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[[Image:George Alexander McGuire (Randall Burkett).jpg|right|frame|George Alexander McGuire (1866-1934).]]
'''George Alexander McGuire''' (1866-1934) was a bishop and founder in 1921 of the non-canonical African Orthodox Church,<refgroup="note">The African Orthodox Church (AOC) is a non-canonical, primarily African-American denomination, in the [[w:High church|High church]] Anglican tradition. The AOC holds to the historic three-fold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons, and lays strong emphasis on [[apostolic succession]]. The church celebrates the seven sacraments of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Its worship is liturgical, blending elements of Eastern and Western rites. The [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene]], Apostles', and Athanasian creeds are affirmed. (Mead, Frank S. ''Handbook of Denominations in the United States.'' 10th edition. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995. pp.128-129.)</ref> which had been envisaged as a home for Blacks of the Protestant Episcopal persuasion who wanted ecclesiastical independence, based on [[Apostolic succession|Apostolic tradition]]. In addition he was Chaplain-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
==Early Life==
McGuire led small mostly black Episcopal churches in Cincinnati, Richmond, Virginia and Philadelphia. [http://www.stphilipsrichmond.org/ St. Philip’s Episcopal Church] of Richmond, Virginia lists a certain ''“Reverend George Alexander McQuire,”'' as rector from April 1898 to November 1900. Interestingly, Robert Josias Morgan (Fr. [[Raphael Morgan]]) is listed as the rector for a short time from “1901-April 1901,” indicating that the two men likely knew eachother.
[[File:GEORGE-ALEXANDER-MCGUIRE.jpg|left|thumb|150px|George Alexander McGuire - Rector of The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (1902 – 1905)]]
By 1901 McGuire was appointed rector of [http://www.aecst.org/home.htm St. Thomas' Episcopal Church] in Philadelphia. Saint Thomas' served the African American elite of Philadelphia and was one of the most prestigious congregations in African American Christianity, having been started in 1794 by [[w:Absalom Jones|Absalom Jones]], one of the founders, together with [[w:Richard Allen (bishop)|Richard Allen]], of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.<ref name=Martin>Tony Martin. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=NgIYlUbaoAoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false McGuire, George Alexander].'' '''Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance'''. Volume 2. Cary D. Wintz, Paul Finkelman (Eds.). Taylor & Francis, 2004. p.776.</ref> He is listed as the rector of St. Thomas' in Philadelphia from 1902-05, succeeded as rector there by A.C.V. Cartier (1906-12), the man whom Fr. [[Raphael Morgan]] had recommended for [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] [[ordination]] to the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriachate]].
==African Orthodox Church==
On [[September 2]] 1921, in the ''Church of the Good Shepherd'' in New York City, McGuire founded the ''"African Orthodox Church"'' (AOC),<refgroup="note">The new denomination was originally called the ''' ''Independent Episcopal Church'' ''', but at its first Conclave, or House of Bishops, meeting on [[September 10]], 1924, the denomination was formally organized as the African Orthodox Church (AOC). Not be confused with the canonical [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] (AOC). (Right Rev. Philippe L. De Coster (B.Th., D.D. (Belgium), Latin Old Roman Catholic Church of Flanders). ''[http://www.scribd.com/doc/2199133/African-Orthodox African Orthodox Church: Its General History]''. 1st Ed. Publ. Eucharist and Devotion, 1993-2008. p.3.</ref> envisaged as a home for blacks of the protestant Episcopal persuasion who wanted ecclesiastical independence. The church, based on traditional Catholic doctrines, was open to all but under complete black leadership and control. McGuire declared to his followers: ''“You must forget the white gods. Erase the white gods from your hearts. We must go back to the native church, to our own true God.”'' The notion of associating with "Orthodoxy" was possibly formed for several reasons. One source of inspiration for the Orthodox Church may have been due to McGuire's association with the Very Reverend Father [[Raphael Morgan]]. In addition, "the Orthodox branch of Christianity, divided into Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, was never associated with racism, colonialism or religious imperialism. It was never involved in widespread missionary activity and had limited contacts with Afro-Americans and Africans. Because of its low profile, it was not perceived as racist. The adherents of Eastern Orthodoxy were primarily southern and eastern Europeans, people not associated in the United States with the establishment. The other division, Oriental Orthodoxy, had its membership in what is today referred to as, the Third World - the Middle East, Egypt, Ethiopia and southern India. The name ''African Orthodox Church'' denoted its aim: to be a universal Black church in affiliation with a branch of Christianity not known for racism or colonialism."