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Foley Thomas Beach (born October 31, 1958) is an American Anglican bishop. He was the second primate and archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, a church associated with the Anglican realignment movement, and is the first diocesan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South. Beach was elected as the church's primate on June 21, 2014.[1] His enthronement took place on October 9, 2014. During his primacy, he served as chairman of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Primates Council and led the ACNA through a period that included the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Information

Early life and ministry

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Beach was born on October 31, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia. He studied at Georgia State University in Atlanta, receiving a B.A. degree in 1980. A member of the Episcopal Church, Beach worked as a youth minister at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip, in Atlanta, from 1980 to 1987, and a lay associate minister at the Church of the Apostles, in Atlanta, from 1987 to 1989. Beach is a graduate of the School of Theology of the University of the South, where he received an M.Div. degree in 1992. He was ordained a deacon and a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in 1992. He was nominated deacon-in-charge, afterwards rector, of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, in Monroe, Georgia, where he served from 1992 to 2004. He left the Episcopal Church following the consecration of Gene Robinson as the first openly non-celibate gay bishop of the Anglican Communion.[2] He was later deposed as a priest (sometimes referred to as defrocking) by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in July 2004,[3] although he had been received and placed in good standing as a priest in the Diocese of Bolivia in the Anglican Communion. Beach then planted Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia, which held its first service on February 8, 2004 with over 350 in attendance.

Beach was elected as the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South, a newly formed diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, as well as rector and pastor of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia, since its founding, from February 2004 to December 2013. It became the diocese's pro-cathedral in 2010, and it is now the cathedral church of both the Anglican Diocese of the South and of Anglican Church in North America's primate.[4] After the formation of the Anglican Church in North America in June 2009, Beach was elected the leader of a group of parishes in the Southeast and was consecrated as the first bishop of the Diocese of the South on October 9, 2010.[5][6] Beach has a radio and internet ministry featuring weekly broadcasts of sermons and daily one-minute audio devotional teaching ministry, A Word from the Lord, which is dedicated to sharing "Biblical teaching using the instruments of radio, print, the Internet, and satellite technology so that people might discover the living Jesus for themselves and become more faithful followers of Jesus by hearing and applying the Word of God in their lives."[7]

Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America

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Beach was elected the second archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America after a three-day conclave held at the crypt of the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Vincent Archabbey, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The contentious vote finally ended "unanimously" with all votes ultimately going to Beach after the multiple balloting that took place over the three-day conclave, on June 21, 2014.[8] "Over the course of three days of intense conversation and sometimes vigorous fellowship [disagreement] and in the end we were all clear where we were headed and the person who could best lead us there was ... Foley Beach," said Archbishop Emeritus Robert Duncan following the election of Beach.[9] He took office at the conclusion of the provincial assembly of the Anglican Church in North America on June 25, 2014. His investiture took place at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 9, 2014, with an attendance of 2,000 people and seven Anglican archbishops who afterwards recognized him as a fellow primate and archbishop of the Anglican Communion.[10] However, according to the traditional instruments of communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Church in North America is not a member of the Anglican Communion.[11] This has been an intentional choice of the bishops because of the non-Biblical drift of the leadership of the Anglican Communion. Beach was able to finalize the efforts to have the Church of England recognize the Orders of the Anglican Church of America as valid in 2017.

Beach subscribes to the right of each diocese to their own decision on the ordination of women.[12] He was keen in following Robert Duncan's main prerogatives, including social engagement, church planting, ecumenism and full integration into the Anglican Communion, with the support of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and the Global South.[13] He initiated the Matthew 25 Initiative Matthew 25 Initiative encouraging congregations to minister to the least, the last, and the lost in their local communities.

