We, the undersigned, seeking to uphold and propagate the Protestant faith of the reformed Church of England and her Formularies, and to unite Anglicans and other Christians sympathetic to the advancement of the cause of authentic historic Anglicanism, do hereby establish this association, fully committing ourselves to the maintenance of a genuine Anglican witness in North America, faithful to the Bible and the Reformation, and in accordance with the Solemn Declaration of Principles set forth in this Charter.
ARTICLE I: Name.
This Association shall be known as the “HERITAGE ANGLICAN NETWORK” hereafter known as the “Network.”
ARTICLE II: Incorporation
The Network shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and shall be legally domiciled in that state. The corporate offices shall be located at such place or places as shall be determined from time to time by the Network Council.
ARTICLE III: Solemn Declaration of Principles
Section 1. We, the undersigned, being members of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, united by Faith to Him who is Head over all things to the Church which is His body; and recognizing the essential unity of all who, by a like faith, are united to the one divine and common Head, do make solemn declaration of our Principles as follows:
(1) We hold the Christian faith as uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and professed by the Christian Church from primitive times, and in particular, as set forth in the Catholic Creeds and the Formularies of the reformed Church of England, that is, The Thirty Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 and The Book of Common Prayer and the Administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonies, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, and the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons issued in the Church of England in 1662. We stand in the Reformation tradition, laying special emphasis on the grace of God.
(2) We receive all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being the Word of God written and the ultimate Rule and Standard of Faith and Life of the Church, given by the inspiration of God and containing all things necessary for salvation. We admit post-apostolic traditions only so far as they are agreeable with the teaching of the New Testament. We affirm the following principles of Scripture interpretation: The Old Testament is to be interpreted in the light of the New, and all parts of the New Testament are of equal and apostolic authority. No part of Scripture is to be interpreted in a way that contradicts or excludes any other part.
(3) We accept the doctrine of the reformed Church of England as set forth in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 as understood in their plain, natural, and intended sense; and in particular we declare our belief in the doctrines of grace as they are set forth in Articles 6 through 18 thereof. We allow that parts of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 such as Article 37 assume and name political structures that do not directly apply to Anglicans or Anglican churches outside of the United Kingdom.
(4) We affirm that a due exercise of Christian discipline is a mark of the faithful Church and that the government of the Christian community properly belongs under God to the Church as a whole, both clergy and laity together, and not exclusively to the office of bishop or to any other particular office.
(5) We affirm that the Christian Ministry according to the New Testament is not a sacerdotal ministry but was instituted for the purpose of preaching, teaching, and pastoral oversight, and therefore reject all practices which imply a sacerdotal character of the Ministry, and further reject all theories of the sacraments which imply that the ministerial action invariably conveys grace.
(6) While affirming the spiritual gifts of women and the vital contribution of women to the life and ministry of Christ’s Church, we find no support in Scripture for women presbyters and women bishops and only very weak support for women deacons, and consequently we cannot affirm the ordination of women due to the lack of clear and convincing evidence that the practice is agreeable with the holy Scriptures.
(7) We affirm that the true unity of Christ's Church is a unity in faith, doctrine, and love and not of ministerial orders or external uniformity, and hold that the Lord's people should openly express this unity in particular at the Lord's Table as well as in other ways of witness and worship. While recognizing the threefold ministry as the historical norm of the reformed Church of England, we deny that non-episcopal orders are inconsistent with Scripture or other wise defective and constitute a barrier to reunion.
(8) We affirm that the highest priority of Christ’s Church is the spread of the Gospel of divine grace and the fulfillment our Lord’s Great Commission to go and make disciples of all people groups, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them all that Christ has commanded
(9) We affirm what the Holy Scriptures teach, which is, that marriage is union between a man and a woman and sexual relations outside that context is sinful in God’s eyes. While sexual relations outside of marriage would normally be an impediment to gospel ministry, we do not believe that they should disqualify even from ordination those who have ceased from such relations and evidence true repentance and amendment of life.
(10) We are determined by the help of God to uphold and preserve the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ as the Lord has commanded in his Holy Word, and as the reformed Church of England has received and set forth in her Formularies; and to transmit the same unimpaired to our posterity.
(11) We, as Christians in the Protestant and Reformed tradition, do hereby re-affirm our constant witness against all those innovations in doctrine and worship, whereby the primitive Faith has been from time to time defaced or overlaid, and which at the Reformation were disowned and rejected.
Section 2. The Principles of this Network as set out in the preceding Solemn Declaration of Principles shall be unalterable.
ARTICLE IV: Aims.
The Aims of this Network shall be as follows:
(1) To advance the cause of the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ in North America and throughout the world.
(2) To encourage and support the members of this Network and other like-minded Christians wherever God has placed them and in whatever ministry to which God has called them.