<ref name=Natsoulas>Theodore Natsoulas. ''Patriarch McGuire and the Spread of the African Orthodox Church to Africa.'' '''Journal of Religion in Africa''', Vol. 12, Fasc. 2 (1981), pp.81-104.</ref><ref group="note">Article one of the constitution of the African Orthodox church explicitly confirmed and endorsed the church's twofold understanding of its itself and its mandate:<br>:"The name of this church, which was organized September 2nd, 1921, is and shall be THE AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. Its faith as declared, is Orthodox, in conformity with the Orthodox Churches of the East from which its Episcopate is derived. While it admits to membership and other privileges persons of all races, IT SEEKS PARTICULARLY TO REACH OUT TO THE MILLIONS OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN BOTH HEMISPHERES, and declares itself to be perpetually autonomous and controlled by Negroes. Hence the name, AFRICAN ORTHODOX."<br>(Warren C. Platt. ''The African Orthodox Church: An Analysis of Its First Decade.'' '''Church History''', Vol. 58, No. 4 (Dec., 1989), pp.483-484.)</ref> Shortly after the UNIA convention in August 1924, McGuire broke with Garvey and focused on expanding his church which mostly attracted Anglican West Indian immigrants, from the [[w:High Church|High Church]] Anglican tradition (i.e. [[w:Anglo-Catholicism|Anglo-Catholicism]]). McGuire would have liked to have seen AOC designated as the official church of UNIA, but Garvey was unwilling to grant such an exclusive priviledge to any denomination. McGuire accordingly resigned from his position at UNIA on the formation of AOC. He then ensured official "orthodox" status for his new church by arranging [[apostolic succession]] for himself.<ref name=Martin/>
===Consolidation and Growth 1924-1934===
In 1924, the newly organized conclave of AOC unanimously elected McGuire [[Archbishop]] of the church. During the remaining decade of his life McGuire built AOC into a thriving international church. Branches were eventually established in Canada, Barbados, Cuba, [[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria|South Africa]], [[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda|Uganda]], [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]], Miami, Chicago, Harlem, Boston, Cambridge (Massachusetts), and elsewhere. The official organ of AOC, ''The Negro Churchman,'' became an effective link for the far-flung organization.<ref name=Martin/>
McGuire founded a parish of his denomination in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1925. Two years after that, he consecrated an African clergyman as Metropolitan Archbishop for South Africa and central and southern Africa, [[Daniel William Daniel Alexander]]. At the same time McGuire was elected [[Patriarch]] of the denomination with the title ''Alexander I''. The church then spread to Uganda, as well.
On [[November 8]], 1931 McGuire dedicated Holy Cross [[w:Pro-cathedral|Pro-Cathedral]] in New York City. His church maintained its greatest strength in NYC.
At the time of his death on [[November 10]], 1934, the African Orthodox Church claimed over 30,000 members, fifty clergy and thirty churches located on three continents: North America, South America and Africa.
===Summary===
The movement for ecclesiastical independence started by McGuire in 1921 can be viewed from two perspectives.
First, it was an expression of Black cultural independence in the United States and Africa. It was an effort to promote widespread religious unity under Black leadership. The AOC's inclusion within the apostolic succession was hoped to give it legitimacy in the eyes of both the Black community and the Christian world. This legitimacy, however, did not lead to the growth that McGuire had hoped. Although the AOC increased in size during its first decade, it was primarily through the forceful personality of its leader rather than because of the principle of apostolic succession. After his death the AOC splintered and weakened. In South Africa there was growth, but not at the rate anticipated by Daniel William Alexander, whose most fruitful efforts were the spread of the AOC to Uganda and Kenya, now under the administrative umbrella of the Orthodox [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]].
