Robert J. Godfrey
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Godfrey was the third Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church
, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion
, and the President of Cranmer Seminary
. Significantly, during his tenure as bishop Godfrey legally changed the name of the jurisdiction to the
"Episcopal Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America," while retaining the original incorporation. The name of the jurisdiction now, the Orthodox Anglican Church
, matches the name of the international communion to which it belongs. Weekly celebration of Holy Communion became permissible for the jurisdiction under Bishop Godfrey. Previously, parishes and priests were disciplined for having Holy Communion more than once a month. The changes instituted by Godfrey were opposed by a minority of clergy who preferred the low church Anglicanism of James Parker Dees
. Godfrey's opponents, which included laity close to the founding bishop, incorporated under the old
Anglican Orthodox Church
name.
Anglican Orthodox Church
The Anglican Orthodox Church is one of the older conservative Anglican denominations in the United States that is not in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury of the Church of England due to the perceived abandonment of Reformation doctrine by that church...
, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion
Orthodox Anglican Communion
The Orthodox Anglican Communion was established in 1967 as a self-governing worldwide fellowship of national churches in the Anglican tradition. The Orthodox Anglican Communion was one of the first such communions to be formed outside of the See of Canterbury and therefore is not part of the...
, and the President of Cranmer Seminary
Saint Andrew's Theological College and Seminary
Saint Andrew's Theological College and Seminary is a church-affiliated educational institution of the Orthodox Anglican Church, the United States branch of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. Instruction began in Statesville, North Carolina in 1967 and the school was formally dedicated as Cranmer...
. Significantly, during his tenure as bishop Godfrey legally changed the name of the jurisdiction to the
"Episcopal Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America," while retaining the original incorporation. The name of the jurisdiction now, the Orthodox Anglican Church
Orthodox Anglican Church
The Orthodox Anglican Church is the American branch of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. It is now considered to be part of the Continuing Anglican movement, although the church predates the Continuing Church movement and was actively opposed to Continuing Anglicanism when it developed during the...
, matches the name of the international communion to which it belongs. Weekly celebration of Holy Communion became permissible for the jurisdiction under Bishop Godfrey. Previously, parishes and priests were disciplined for having Holy Communion more than once a month. The changes instituted by Godfrey were opposed by a minority of clergy who preferred the low church Anglicanism of James Parker Dees
James Parker Dees
James Parker Dees was the founder and first bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Anglican Communion. Dees was born in Greenville, North Carolina on December 30, 1915, the son of James Earle Dees and Margaret Burgwin Dees. He graduated in 1938 from the University of North...
. Godfrey's opponents, which included laity close to the founding bishop, incorporated under the old
Anglican Orthodox Church
Anglican Orthodox Church
The Anglican Orthodox Church is one of the older conservative Anglican denominations in the United States that is not in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury of the Church of England due to the perceived abandonment of Reformation doctrine by that church...
name.