Shortly after his investiture, Beach held an eighteen-day journey that took him to the Church of the Province of South East Asia, the Church of the Province of Myanmar and the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, from November 11–29, 2014. The main purpose of the journey was to strengthen the ties between the Anglican Church in North America and these three Anglican realignment churches. He first visited the Church of the Province of South East Asia, from November 11–14, 2014, where he took part with a 37-member delegation of the Anglican Church in North America at a mission consultations roundtable held at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore, also meeting Archbishop Bolly Lapok and visiting both Singapore and Malaysia. He followed this with a visit to the Church of the Province of Myanmar, where he was welcomed by Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo, and to the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, meeting Archbishop Glenn Davies, who invited him to preach at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney.[14]

During a meeting of the Anglican Primates of the Global South, a coalition representing the majority of the world's Anglicans, from October 14–16, 2015, in Cairo, Egypt, Beach was seated as a member of the Global South Primates Council with voice and vote, and he will continue to have voice and vote in future meetings.[15] This follows his seating on the Gafcon Primates Council with primates representing the vast majority of the Anglican Communion. In December 2015 at the invitation of Archbishop Onesipore Rwaje, Beach preached at the Anglican Church of Rwanda’s Bishops and Clergy Conference. Beach was invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to the Anglican Communion primates' gathering that took place on January 11–15, 2016.[16]

In July 2016 Beach participated in the Enthronement of Jackson Ole Sapit as the new Archbishop and Primate of Kenya at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi. In November 2016 Beach visited the Province of South East Asia, preaching the Diocese of Singapore and ministering in Kathmandu, Nepal. Representing the Gafcon Primates Council, he announced on the same day that the Scottish Episcopal Church voted to approve same-sex marriage, on June 8, 2017, that the Rev. Canon Andy Lines would be consecrated Missionary Bishop to Europe and Scotland by the Gafcon Primates at the Anglican Church in North America's Third Provincial Assembly, in Wheaton, Illinois, taking place on June 30, 2017, on behalf of the Global Anglican Future Conference.[17] In May 2018 Beach represented the Gafcon Primates Council by installing Miguel Uchôa as the first Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Brazil. In January 2018, Beach was invited to speak to the bishops of South Sudan at the election of their new Archbishop and Primate, Justin Badi Arama.

At the conclusion of GAFCON III, in June 2018 in Jerusalem, it was announced that Beach would succeed Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, as chair of the Global Anglican Future Conference's primates council.[18] Beach served as Chairman until 2023 when Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop and Primate of Rwanda was elected. In August 2018 Beach participated in a preaching mission to Tanzania at the invitation of Bishop Stanley Hotay.

Beach visited England, Wales and Scotland, on October 24–31, 2018, where he was accompanied by Bishop Andy Lines of the Anglican Mission in England. He preached at several Anglican churches to express his full support for the Anglican realignment in Great Britain and Ireland. He also met Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, responsible for the Church of England project "Living in Love & Faith".[19][20] In January 2019 Beach was invited to participate in the consecration of the a new bishop for Kustia, Bangladesh, Heman Halderin, in Rajshahi. In October 2019, at the invitation of Archbishop and Primate of the Indian Ocean, James Wong, Beach preached to bishops and clergy in Seychelles; and in October 2019, representing the Gafcon primates, he was the chief consecrator of Jay Behan as the first bishop of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Ecumenical Work

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The Anglican Church in North America has had ecumenical talks with various denominations including the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, the North American Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church in America, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, the Presbyterian Church in America, World Methodist Fellowship, and the Good Shepherd Church of India. Beach led a delegation in August 2015 for Ecumenical discussions with Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church. Beach signed Full Communion Concordances with the Free Church of England in 2015, the Episcopal Missionary Church in 2020, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia in 2023, and the Filipino Independent Catholic Church in 2024. In 2023 Beach led a delegation to the Vatican with discussions with the Roman Catholic Church regarding resurrecting the Malta Statement from the 1960s regarding steps for Eucharistic Fellowship.