(3) To promote cooperation, fellowship, mutual assistance, and unity between members of this Network and other like-minded Christians in and outside existing Anglican bodies, in and outside of North America.
(4) To establish and grow new Anglican churches in North America and assist and strengthen existing ones.
(5) To promote authentic historic Anglicanism and the Protestant and Reformed heritage of the Church of England.
ARTICLE V: Relationship to Other Ecclesiastical Organizations.
Section 1. We, as a Network, aspire to maintain harmonious relations with all Christian churches and parachurch organizations, and seek to set forward, so far as in it lies, quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian people.
Section 2. We commit ourselves to forming, building, and strengthen relationships with Anglicans and evangelical Christians around the world.
Section 3. We further commit ourselves to the establishment of a united North American Anglican Church that upholds and propagates the Protestant faith of the reformed Church of England and her Formularies, and which teaches and practices the Protestant and evangelical principles that we believe are found in the Holy Scriptures.
ARTICLE VI: Membership
Section 1. There shall be three categories of membership in this Network—Active, Group Associate, and Individual Associate.
Section 2. Active Membership. Individuals seeking Active Membership must be at least eighteen years of age, must subscribe to the Solemn Declarations of Principles and Aims of the Network, and must agree to comply with the Charter, the Bylaws, and Standing Orders of the Network. Active Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, including but not limited to holding office, and speaking and voting at Network General Meetings.
Section 3. Group Associate Membership. Group Associate Membership shall be open to any parish, congregation, ministry district, group, or organization within any Anglican ecclesiastical body, provided such parish, congregation, ministry district, group, or organization is sympathetic to the Solemn Declaration of Principles and the Aims of the Network and agrees to comply with the Charter, the Bylaws, and Standing Orders of the Network. The members of groups having Group Associate Membership shall be entitled to attend Network meetings and shall have the privilege of speaking but not voting at such meetings. The members of such groups shall be entitled to receive the newsletter and other publications (if any) of the Network, and individual members of said groups may be invited to serve on Network Council committees, advisory panels, and task forces, and if so invited, may be granted the privilege of voting as well as speaking at meetings of such bodies.
Section 4. Individual Associate Membership. Individual Associate Members must be at least eighteen years of age, must sympathize with the Solemn Declaration of Principles and the Aims of the Network, and must agree to comply with the Charter, the Bylaws, and Standing Orders of the Network. Individual Associate Members shall be entitled to attend Network meetings and shall have the privilege of speaking but not voting at such meetings. Individual Associate Members shall be entitled to receive the newsletter and other publications (if any) of the Network, and may be invited to serve on Network Council committees, advisory panels, and task forces, and if so invited, may be granted the privilege of voting as well as speaking at meetings of such bodies.
Section 5. Applications for membership must be submitted to the Network Council upon such form as the Network Council shall prescribe and shall be accompanied by the requisite Annual Subscription. Such applications may be submitted by electronic means, by mail, or in person. Payment of the requisite Annual Subscription may also be made by electronic means, by mail, or in person. The Network Council shall have power to approve applications for membership provided that the applicants meets all the necessary requirements for the particular category of membership for which they are applying.
ARTICLE VII: Annual Subscription.
Section 1. The Annual Subscription for each category of membership shall be determined by the Network Council.
Section 2. (1) The Network Council may by By-Law establish criteria by which members in each category may be granted a reduction or waiver of the Annual Subscription; and the period of time for which such reduction or waiver may be granted.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provision the Network Council may waive the Annual Subscription for all new members in each category for such period of time, as the Council shall determine.
ARTICLE VIII: Termination of Membership.
The Network Council may terminate the membership of any member of this Network for reasonable cause; provided that such member shall be entitled to a hearing before the Annual General Meeting or a committee thereof, as prescribed in the Bylaws, before a decision is made.
ARTICLE IX: The Network Council.
Section 1. Between the Annual General Meetings of the Network a Network Council shall administer the affairs of the Network and conduct its business. The Network Council shall consist of at least six members but the number of members of the Network Council may from time to time be increased by the Annual General Meeting provided that the number of such members shall not exceed twelve.
Section 2. The members of the Network Council shall be elected to serve for a term of three years or until their successors are elected.
Section 3. If the Annual General Meeting fails to elect the requisite number of members of the Network Council, those elected shall have power to co-opt any additional members to fill any remaining vacancies on the Council; provided that the remaining vacancies do not exceed one third of the members of the Council.
Section 4. The Network Council shall have power to temporarily fill casual vacancies on the Council between Annual General Meetings; provided such vacancies do not exceed one third of the members of the Council.
Section 5. The Network Council shall have power to co-opt three persons to serve as consultants to the Network Council. These members of the Network Council shall not be entitled to vote at Network Council meetings.
Section 6. The term of office of any person co-opted under the provisions of Sections 3 and 5 of this Article shall expire at the next Annual General Meeting.
