A Global Seat of Apostolic Faith
The Archdiocese of the River Valley stands as the spiritual, administrative, and international headquarters of the African Episcopal Church (AEC) — a global communion of faithful believers rooted in the Apostolic Faith, Anglican Order, and African Heritage.
From its seat in the River Valley region, the Archdiocese serves as a center of unity, worship, and governance, guiding dioceses, missionary jurisdictions, and partner ministries throughout Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.
It is here that the Presiding Archbishop and Primate exercises pastoral oversight, doctrinal guardianship, and vision-casting for the Church’s global mission — ensuring that every expression of ministry reflects the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sacred tradition handed down through the Apostles.
Our Identity: Apostolic in Faith, African in Spirit
The Archdiocese embodies a distinctively Afro-Episcopal identity, honoring both the theological depth of the Anglican heritage and the cultural richness of the African and Afro-diasporic experience.
This sacred synthesis of Apostolic succession and African spirituality defines who we are — a Church that prays with ancient liturgies while singing with the rhythm and soul of Africa.
We believe that the African experience is not peripheral to the Christian story but central to God’s ongoing revelation of faith, hope, and redemption in the world.
Our mission is to:
Reclaim and affirm the African voice within the universal Church.
Celebrate the unity of faith across cultures and nations.
Embody a living catholicity — inclusive, historical, and Spirit-led.
Advance justice, peace, and human dignity through faithful witness and service.
Our Mission and Global Mandate
The Archdiocese of the River Valley carries the global responsibility of guiding, coordinating, and sustaining the life of the African Episcopal Church across the world.
Through its leadership, the Archdiocese:
Provides spiritual and canonical oversight to dioceses and provinces.
Strengthens clergy formation and theological education through institutions like Metropolitan Christian University (MCU), MidWestern School of Divinity (MSD), and the National Bible College Association (NBCA).
Develops liturgical standards and promotes fidelity to the historic Episcopal tradition.
Facilitates mission partnerships and humanitarian outreach across the global African diaspora.
Serves as a center of communication, unity, and governance for bishops, clergy, and laity alike.
Wherever the African Episcopal Church serves — in rural villages, city cathedrals, or digital communities — the spirit and direction of the Archdiocese are present.
Theological Foundations
The life and ministry of the Archdiocese are grounded in the Creeds of the Ancient Church, the Holy Scriptures, and the historic episcopate.
We affirm:
The Nicene, Apostles’, and Athanasian Creeds.
The authority of Holy Scripture as the Word of God.
The two great Sacraments of the Gospel — Holy Baptism and Holy Communion — as means of grace.
The sacred ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons as instituted by Christ and transmitted through apostolic succession.
These foundations anchor the Archdiocese’s worship, governance, and teaching, ensuring that its global ministry remains faithful to the ancient and universal Church.
Worship and Liturgy
The Archdiocese celebrates the Holy Eucharist as the central act of Christian worship – the place where heaven and earth meet, and the people of God are renewed in the life of Christ.
Worship within the African Episcopal Church is both traditional and transcendent — grounded in the historic Book of Common Prayer yet enriched with African expression, song, dance, and language.
It reflects the conviction that divine beauty and cultural authenticity can coexist in sacred harmony.
The Archdiocese serves as the liturgical center of the Communion, safeguarding the rites, ceremonies, and ecclesiastical customs that define Afro-Episcopal identity.
Our Global Vision
The Archdiocese of the River Valley envisions a Church that is:
Global in reach, yet local in compassion.
Faithful to Scripture, yet engaged with the world.
Rooted in tradition, yet relevant to the present age.
As the world changes, our calling remains the same — to preach Christ crucified, risen, and reigning — and to build a Church that reflects the love of God in every nation and culture.
“From Many Nations, One Faith - Serving the World in Christ"
Theological Foundations
The life and ministry of the Archdiocese are grounded in the Creeds of the Ancient Church, the Holy Scriptures, and the historic episcopate.
We affirm:
The Nicene, Apostles’, and Athanasian Creeds.
The authority of Holy Scripture as the Word of God.
The two great Sacraments of the Gospel — Holy Baptism and Holy Communion — as means of grace.
The sacred ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons as instituted by Christ and transmitted through apostolic succession.
These foundations anchor the Archdiocese’s worship, governance, and teaching, ensuring that its global ministry remains faithful to the ancient and universal Church.
The Presiding Archbishop and Primate
At the heart of the Archdiocese stands the Most Rev. D. E. Chase, Ph.D., OSP, Presiding Archbishop and Primate of the African Episcopal Church.
As Chief Pastor and Guardian of Doctrine, Archbishop Chase leads with theological depth, global vision, and pastoral compassion. His leadership emphasizes:
Spiritual formation as the foundation of ministry.
Apostolic continuity as the assurance of authenticity.
Cultural dignity as a reflection of divine image.
Evangelical engagement as the heart of global mission.
Under his guidance, the Archdiocese continues to grow as a unifying presence for clergy and faithful across continents — fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of Christ’s love and apostolic truth.