He visited Pakistan in November 2019, at the invitation of the Kul Masalak Ulama Board Leadership, where he met Moderator Humphrey Peters and Bishop Azad Marshall, of the Church of Pakistan. He also was present in an interfaith gathering with Muslim scholars in Lahore on 19 November 2019.[21] In February 2020 Beach was invited by Ugandan Archbishop and Primate Stephen Kaziimba to preach at his enthronement and lead his personal pre-enthronement spiritual retreat in Kampala. In March 2020 Beach was invited by Archbishop and Primate Ezekiel Kondo to Khartoum to a preaching mission and ministry to the Sudanese bishops. In September 2021 at the invitation of Archbishop and Primate Henry Ndukuba of Nigeria, Beach preached and ministered at the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria in Lagos, Nigeria. In June 2023 Beach was invited to preach to the nation at the annual Uganda Martyr’s Day Remembrance in Kampala. In October 2023 Beach ministered in North India in the Anglican Diocese of Bengal at the invitation of Bishop Probal Dutta.

Succession

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Beach was succeeded as archbishop by Steve Wood in June 2024.[22]

Personal life

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He is married to Allison and they have two adult children.[23]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Foley Beach

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The Most Reverend Foley Thomas is an American Anglican who has served as the and of the since his election on June 22, 2014. A lifelong resident of Georgia and former Episcopal priest, Beach founded Holy Cross Anglican Church in , and was consecrated as the first of the Anglican Diocese of the South in 2010. As leader of the ACNA—a province formed by orthodox Anglicans departing from the liberalizing —Beach has overseen growth to over 1,000 parishes, the launch of church-planting efforts under Always Forward, mercy ministries via , and the publication of the 2019 alongside a new , To Be a Christian. His tenure has emphasized scriptural fidelity, including College of Bishops statements affirming traditional teachings on sexuality and human identity amid global Anglican tensions. Beach also chaired the GAFCON Primates Council from 2018 to 2023, bolstering ties with Global South provinces and organizing the 2023 Conference, which advanced a vision of Anglicanism centered on biblical orthodoxy over Canterbury's authority.

Biography

Early life and education

Foley Beach was born on October 31, 1958, in , Georgia. He earned a from . Beach pursued theological training at the School of Theology of the University of the South, from which he graduated. He later completed a degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Ordination and early ministry in the Episcopal Church

Beach was ordained and in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in 1992. Immediately following ordination, he served as deacon-in-charge and subsequently rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in , from 1992 to 2004. Under his leadership at St. Alban's, Beach focused on , preaching, and within the constraints of the Episcopal Church's evolving doctrines. His tenure coincided with increasing internal divisions in the denomination, including debates over scriptural authority and moral teachings, though he remained committed to orthodox Anglican practices during this phase. In 2004, amid these tensions, Beach resigned from the and the rectorship at St. Alban's to pursue ministry aligned with traditional Anglican convictions.

Formation of ACNA and Rise to Leadership

Involvement in Anglican realignment

In 2004, Foley Beach resigned as rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Monroe, Georgia, where he had served since 1992, and departed from the Episcopal Church to establish Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia. This action aligned with the early stages of the Anglican realignment, a movement of conservative clergy and congregations responding to the Episcopal Church's theological shifts, notably the November 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire despite his publicly acknowledged same-sex relationship. Beach viewed this event, along with prior General Convention actions, as a departure from historic Anglican formularies and the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10, which affirmed traditional teachings on marriage and sexuality. Beach detailed his rationale in a 2004 letter to his congregation, explaining that after 34 years of involvement in life—including , , and —he could not remain without compromising his and . He cited the denomination's progressive reinterpretations of Scripture on issues like as eroding , rendering continued affiliation untenable for orthodox believers. Holy Cross Anglican Church was formally planted in February 2004 under provisional oversight from realigning Anglican jurisdictions, such as those affiliated with the , exemplifying the grassroots exodus of parishes seeking alternative structures to preserve confessional . Beach's leadership at Holy Cross, where he served as founding rector until 2013, contributed to the realignment's momentum by demonstrating viable models for independent, biblically faithful Anglican ministry outside the Episcopal Church. The congregation's growth under his pastorate underscored the appeal of realignment networks amid ongoing Episcopal Church decisions, such as the 2006 election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop, which further alienated conservatives. These efforts by Beach and similar leaders helped coalesce disparate groups, paving the way for the Anglican Church in North America's formation in June 2009 as a unified province for realigned North American Anglicans committed to the authority of Scripture and the Jerusalem Declaration.