Second, in its attempt to bring together Blacks of the diaspora and Africa into a common movement, the AOC was a manifestation of Pan-Africanism. Spiritual and emotional needs left unattended in their respective countries, propelled Blacks in the United States and South Africa to affiliate and assert their autonomy in an area where the White establishments saw no threat. Discrimination, racism and second-class citizenship engendered this effort at ecclesiastical independence and racial cooperation on both sides of the Atlantic.<ref name=Natsoulas/>
==See also==
* [[Archdiocese of Irinopolis]] (Tanzania, and the Seychelle Islands).
* [[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria]].
* [[Albert J. Raboteau]].
==Notes==
<references group="note" />
==References==
* [[w:George Alexander McGuire|George Alexander McGuire]].
* [[w:African Orthodox Church|African Orthodox Church]].
* [[w:High church|High church]]
* [[w:Anglo-Catholicism|Anglo-Catholicism]]
'''Other'''
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/15192175/Constitution-of-the-African-Orthodox-Church The African Orthodox Church: Its Declaration of Faith: Constitutions and Canons]. 14 pp.
==Sources==
* Byron Rushing. ''“A Note on the Origin of the African Orthodox Church.”'' '''The Journal of Negro History''' 57:1 (Jan., 1972).
* David Levinson. ''African Orthodox Church.'' In: Stephen D. Glazier (Ed.). '''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=pF6MxGrqdUwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s Encyclopedia of African and African-American Religions].''' Routledge Encyclopedias of Religion and Society. Taylor & Francis, 2001. pp.15-16.
* Frank S Mead. ''Handbook of Denominations in the United States.'' 10th Ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
* Gavin White. ''Patriarch McGuire and the Episcopal Church.'' In: Randall K. Burkett and Richard Newman (Eds.). '''Black Apostles: Afro-American Clergy Confront the Twentieth Century.''' G. K. Hall, 1978. pp.151-180.
* John Hope Franklin and August Meier (Eds.). ''Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century''. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1982.
* [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya]]. ''[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/church_history/makarios_tillyrides_east_africa.htm The Origin of Orthodoxy in East Africa].'' '''Orthodox Research Institute.'''
* [http://www.blackpast.org/?q=contributor/gallaher-rachel Rachel Gallaher]. ''[http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/mcguire-george-alexander-1866-1934 McGuire, George Alexander (1866-1934)]''. '''BlackPast.org'''.
* Rayford W. Logan and Michael R. Winston (Eds.). ''Dictionary of American Negro Biography''. New York: W.W. Norton, 1982.
* Right Rev. Philippe L. De Coster (B.Th., D.D. (Belgium), Latin Old Roman Catholic Church of Flanders). ''[http://www.scribd.com/doc/2199133/African-Orthodox African Orthodox Church: Its General History]''. 1st Ed. Publ. Eucharist and Devotion, 1993-2008. 67 pp.
* Theodore Natsoulas. ''Patriarch McGuire and the Spread of the African Orthodox Church to Africa.'' '''Journal of Religion in Africa''', Vol. 12, Fasc. 2 (1981), pp. 81-104.
* Tony Martin. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=NgIYlUbaoAoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false McGuire, George Alexander].'' '''Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance'''. Volume 2. Cary D. Wintz, Paul Finkelman (Eds.). Taylor & Francis, 2004. pp.776-777.
* Warren C. Platt. ''The African Orthodox Church: An Analysis of Its First Decade.'' '''Church History''', Vol. 58, No. 4 (Dec., 1989), pp.474-488.
[[Category:People|McGuire]]
[[Category:Non-Orthodox]]
[[Category:Church History]]