The American Anglican Council has welcomed the installation of the Rt Rev Martyn Minns as missionary bishop for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America , the US branch of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

The President and CEO of the AAC, the Rev Canon David C Anderson, said Bishop Minns' installation at a service in Woodbridge, Virginia, over the weekend was a "high point in North American Anglicanism".

Canon Anderson, who was present at the event, added, "We are extremely grateful for the courage and faithfulness of the Nigerian church and its leader, Archbishop Peter Akinola, who formed CANA two years ago."

AAC Director of Finance and Development Doug Mussey as well as AAC Director of Human Resources Mary Orr were also present on behalf of the AAC.

In his remarks, Anderson congratulated Bishop Minns on this new phase of his ministry and assured that the AAC's prayers and full support are with him.

Bishop Minns, an AAC Board of Trustees member, has been very active with the ministry of the AAC in addition to serving as rector of Truro Church in Fairfax, Virginia, for 16 years.

With over 30 affiliated churches, CANA has experienced tremendous growth since it was formed in 2005 and has emerged as one of the forerunners in the renewal of an orthodox Anglican presence in the United States.

The presence of leaders of other orthodox Anglican groups at this weekend's service, Anderson said, was a particularly hopeful sign that there will be a renewed effort to work together and build one another up through shared mission and ministry.

"The energy and zeal of the Church of Nigeria have come to the US through CANA, and we pray that the result will be a re-strengthening of the historic, biblical Anglican faith in this nation after decades of accelerating moral and theological decline in the Episcopal Church," Anderson said.

"Bishop Minns' installation marked what we hope is a new season for all US orthodox Anglicans."