Election as Archbishop (2014)

The (ACNA), established in 2009 as a conservative alternative to the and amid disputes over biblical authority and , required the election of its second following the initial five-year term of Robert Duncan. Duncan's tenure had focused on provincial formation and recognition by Global South , setting the stage for a transition at the 2014 Provincial Assembly. On June 22, 2014, the ACNA College of Bishops convened in a private conclave at St. Vincent College in , to select the new for a five-year term. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, then bishop of the Diocese of the South (covering , Georgia, , , and parts of ), was unanimously elected as archbishop, succeeding Duncan effective immediately. This unanimity reflected broad episcopal consensus on Beach's qualifications, including his experience in , recovery ministries, and diocesan leadership since his 2010 consecration. The process adhered to ACNA's constitution, which mandates selection by the College of Bishops without lay or clerical delegates, emphasizing episcopal . Beach's selection underscored the province's priorities of and mission, as articulated in ACNA's foundational documents, amid ongoing realignment from liberal Anglican bodies. Upon , he assumed the title of Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach and began preparations for formal , while Duncan continued transitional duties until October.

Primacy in the Anglican Church in North America

Key administrative initiatives and growth

During his tenure as Archbishop, Foley Beach prioritized as a core administrative focus, expanding the ACNA's Always Forward initiative launched in 2016 to foster diocesan movements and develop practical resources such as a church planting playbook for emerging networks. This effort built on prior goals like Anglican 1000, sustaining momentum in establishing new congregations despite challenges like the , which saw ACNA maintain 972 parishes in 2020 before incremental gains resumed. These initiatives correlated with measurable provincial growth: by 2024, ACNA reported 1,027 congregations, a net increase of 14 from the prior year and expansion beyond the 1,000-parish achieved earlier in Beach's term. Membership totaled 130,111, reflecting a 1.5% rise of 1,997 individuals, while average Sunday attendance reached 96,148, up 13.4% or 11,354 attendees—the third consecutive year of double-digit attendance increases. Supporting metrics included baptisms up 5.6% (207 more), confirmations rising 15.8% (656 additional), and weddings increasing 17.4% (104 more), with the number of churches averaging over 500 in attendance growing from 16 to 27. Overall, annual membership growth averaged approximately 1.8% under Beach's leadership. Beach also advanced administrative support for mercy and compassion ministries through the 2017 Matthew 25 Initiative, which provided grants and coordination to diocesan efforts addressing , disaster relief, and community outreach, enhancing ACNA's operational capacity for holistic mission. Complementing these were provincial priorities outlined by Beach, including evangelism, discipleship, and global partnerships, which informed resource development like the 2019 to standardize worship and foster unity across growing dioceses.

Responses to internal challenges and scandals

In response to allegations of mishandling claims in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, Archbishop Foley Beach appointed an independent investigative team on July 10, 2021, led by retired Circuit Court Judge , to examine the diocese's response to reports involving lay catechist Mark Rivera, who was later convicted in December 2022 of felony and sentenced to 15 years in prison in March 2023. The investigation, prompted by survivor and media scrutiny, revealed delays in reporting and inadequate victim support, leading Beach to emphasize in ACNA governance while asserting oversight to ensure accountability. The probe expanded to include Bishop Stewart Ruch III, who faced presentments in June 2023 for failing to act promptly on Rivera's abuse reports and reinstating with domestic violence histories without sufficient safeguards. suspended Ruch temporarily in 2021 pending review and, on June 7, 2023, publicly criticized the ACNA Provincial Tribunal for attempting to halt a Title IV investigation into Ruch's conduct, arguing it violated canons and undermined . This intervention preserved the inquiry, culminating in Ruch's ecclesiastical trial in 2025, though critics from groups like ACNAtoo contended 's actions prioritized institutional protection over survivor-centered reforms. Amid broader calls for systemic change, Beach supported the formation of a Provincial Response Team in 2022 to standardize abuse reporting across dioceses and, by August 2024, endorsed canon revisions mandating prompt notifications to civil authorities and independent investigations for misconduct, addressing gaps exposed by the cases. These updates, ratified at the ACNA Provincial Assembly, included provisions for intervention in diocesan failures, reflecting Beach's stated commitment to "safe church" practices while navigating tensions between local autonomy and national standards.

