Within our Anglican tradition, and particularly within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), the Jerusalem Cross holds a place of profound meaning. You may have noticed its striking gold form embossed on the cover of our 2019 red prayer books.
This powerful symbol speaks to the heart of our faith. The large central cross represents Christ and His redeeming sacrifice on Calvary. The four smaller crosses surrounding it symbolize the spreading of the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, fulfilling Jesus’s Great Commission.
Historically, the Jerusalem Cross can be traced back to the 11th century, when it is believed to have been adopted as the coat of arms for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
For us in the ACNA, the Jerusalem Cross also carries a more recent significance. It commemorates the first Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), held in Jerusalem in 2008. This pivotal gathering was a call to unity for orthodox Anglicans in North America. GAFCON played a crucial role in paving the way for the formation of the ACNA and a realignment within the Anglican Communion, one focused on a return to traditional Christian doctrine.
Out of GAFCON came the Jerusalem Declaration, a unifying statement for Anglican churches committed to upholding historic Christian faith. This declaration affirms the centrality of Jesus Christ for salvation, the authority of Scripture, the teachings of the early Church as expressed in the creeds and councils, and a biblical understanding of gender, marriage, and sexuality.
As a testament to its importance within the ACNA, the Jerusalem Declaration is printed on page 791 of every 2019 Book of Common Prayer, reminding us of the foundational principles that unite us in faith.
