![[Flag of the Anglican Church of North America]](../images/r/rel-acna.gif)
Last modified: 2013-11-16 by rob raeside
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image by Eugene Ipavec, 16 September 2009See also:
The Anglican Church in North America is a recently established group which fits within the category of "Anglican and Episcopal churches of the Anglican tradition (not in communion with Church of England)".
The formation of the denomination was proposed in December 2008 and formally
inaugurated in June 2009. It is composed of former members of the Episcopal
Church in the US and the Anglican Church of Canada, who were dissatisfied with
some of those churches' policies, especially those regarding ordination and
consecration of practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same sex unions. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Church_in_North_America and
http://www.anglicanchurch-na.org.
The denomination claims over 800 parishes in the US and Canada, and about
100,000 members. They are not in communion with the Church of England, nor with
the Anglican Communion as a whole, but they are in communion with some of the
more conservative constituent members of the Anglican Communion.
The
ACNA apparently has already adopted a flag, since one of its priests' websites
shows a photo of it
http://texanglican.blogspot.com/2009/06/acna-flag-debuted-at-st-vincents.html
under the heading "ACNA Flag Debuted at St. Vincent's Cathedral on Sunday".
There is a dark blue panel along the flag's hoist which bears what seems to
be the logo the denomination is using- a globe, of a lighter shade of blue,
showing North America in yellow or buff; with a shield of St. George's cross
superimposed, offset to the southeast quadrant. The rest of the flag's length is
a St. George's cross. Another photo taken at the denomination's inaugural
assembly is at
www.fwepiscopal.org/events/acnaassembly/mondayalbum/pages/DSC_7150_jpg.htm
Ned Smith, 5 September 2009
![[Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas]](../images/u/us_edfw.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec, 11 February 2010
A photo of the Diocese of Fort Worth flag can be seen at
http://www.fwepiscopal.org/events/acnaassembly/tuesdayalbum/pages/DSC_7293_jpg.htm
among others at
www.fwepiscopal.org/events/acnaassembly/tuesdayalbum/index.htm. Since the
Diocese left the Episcopal Church en masse, unlike most of the other founding
components of the ACNA, under the lead of its bishop and executive board, it has
claims to all the diocese's pre-existing assets and trappings, including
apparently its flag.
However, the Episcopal Church leadership disputes
the bishop's and board's authority to do this, and has appointed a new interim
bishop and board, and maintains that they are the legitimate continuation of the
diocese. It will all play out in the courts, but in the meantime we have one
flag which will de facto serve two dioceses. Since use of the seal, which
appears on the flag, is one of the issues specifically alluded to the
litigation, the situation of course must eventually change
http://www.episcopaldiocesefortworth.org/holystewardshipfiles/release%2009.04.09.htm
The Diocese of Fort Worth consists of 56 congregations serving 24 North
Central Texas counties.
The flag is purple with the diocesan seal in the
center. The seal can be seen at
http://stmatthews-comanche.org/history_diocese_fort_worth.htm which also
includes a history and description of the seal:
The Seal of the Diocese of Fort Worth
The official seal of the Diocese of Fort Worth was designed by Mr. Eugene Maxey, The Rev. Messrs. Harrison Beste, William Crary and William Risinger. Mr. Maxey, a member of St. Andrew's, is an expert in the science of heraldry and holds membership in heraldry societies in America, England, Scotland and Canada.
Each diocese of the Anglican Communion has an official seal which reflects something of the nature of the life of the diocese. In this seal our heritage and our commitment to our Lord's mission are artistically set forth. Fort Worth, the See City, is indicated by the fortress battlements which divide the Shield through the center horizontally. The Longhorn Steer, a symbol of a major industry within the diocese, is also a reminder of the frontier spirit and the venturesome nature of the people of God in this part of the country. The Star, has a two-fold meaning. In Christendom the five pointed star symbolizes the Incarnation. It also stands for the Lone Star State of Texas. The Griffin, symbol of guardianship of the Faithful, is in the upper left corner. The Griffin, half lion and half eagle, is an ancient symbol used by the Celtic people of Great Britain. Bishop Alexander Charles Garrett, an Irishman, utilized the Griffin in the Seal of the Diocese of Dallas to indicate our heritage with the Church of England. We chose the Griffin because of our Welsh heritage and our linkage with the Diocese of Dallas. Of great significance is the fact that the Apostolistic succession of the American Episcopate flowed through David, Patron Saint and Bishop of Wales. The Keys of St. Peter, depict the authority of the Apostolic ministry bestowed upon the Church by our Lord. The Bishop's Staff, in black and silver, resembles the crozier used by the Bishop. Both the presiding Bishop and I were once rectors of Grace Church, Monroe, Louisiana. We had identical croziers which were presented to us as thank-offerings by the people of Grace Church.
The banner carries a motto: Los Brazos De Dios or "The Arms of God." Written in Spanish to reflect the Hispanic culture in Texas, the motto is a reminder of our Servanthood. While Christians are upheld and supported by "the arms of God," Christians are cognizant that by His Grace we are to be "the arms of God" in the Lord's work and mission in today's world.
Ned Smith, 21 September 2009