Theological Positions

Commitment to biblical orthodoxy

Foley Beach's leadership in the (ACNA) has centered on upholding the of Scripture as the inspired Word of God and the ultimate standard for faith and practice. The ACNA's Fundamental Declarations, affirmed under his primateship, confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as "containing all things necessary for , and to be the final and standard of faith and conduct for Christians." This commitment reflects a rejection of progressive reinterpretations within broader , prioritizing scriptural sufficiency over human traditions or cultural accommodations. In his investiture sermon as ACNA primate on October 10, 2014, Beach highlighted unity among orthodox Anglicans on core doctrines, stating, "We agree on the authority of the Bible," alongside agreement on Christ's person and salvation's means. This emphasis has guided ACNA's theological formation, including hermeneutical principles derived from foundational documents that position Scripture as the final authority, interpreted in its plain sense with historical context and alignment to catholic creeds. As chairman of the (GAFCON) since 2019, Beach has advanced a global network dedicated to "guarding God’s gospel" and "defending biblical truth" against doctrinal innovations, as articulated in GAFCON's mission to contend for the faith per Jude 1:3-4. His addresses, such as to the ACNA Provincial Council on June 21, 2016, have tied biblical doctrine directly to mission, asserting that care for neighbors expresses fidelity to Scripture and that the church must not compromise doctrinal integrity for social relevance. Beach's tenure resisted external pressures to moderate orthodoxy, particularly from the See of Canterbury, maintaining ACNA's scriptural primacy amid tensions. This stance aligns with GAFCON's view of Scripture as bearing God's authority, self-interpreting, and unalterable by human wisdom, underscoring Beach's role in fostering biblically grounded Anglican renewal.

Stances on human sexuality and gender

Foley Beach, as of the (ACNA), has consistently upheld the denomination's and theological positions affirming as the lifelong union of one man and one woman, viewing sexual relations outside this framework, including homosexual acts, as incompatible with Scripture. In a 2021 pastoral letter responding to an from "gay Anglicans," Beach emphasized that while same-sex attracted individuals are welcome in the church if committed to and repentance, adopting a "gay Anglican" identity undermines biblical by prioritizing over one's identity in Christ. He critiqued the letter's language as confrontational, arguing it promotes a self-identification that conflicts with the ACNA's teaching that human identity derives from God's created order rather than inclinations or desires. The ACNA College of Bishops, under Beach's leadership, issued a 2021 statement on "Sexuality and Identity" reaffirming that "the teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman," and that sexual activity belongs solely within this covenant, rendering same-sex unions non-conforming to scriptural mandates. This position echoes Beach's broader alignment with global efforts, where he has supported sanctions against provinces permitting same-sex blessings or marriages, as seen in his endorsement of measures against the in 2016. Beach has advocated pastoral care for those experiencing same-sex attraction, encouraging celibacy as the path to faithfulness, but has rejected any revisionist interpretations equating homosexual practice with orthodox Christian living. On gender, Beach has endorsed ACNA's 2017 declaration "Created Male and Female," which affirms that God creates humans as biologically male or female with inherent dignity, rejecting ideologies that deny this binary sexual distinction. The statement, issued during Beach's primacy, opposes efforts to redefine personhood based on self-perceived , grounding its reasoning in Genesis accounts of creation and Christ's teachings on male-female complementarity. Beach's public engagements, including addresses at GAFCON assemblies, reinforce this view, portraying as a condition warranting compassionate ministry rooted in biblical truth rather than affirmation of transition or fluid identities. These stances reflect a commitment to what Beach describes as scriptural fidelity amid cultural pressures, prioritizing creational norms over contemporary redefinitions of sex and gender.