Section 7. The Network Council shall elect from its members a Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other Office Bearers as the Executive Committee thinks fit. All such Offices shall be honorary and shall carry no remuneration. In addition the Network Council may appoint members to carryout ongoing specialized roles.
Section 8. No person may hold an individual Office Bearer position for more than six consecutive years.
Section 9. Any member of the Network Council who fails to attend three consecutive Network Council meetings without satisfactory explanation shall lose their position on the Network Council. The Network Council may fill the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of this Article.
ARTICLE X:
Section 1. The Network Council may make such Bylaws and Standing Orders as they consider appropriate for the efficient conduct of the Network Council and the Network.
Section 2. The Network Council may appoint such committees, advisory panels or task forces of their own members and other persons as they may from time to time consider necessary for the carrying out of their work and may determine the terms of the scope, duration and composition of such bodies. All such bodies shall make regular reports on their work to the Network Council.
Section 3. The Network Council may appoint such staff as they consider necessary on such terms and conditions as they may determine. No staff member shall be an Network Council member.
ARTICLE XI: Finance
Section 1. All monies raised by or on behalf of the Network, shall be applied to further the objects of the Heritage Anglican Network and for no other purpose; provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment of legitimate out-of-pocket expenses to members of the Network engaged upon approved business of the Network.
Section 2. All assets, of every kind and nature, held by the Network are, and shall be, irrevocably dedicated to and inured to the benefit of the objects of the Network, and used according to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code #501(c)(3), and no part thereof shall inure to the private benefit of any individual or be used for any impermissible purpose. Each gift or contribution received by the Network shall be deemed restricted and designated by the donor to further the Network’s objects.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall keep proper account of the finances of the Network.
Section 4. The financial year shall run from 1st September to 31st August, or other such period of time as determined by the Network Council.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall submit a statement of accounts for the last financial year to the Annual General Meeting.
Section 6. The Network shall open and operate such Bank accounts as are considered necessary from time to time. The Network Council shall authorize any two Office Bearers from an appropriate panel of signatories, to sign checks together, for the main account, or adopt such other measures as may be necessary to ensure that all monies drawn from this account are used to pay the legitimate expenses of the Network. Signing arrangements on other occasional accounts may be determined according to individual circumstances.
ARTICLE XI. Annual General Meeting
Section 1. The first Annual General Meeting of the Heritage Anglican Network shall be held not later than 31st December 2012, and in each year thereafter an Annual General Meeting shall be held at such place and time (not more than eighteen months after the holding of the preceding Annual General Meeting) as the Network Council shall determine.
Section 2. At each Annual General Meeting the business shall include the following items and such other items of business as prescribed in the By-laws:
a. Consideration of an annual report of the work done by, or under the auspices of the Network Council.
b. Consideration of the annual accounts.
c. The appointment of an auditor/auditors.
d. The election of members to fill any vacancies on the Network Council.
e. The transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be considered.
ARTICLE XII. Special General Meetings
Section 1. The Network Council may, at any time at its discretion and shall, upon formal demand in writing by not less than ten members having the power to vote and giving reasons for the request, call an Special General Meeting of the Network for the purpose of amending this Charter in accordance with Article XIV, or of considering any matter which may be referred to them by the Network Council, or for any other purpose.
Section 2. The Secretary shall give at least fourteen days written notice to all members of any such Special General meeting.
ARTICLE XIII. Rules of Procedure at All Meetings.
Section 1. Voting. Subject to the provisions of Article XIV, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
Section 2. Minutes. The Network Council shall keep a Minutes book, and the Secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.
Section 3. Quorum. The quorum at meetings of the Network Council shall be at least two voting members. The Network Council may from time to time re-determine the required number for a quorum.
ARTICLE XIV. Amendments to the Constitution.
Section 1. No amendments to this Charter shall be made which would alter the Solemn Declaration of Principles of the Network or cause the Network to cease to be a non-profit corporation.
Section 2. Any amendments to this Charter shall require the assent of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Network present and voting at an Annual or Special General Meeting of the Network.
Section 3. Notice of any such amendment shall have been received in writing by the Secretary not less than twenty one days before the meeting at which the amendment is to be brought forward.
Section 4. The Secretary shall give at least fourteen days written notice of such meeting to each member, setting out the terms of the proposed amendment.
ARTICLE XV. Dissolution.
Section 1. If the Network Council, by a simple majority decide at any time that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Network they shall call a meeting of all members of the Network who have the power to vote. Not less than twenty-one days notice shall be given and the terms of the resolution to be proposed shall be stated.
Section 2. If such decision shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at this General Meeting, the Network Council shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Network.
Section 3. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall, in accordance with applicable law for non-profit organizations, be given or transferred to such other evangelical Anglican organizations whose aims are consonant with those of the Network as the Network Council may decide.
