primates-meeting-canterbury/|archive-date = 2016-01-19|url-status = dead}}</ref> The prospect of the ACNA joining the communion was discussed and it was recognized that if the ACNA were to apply for admission to membership in the communion, the consideration of their application would be within the purview of the [[Anglican Consultative Council]].<ref name="Anglican Journal 2016-01-20"/><ref name="Communiqué from the Primates' Meeting 2016"/>

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, [[Justin Welby]] and [[John Sentamu]], recognized ACNA's religious orders under the Overseas and Other Clergy (Ministry and Ordination) Measure 1967, as it was announced on 10 February 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anglican.ink/article/acna-orders-valid-state-archbishops-canterbury-and-york |title=ACNA orders valid state Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Anglican Ink, 10 February 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155754/http://www.anglican.ink/article/acna-orders-valid-state-archbishops-canterbury-and-york |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/13-april/news/uk/anca-s-orders-recognised|title=ANCA’s Orders recognised|work=[[Church Times]]|date=13 April 2017|last=Davies|first=Madeleine|access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref>

After a meeting between Archbishop [[Foley Beach]] of ACNA and the Moderator/Primate of the [[Church of Bangladesh]], [[Paul Sarker]], on May 13–15, 2017, at Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral in [[Loganville, Georgia|Loganville]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], they signed a statement affirming and celebrating the communion between both provinces thereby causing ACNA to enter into full communion with the [[Church of Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1453|title=Anglican Church in North America|website=www.anglicanchurch.net|language=en|access-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.anglican.ink/article/concordat-communion-between-acna-and-church-bangladesh|title=Concordat of communion between the ACNA and Church of Bangladesh|date=May 18, 2017|work=Anglican Ink 2017 |access-date=May 20, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912055646/http://www.anglican.ink/article/concordat-communion-between-acna-and-church-bangladesh|archive-date=September 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Moderator in USA with PCUSA |url=https://churchofbangladesh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/CoBNewsletterJan-May17.pdf |edition=Special Issue January-May 2017 |page=7 |magazine=Church of Bangladesh Newsletter |location= |publisher=[[Church of Bangladesh]] |date= June 2017 |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref>

In February 2016, Archbishop [[Foley Beach]] signed an instrument declaring ACNA to be in full communion with the [[Free Church of England]], a reformed and Protestant Anglican church. Archbishop Beach's declaration was ratified by the Provincial Council of the ACNA in June 2016. The [[Reformed Episcopal Church]], a founding member of the denomination, was already in that status with the FCE since 1927. [[Foley Beach]] and [[Ray Sutton]], Presiding Bishop of REC, participated at the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the communion between FCE and REC, which took place at [[Wallasey]], [[England]], on June 10, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fcofe.org.uk/latest-news |title=Free Church of England Celebrates 90 Years of Unity, Free Church of England Official Website |access-date=June 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702083951/http://fcofe.org.uk/latest-news |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Fulfilling what Archbishop [[Foley Beach]] had already announced on June 8, 2017, on the same day that the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] voted to approve same-sex marriage,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gafcon.org/news/missionary-bishop-introduced-by-archbishop-foley-beach|title=Missionary Bishop introduced by Archbishop Foley Beach &#124; GAFCON|website=www.gafcon.org}}</ref> [[Andy Lines]] was consecrated Missionary Bishop to Europe at ACNA's Third Provincial Assembly meeting in [[Wheaton, Illinois|Wheaton]], [[Illinois]], on June 30, 2017, on behalf of [[Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans|GAFCON]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1476|title=Anglican Church in North America|website=anglicanchurch.net|language=en|access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> The consecration was attended by 1,400 Anglican representatives from all over the world, including 11 primates, 3 archbishops, and 13 bishops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gafcon.org/news/the-consecration-of-a-missionary-bishop-for-europe|title=The consecration of a Missionary Bishop for Europe &#124; GAFCON|website=www.gafcon.org}}</ref> The Primates who attended were [[Nicholas Okoh]], from the [[Church of Nigeria]], [[Stanley Ntagali]], from the [[Church of Uganda]], [[Daniel Deng Bul]], from the [[Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan]], [[Jacob Chimeledya]], from the [[Anglican Church of Tanzania]], [[Jackson Ole Sapit]], from the [[Anglican Church of Kenya]], [[Onesphore Rwaje]], from the [[Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda]], [[Zacharie Masimango Katanda]], from the [[Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo]], [[Daniel Sarfo]], from the [[Church of the Province of West Africa]], [[Gregory Venables]], from the [[Anglican Church of South America]], [[Ng Moon Hing]], from the [[Church of the Province of South East Asia]], and [[Mouneer Anis]], retired Presiding Bishop of the [[Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East]]. This was the largest gathering of worldwide Anglicans that ever participated at a Provincial Assembly of the ACNA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://virtueonline.org/wheaton-il-thirty-global-anglican-leaders-stand-solidarity-anglican-church-north-america|title=WHEATON, IL: Thirty Global Anglican Leaders Stand in Solidarity with Anglican Church in North America &#124; VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism|website=virtueonline.org}}</ref>{{self-published source|date=August 2018}}{{unreliable source?|certain=y|date=August 2018}}

On December 13, 2017, the [[Global South (Anglican)|Anglican Global South]], a grouping of Southern Hemisphere provinces of the [[Anglican Communion]], reaffirmed [[full communion]] with the Anglican Church in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/blog/comments/a_statement_from_the_global_south_primates_regarding_the_anglican_church_in|title=Global South Anglican - A Statement from the Global South Primates Regarding the Anglican Church in North America|website=www.globalsouthanglican.org|access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref>

