In their official statement, conservatives said they "do not accept that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the archbishop of Canterbury" — a direct challenge to his leadership. And they called the current setup for the communion, with the archbishop of Canterbury at its center, "a colonial structure."

As part of their new fellowship, conservatives said they would continue to take oversight of breakaway churches in the U.S. and other Anglican territories who reject their liberal leaders. Conservatives hope to eventually form a North American province — counter to the Anglican tradition that archbishops oversee parishes only in their own provinces.

"We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed," they wrote.

Conservatives are a minority in the 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church. Still, the denomination is fighting several legal battles to bar secessionists from leaving with church assets. On Friday, a judge in Virginia said state law allows 11 breakaway parishes to hold onto their property worth tens of millions of dollars. An appeal is expected.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Global South Churches & Primates • GAFCON 2008

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