Global and Ecumenical Relations

Engagements with GAFCON and Global South primates

In June 2018, at the conclusion of GAFCON III in , Foley Beach was elected chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, succeeding Archbishop Nicholas Okoh of , with the transition effective in April 2019. In this capacity, Beach led regular meetings of the council, which comprises primarily from Global South provinces committed to biblical orthodoxy, including sessions held virtually in April 2021 amid the and in-person in , , in October 2022. These gatherings addressed global Anglican tensions, such as responses to the Church of England's doctrinal shifts, and issued communiqués reaffirming GAFCON's independence from Canterbury's authority while fostering unity among conservative . Beach's chairmanship emphasized proactive leadership, exemplified by his addresses at GAFCON IV in , , in April 2023, where he outlined "four marks of modern Anglicanism"—a repenting, reconciling, reproducing, and relentlessly compassionate church—and urged delegates toward mission amid Communion fractures. At the conference's close, he facilitated the transition of the chairmanship to Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of , signaling a to Global South leadership while affirming GAFCON's ongoing vitality. During his tenure, Beach also consecrated bishops for GAFCON-aligned jurisdictions, such as three in the in October 2022, strengthening ties with European extensions of Global South networks. Parallel to his GAFCON role, Beach engaged Global South primates through the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA), to which he was elected as a steering committee member in 2016 by the Global South Primates. In October 2015, the Global South declared the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) a partner province, a status that facilitated Beach's participation in their assemblies and joint initiatives, including a 2017 statement co-signed by Global South and GAFCON primates honoring his investiture as ACNA primate. These interactions underscored mutual recognition of ACNA's orthodoxy despite its non-Communion status, with Beach contributing to GSFA communiqués, such as the June 2024 assembly statement critiquing progressive influences in the Anglican Communion. Beach's engagements extended to broader primates' forums, including the January 2016 Anglican Communion Primates' Meeting in , where he participated as an invited observer and noted the decisive influence of GAFCON and Global South primates in enforcing consequences on the over . This collaborative dynamic persisted, as evidenced by coordinated responses to later Communion events, prioritizing scriptural fidelity over institutional ties with .

Relations with the See of Canterbury and Anglican Communion tensions

The (ACNA), under Foley Beach's primacy, has maintained formal separation from the 's instruments of unity centered on the See of , with Beach emphasizing biblical orthodoxy over institutional recognition. In October 2014, stated that the ACNA constitutes "a separate church" and is "not part of the ," reflecting ongoing non-recognition despite shared Anglican heritage and heritage. This stance persisted, as the ACNA has not been admitted as a full , though its ordained orders were acknowledged by the Archbishops of and in February 2017 for ministerial purposes under regulations. Beach's interactions with Canterbury highlighted doctrinal tensions, particularly over human sexuality. In September 2015, Welby invited Beach to the January 2016 Primates' Meeting in as a guest participant without voting rights, amid efforts to address rifts following the Episcopal Church's (TEC) authorization of . Beach attended, contributing to the primates' decision to impose sanctions on TEC, including temporary suspension from Communion decision-making bodies for three years due to its departure from historic teaching on . However, the gathering underscored persistent divides, with Beach later describing the as fractured by "bitter" disagreements over . Subsequent events deepened the rift. For the 2020 Lambeth Conference (postponed to 2022), Welby invited ACNA bishops as non-voting observers, but Beach declined participation, citing the inclusion of TEC and bishops who endorse same-sex blessings as incompatible with orthodoxy; he stated that attending under such conditions would imply impaired communion with those affirming "sin." This aligned with GAFCON , including Beach as chairman, who prioritized to scriptural standards over Welby's convening authority. Tensions escalated following the Church of England's February 2023 approval of blessings for same-sex couples, prompting Beach to publicly call for Welby to repent for abandoning biblical truth on sexuality, arguing that such actions erode the Communion's doctrinal integrity. As GAFCON chairman, Beach co-signed statements rejecting 's leadership primacy, asserting in March 2023 that Welby's facilitation of same-sex blessings represented a departure warranting Global South primates' disengagement from Communion structures. By October 2025, GAFCON primates, reflecting Beach's influence, urged provinces to excise references to Canterbury communion in their canons, declaring the See's historic role diminished by unrepentant revisionism. These positions underscore Beach's advocacy for a reordered led by orthodox networks like GAFCON, rather than deference to Canterbury amid irreconcilable views on and .

