Anglican Consultative Council (ACC)
1969-
The ecumenical guests with Archbishop Justin Welby at the ACC meeting in Lusaka
The ecumenical guests with Archbishop Justin Welby at the ACC meeting in Lusaka. Photo credit: ACNS ~ Apr. 2016
Participants at the ACC meeting in Lusaka studied, worshipped, and engaged on issues theologically
Participants at the ACC meeting in Lusaka studied, worshipped, and engaged on issues theologically ~ Apr. 2016
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivers his presidential address to members of the Anglican Consultative Council during their 18th plenary meeting in Accra, Ghana
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivers his presidential address to members of the Anglican Consultative Council during their 18th plenary meeting in Accra, Ghana. Photo credit: Neil Turner/ACO ~ 12 Feb. 2023
Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury and a group of Primates at the eighteenth Anglican Consultative Council at the Marriott Hotel Accra, Ghana
Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury and a group of Primates at the eighteenth Anglican Consultative Council at the Marriott Hotel Accra, Ghana. Photo credit: Neil Turner/ACO ~ 13 Feb. 2023
Bishop Graham Tomlin addresses members of the Anglican Consultative Council in Accra, Ghana
Bishop Graham Tomlin addresses members of the Anglican Consultative Council in Accra, Ghana. Photo credit: Neil Turner/ACO ~ 14 Feb. 2023
Group photo of the delegates and guests at the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Accra, Ghana
Group photo of the delegates and guests at the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Accra, Ghana. Photo credit: Neil Turner/ACO ~ 16 Feb. 2023

The Anglican Consultative Council is not an international synod. It has no legal power over member churches of the Anglican Communion, which are autonomous and independent-yet-interdependent. The ACC is a consultative body, and one of four Instruments of Communion, or Instruments of Unity, in the Anglican Communion, alongside the Lambeth Conference, the Primates’ Meeting and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Plenary sessions of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) take place every two or three years. Representatives from each of the 42 provinces (member churches) of the Anglican Communion are invited to gather together for prayer, worship, Bible study, and discussion on matters of common concern, to promote the unity and purposes of the Churches of the Anglican Communion in mission, evangelism, ecumenical relations, communication, administration and finance.

The role of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) is to facilitate the co-operative work of the churches of the Anglican Communion, exchange information between the Provinces and churches, and help to co-ordinate common action. It advises on the organisation and structures of the Communion, and seeks to develop common policies with respect to the world mission of the Church, including ecumenical matters. The ACC membership includes from one to three persons from each province. Where there are three members, there is a bishop, a priest and a lay person. Where fewer members are appointed, preference is given to lay membership.

Website: anglicancommunion.org

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