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The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East

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The Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa

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Primate:
Address:
Tel.:
Email:

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis

5 Michel Lutfallah Street
Zamalek, 11211, Cairo, Egypt
+20 2 27380821/3/9
bishopmouneer@gmail.com

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11211

My dear brother archbishops,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to let you know that I have decided not
to attend the ACC-16 in Lusaka. My decision has come after a long period of prayer and
conversations. As many of you know, it is not easy for me to withdraw from meetings, but this time I
felt that if I were to attend, I would be betraying my conscience, my people, and the Primates who
worked hard last January to reach a temporary solution in order to keep walking together until such
time as we can reach a permanent solution.
I thought that the decision of the Primates Meeting in January would be followed through and TEC
would not be represented in the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion but sadly this is not
the case. I dont mind the participation of TEC in the General Meeting of the ACC, but the decision
of the Primates was very clear that they should not be nominated or elected in internal standing
committees.
Although I was disturbed by the statements made by the chairman of the ACC while he was in the
USA, I had still intended to attend the meeting. However, as it became clear that the decision of the
Primates Meeting about the participation of TEC in the Standing Committee would be disregarded, it
was then that I decided not to attend.
I see that there is a lot of confusion about the role of the Primates Meeting and the ACC. Neither
have jurisdiction within provinces, but both have roles in regulating the relationship between
provinces. The Primates Meeting has enhanced responsibility in offering guidance on doctrinal,
moral and pastoral matters (Lambeth 1988) and to make intervention in cases of exceptional
emergency which are incapable of internal resolution within provinces, and giving guidelines on the
limits of Anglican diversity (Lambeth 1998). Some think that because the ACC is the most
representative of the instruments (including bishops, clergy, and laity), it is more authoritative. This
is not true. Its very name, consultative, reminds us that it is not an Anglican Synod but merely
an advisory group. The Instruments of Unity, in order to have good relationships, need to support
each others decisions in those areas of responsibility given to them by Lambeth Councils.
I will be praying for the members of the ACC-16 so that they may affirm and respect the decisions of
the Primates Meeting. If this happens, it will bring hope back and we will be able to think of the
future together.

+ Mouneer Egypt
The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis
Archbishop of Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt
with North Africa and the Horn of Africa