The Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) is an Anglican convocation affiliated to the Anglican Network in Europe that seeks to establish Anglican churches in England outside the Church of England. It was created with the support of the Global Anglican Future Conference, and is part of the Anglican realignment.[1]
AMiE has three bishops, Andy Lines, Tim Davies and Lee McMunn. Andy Lines is the Convocation Bishop: he was consecrated on 30 June 2017 as the Missionary Bishop to Europe of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), a province outside the Anglican Communion, but recognized by GAFCON and the Global South provinces.[2] Lines' role is to provide oversight to Anglican churches in Europe that exist outside of current Anglican structures, which includes AMiE.[3][2][4]
AMiE was formed with the support of GAFCON (The Global Anglican Future Conference).[5][6] GAFCON gave their full support at their second meeting in Nairobi, in October 2013. Initially its congregations were church plants that had been ejected from the Church of England for various reasons. More recently, evangelical Anglican churches have begun to plant churches under the AMiE banner.[7]
The movement has received the support of the Archbishop of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh.[8][9]
In 2016 AMiE set out its vision to plant 25 churches by 2025 and 250 churches by 2050.[8]
Bishop Lines ordained the first nine men as deacons and priests on 7 December 2017, at East London Tabernacle, a Baptist church in east London.[10] Previously, clergymen associated with AMiE had come from the Church of England, or been ordained by Anglican bishops overseas. Eight men were ordained as deacons and one as a priest, all working for AMiE churches.[1] For example, Robert Tearle, 24, was to serve as deacon at Trinity Church Scarborough, a 2017 church plant.[11]
On 14 December 2020, AMIE became a proto-diocese (convocation) affiliated to the newly created Anglican Network in Europe;[12] the network's other convocation is the Anglican Convocation in Europe, which has six churches in Scotland, Portugal, Cornwall and Surrey.[13]
AMiE takes a conservative stance on human sexuality, opposing same-sex marriage and women's ordination. Members of the executive of AMiE are required to hold complementarian views. AMiE leaders have made accusations that there is false teaching in Church of England leadership.[8] Bishop Lee McMunn has stated that, while many "faithful Anglicans" remain within the Church of England, others find their route to ordination "blocked by liberal clergy who do not believe orthodox Anglican teachings".
AMiE's stated intent is not to threaten Anglicans within current structures, but to provide support for those already outside the structures.[1]
AMiE currently has 25 churches under the leadership of Bishop Lines.[14][15] This is an increase from 6 churches in September 2016.[8]
AMiE is also aiming to plant a new church in Ramsgate in 2021.[23]
The following churches disaffiliated from AMiE in 2020–21.