- Diocese of the Great Lakes
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Diocese of the Great Lakes Classification Continuing Anglican Orientation Evangelical Polity Episcopal, (with Apostolic Succession) Leader Bishop David T. Hustwick Associations North American Anglican Conference Inter-Communion with Anglican Episcopal Church and United Episcopal Church of North America
Geographical areas United States and Canada Founder Bishop Julius A. Neeser Origin 1998
Etobicoke, OntarioSeparated from Independent Anglican Church Canada Synod Congregations 5 parishes and preaching stations The Diocese of the Great Lakes (DGL) is a Continuing Anglican church body in the United States and Canada. Although all of its worship centers and clergy are currently located in the American Great Lakes states and the Canadian Province of Ontario, the diocese is non-geographical in structure and open to Continuing Anglicans from outside the Great Lakes region.
The DGL uses the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer or the 1962 Canadian book, accepts the Holy Scriptures as the inerrant Word of God, adheres to the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, and ordains only men to the orders of deacon, priest, and bishop. An active work is conducted in nursing homes by DGL clergy and lay readers.
History
The Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes was formed in 1998 by the bishops of the Independent Anglican Diocese of Ontario and the Missionary District of the USA, along with priests and deacons formerly belonging to the Independent Anglican Church (Canada Synod). Parishes and missions of the Diocese of the Great Lakes were located in Etobicoke, Niagara Falls, Windsor, Guelph, and Kitchener, Ontario, and in Battle Creek, Michigan. More recently, the diocese has added parishes in Hastings, Middleville, and Stanton, Michigan and clergy in Ontario and Pennsylvania.
In 1998, the DGL was admitted to membership in the Anglican Church, Inc, a federation of Continuing Anglican churches, but withdrew in 2001. Most of the ACI's constituent dioceses reorganized thereafter as the Anglican Church International Communion.
The Diocese of the Great Lakes maintains friendly relations with other Continuing Anglican churches. In 2008, the Anglican Episcopal Church joined with the Diocese of the Great Lakes in founding the North American Anglican Conference. The two Continuing churches consider themselves to be in the Evangelical Anglican, Low Church tradition. The Thirty-nine Articles are affirmed in their original sense and it is declared that Scripture contains all that is necessary to salvation. Cooperation on the training of clergy is one objective of the conference.
Note: The Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes should not be confused with the diocese of the same name that was created in the "Anglican Church in North America" in 2010. See Anglican realignment for information on Anglican bodies that are not part of the Continuing Anglican movement.
Leadership
The Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Great Lakes is the Right Reverend David Thomas Hustwick, Rector of Saints Andrew and Matthias Independent Anglican Church in Hastings, Michigan. The Bishop Suffragan and Interchurch Relations officer is the Right Reverend John M. Pafford of Midland, Michigan.
External links
Categories:- Religious organizations established in 1998
- Anglican denominations in North America
- Continuing Anglican denominations
- Evangelical Anglicanism
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