Ecumenical outreach to other Christian bodies

Under Beach's primacy, the (ACNA) initiated formal dialogues with the (OCA), establishing a joint dialogue committee in 2015 to explore theological affinities, honor historical ties dating to , and foster mutual mission efforts in . These conversations identified shared commitments to orthodoxy amid differences on and sacraments, with both sides affirming the value of ongoing engagement despite ACNA's departure from the Canterbury-aligned . In August 2015, Beach led an ACNA delegation to at the invitation of Patriarch Kirill, conducting formal ecumenical discussions with the that emphasized common ground in biblical fidelity and resistance to liberal theological shifts in . The meetings, hosted by the Department for External Church Relations, highlighted mutual interests in and , with both parties expressing intent to deepen bilateral relations beyond prior Anglican-Orthodox frameworks. Relations with the Roman Catholic Church included early goodwill gestures, such as conveying personal congratulations and blessings via Archbishop Gregory Venables during Beach's investiture as ACNA primate on October 9, 2014, signaling Vatican openness to the new province's orthodox stance. ACNA's Ecumenical Relations Task Force, active under Beach, dispatched delegations to to discuss potential cooperation on shared concerns like religious liberty and doctrinal erosion in mainline denominations. These efforts built on prior Anglican-Catholic dialogues, such as the 1968 Malta Report, though full reconciliation remained elusive due to divergences on and .

Succession and Legacy

Term conclusion and successor election (2024)

Foley Beach completed his second five-year term as and of the (ACNA) on June 28, 2024, after serving the maximum allowable duration under the province's constitution, which prohibits a third term. The ACNA Provincial Assembly, held in from June 21-28, provided the context for the transition, with Beach having led the body since his initial election in 2014. The College of Bishops convened in a closed conclave starting June 20, 2024, to select Beach's successor from among its active diocesan bishops, following the ACNA's canonical process for elections. On June 22, after several ballots, the Rt. Rev. Steve Wood, Bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas since 2013, was elected as the third by a vote. Wood, ordained in 1993 and prior rector of St. Andrew's Church in , was noted for his emphasis on and during the election process. Wood's installation occurred at the assembly's closing Eucharist on June 28, 2024, marking the formal transfer of ; Beach then entered a planned before resuming advisory roles. The election drew affirmations from Global South Anglican leaders, including GAFCON Chairman Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, underscoring continuity in the ACNA's orthodox commitments amid ongoing tensions with the .