The ACNA was represented at [[Global Anglican Future Conference|GAFCON III]], held in [[Jerusalem]], from June 17–22, 2018, by a large delegation from the [[United States]] and [[Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anglican.ink/2018/06/20/gafcon-iii-largest-pan-anglican-gathering-since-toronto-congress-of-1963/|title=GAFCON III largest pan-Anglican gathering since Toronto Congress of 1963 &#124; Anglican Ink © 2023|website=anglican.ink}}</ref> At the final of the conference, it was announced that Archbishop [[Foley Beach]] will take office as Chairman of the GAFCON's Primates Council in early 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.anglican.ink/article/foley-beach-and-ben-kwash-lead-gafcon|title=Foley Beach and Ben Kwashi to lead GAFCON|date=June 22, 2018|work=Anglican Ink 2018 ©|access-date=June 23, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623193945/http://www.anglican.ink/article/foley-beach-and-ben-kwash-lead-gafcon|archive-date=June 23, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the end of GAFCON III, ACNA held the meeting of their Provincial Council in [[Jerusalem]], for the first time outside [[North America]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Provincial Council Jerusalem Reports Growth of Church |url=http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1684 |website=Anglican Church in North America |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703123447/http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1684 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ACNA endorsed a concordat with the [[Episcopal Missionary Church]], a [[Continuing Anglican]] denomination, in January 2020, which was signed by Archbishop [[Foley Beach]] and EMC Presiding Bishop [[William Millsaps]] on 14 September 2020.<ref name="collegeofbishops">{{cite web |title=College of Bishops Communiqué |url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1955 |website=Anglican Church in North America |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206164745/http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1955 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |date=January 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://virtueonline.org/acna-and-episcopal-missionary-church-enter-formal-concordat|title=ACNA AND EPISCOPAL MISSIONARY CHURCH ENTER INTO FORMAL CONCORDAT &#124; VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism|website=virtueonline.org}}</ref>

In 2021, the ACNA College of Bishops released a pastoral statement rejecting the use of the phrase "gay Christian," instead recommending the phrase "same-sex attraction," and that restated the church's belief that sex is reserved for marriage between one man and one woman while acknowledging that celibate "same-sex attracted" people can be members of the denomination.<ref name="Otieno">{{Cite web|last=Otieno|first=Jeckonia|title=Homosexuality debate rages in the Anglican communion|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/africa/article/2001405524/homosexuality-debate-rages-in-the-anglican-communion|access-date=2021-03-15|website=The Standard|language=en}}</ref> This statement divided the ACNA as well as GAFCON, the body of Anglican churches with which the ACNA is affiliated. Within the ACNA, Bishop Todd Hunter of the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO) released his own pastoral statement in which he used both phrases "gay Christian" and "same-sex attracted," criticizing and departing from the College of Bishops' guidance, and in which he affirmed the membership of those who identify as "gay Christian" pursuing celibacy or "mixed orientation" marriages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2021 |title=C4SO Pastoral Guidance on the ACNA Statement on Sexuality and Identity |url=https://anglican.ink/2021/01/30/c4so-pastoral-guidance-on-the-acna-statement-on-sexuality-and-identity/ |access-date=2021-03-15 |website=anglican.ink}}</ref> Conversely, Archbishop [[Henry Ndukuba]], the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, criticized and rejected the ACNA College of Bishops' pastoral guidance as being too open to homosexuality; Archbishop Ndukuba called on the ACNA to join the Church of Nigeria's "total rejection of homosexuality".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ndukuba |first=Henry |date=February 27, 2021 |title=Church of Nigeria criticizes ACNA over "Dear Gay Anglicans" Letter |url=https://anglican.ink/2021/02/26/church-of-nigeria-criticizes-acna-over-dear-gay-anglicans-letter/ |access-date=2021-03-15 |website=anglican.ink}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-02|title=Nigerian Primate Lashes Out at ACNA|url=https://livingchurch.org/2021/03/01/nigerian-primate-lashes-out-at-acna/|access-date=2021-03-15|website=The Living Church|language=en-US}}</ref> These actions received response from the Archbishop of Canterbury, [[Justin Welby]], who released a statement that said people are able to be members of the Anglican Communion "regardless of sexual orientation" and without mention of celibacy.<ref name="Otieno"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-06|title=Justin Welby condemns Nigerian archbishop's gay 'virus' comments|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/06/justin-welby-condemns-nigerian-archbishop-henry-ndukuba-gay-virus-comments|access-date=2021-03-15|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=AM|first=Staff writer 06 March 2021 {{!}} 10:47|title=Justin Welby condemns Nigeria Primate's 'unacceptable' language on homosexuality|url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/justin-welby-condemns-nigeria-primates-unacceptable-language-on-homosexuality/136472.htm|access-date=2021-03-15|website=www.christiantoday.com|language=en}}</ref>

Archbishops [[Foley Beach]], of the ACNA, and [[Henry Ndukuba]], of the Church of Nigeria, signed a Joint Statement, on 30 March 2021, reaffirming both churches' common stance on human sexuality, as defined by the [[Lambeth Conference#Thirteenth: 1998|Lambeth 1998]] resolution 1.10, and by the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008, of the [[Global Anglican Future Conference]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gafcon.org/sites/gafcon.org/files/news/pdfs/signed_joint_statement_from_abps_fb_hn_-_3.pdf|title=Joint Statement from Archbishop Foley Beach (Primate of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and Archbishop Henry Ndukuba (Primate of the Church of Nigeria (CoN))}}</ref>