Evaluations of tenure: achievements versus criticisms

During Foley Beach's tenure as Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), from his election on June 22, 2014, until the conclusion of his second term in June 2024, the province achieved steady institutional consolidation and doctrinal articulation. The number of congregations increased from 972 in 2019 to 1,027 by 2024, reflecting net gains of 14 parishes in the final reporting year amid a broader context of modest annual membership growth averaging approximately 1.5-1.8 percent. Beach spearheaded the "Always Forward" initiative, emphasizing evangelism, church planting, and mercy ministries through the Matthew 25 Initiative, which supported outreach to vulnerable populations. Liturgical and catechetical resources advanced under his oversight, including the release of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer and the catechism To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism, aimed at unifying teaching across dioceses. The College of Bishops, under his leadership, issued clarifying statements on women's ordination (2017 Victoria Statement) and human sexuality and identity (2021), reinforcing ACNA's commitment to biblical orthodoxy amid internal debates. On the global stage, Beach elevated ACNA's profile by serving as Chairman of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) Primates Council from 2018, guiding the movement through the 2019 Cairo Covenant and the 2023 Kigali Commitment, which asserted a reconfiguration of orthodox Anglicanism independent of Canterbury's influence. These efforts fostered alliances with Global South primates, positioning ACNA as a key player in countering perceived liberal shifts in the broader Anglican Communion. Supporters credit Beach with stabilizing ACNA post its formative years under Robert Duncan, maintaining fiscal health through balanced budgets and enhancing ecumenical ties, such as with evangelical partners. Criticisms of Beach's tenure center on the ACNA's response to clergy misconduct and allegations, particularly in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, where lay catechist was convicted in 2022 of offenses reported as early as 2019. Advocates, including the survivor-led group ACNAtoo, faulted Beach for initially deferring to diocesan —ACNA's decentralized model—delaying provincial intervention until public outcry in 2021 prompted Bishop Stewart Ruch's and a third-party investigation. An to Beach in July 2021, signed by and survivors, highlighted secondary victimization through inadequate reporting protocols, such as Rev. Rand York’s alleged failure to report abuse and pressure on victims' families, demanding standardized safeguards, independent probes, and Ruch's potential permanent removal. While Beach acknowledged mishandling in a July 2021 letter and supported subsequent reforms like enhanced investigative processes, critics from survivor networks argued these measures came too late and lacked survivor-centered enforcement, exacerbating distrust in leadership accountability. Additional scrutiny arose from internal tribunal disputes during Ruch's 2023 ecclesiastical trial, where Beach and allies questioned the panel's impartiality amid appeals, fueling perceptions of diocesan favoritism over uniform justice. Attendance declines of up to 43 percent over the decade, attributed partly to post-COVID effects but also to unresolved scandals eroding congregational trust, further tempered evaluations of growth-focused achievements.

Personal Life

Family and personal influences

Beach was born on October 31, 1958, in , Georgia, and raised in a broken home characterized by instability. His mother, whom he has described as a , struggled with drug addiction and was arrested on drug charges when he was 12 years old, contributing to frequent relocations across multiple schools and periods spent on the streets during his childhood. These early adversities shaped Beach's resilience and empathy for those from dysfunctional backgrounds, informing his later focus on and to the marginalized. Despite the family turmoil, he encountered through involvement in a local Baptist church, where he underwent conversion by professing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. His commitment deepened in high school via the , which provided formative spiritual guidance and community amid personal hardship. Beach married Allison Beach, a fellow lifelong Georgian, more than three decades ago; the couple has two adult children and maintains their home in an suburb. Allison has accompanied and supported him through extensive travel and leadership demands in his episcopal and primatial roles, enabling his focus on global Anglican engagements.

Health and post-primatial activities

Following the election of Steve Wood as his successor on June 22, 2024, Beach concluded his second five-year term as of the , having served the maximum constitutional limit of ten years since his initial election in 2014. He assumed the title of Emeritus while continuing his longstanding role as of the Anglican Diocese of the South (ADOTS), a position he has held since his consecration in 2010. In this capacity, Beach has maintained an active episcopal ministry within ADOTS, overseeing the diocese's parishes and from his base at Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral in , where he previously served as rector. Post-primatial, he has continued preaching and pastoral engagements, including delivering a on the Fifth Sunday in in 2025. These activities reflect his ongoing commitment to doctrinal and within the diocese, consistent with his prior emphasis on . No public disclosures indicate significant health challenges impeding his service during or after his primatial tenure.

References

  1. https://anglicanchurch.net/archbishop-beach/
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