1 October 2015 A.D. 26 Dec 2007—Pre-GAFCON 2008: Global Anglicans Face Test of Strength
1 October 2015 A.D. 26 Dec
2007—Pre-GAFCON 2008: Global Anglicans Face Test of Strength
A 2007
article in the lead-up to GAFCON 2008 and for context to Lambeth 2018 (?).
Morgan, Tim. “Global Anglicans Face Test of Strength.” Christianity Today. 26 Dec 2007. http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2007/december/global-anglicans-face-test-of-strength.html. Accessed 1 Oct 2015.Global Anglicans Face Test of Strength
Top conservatives plan "Anglican Future" event in Jerusalem six
weeks before Lambeth.
This morning, Dec. 26, conservative Anglicans announced they will gather in
Jerusalem (see press statement below) about 6 weeks before the historic Lambeth
conference in the UK. Lambeth will start in mid-July and end in early August
2008.
Many conservative bishops will boycott Lambeth due to the fallout over The
Episcopal Church's actions supportive of GLBT clergy and couples, TEC's
rejection of global accountability, and its re-interpretation of core
scriptural teachings.
TEC's ambiguous response to the Windsor Report and its refusals to follow
the guidance of Anglican primates meeting in Tanzania in early 2007 to end gay
ordinations, same-sex blessings, and property litigation against conservative
parishes have undermined Anglican unity worldwide.
The 2003 consecration of a homosexual Gene Robinson as bishop of New
Hampshire has been the flashpoint.
In recent weeks, there has been speculation about whether Anglican
conservatives will put together a rival Lambeth-like event.
Many conservative Anglican bishops expect to opt out of the
once-per-decade-event in Canterbury, but had hopes of gathering for a global
consultation.
The concept of a parallel Lambeth Conference was first raised by the Most
Rev. Peter Akinola, Archbishop and Primate of Nigeria, as well as head of the
Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA)....
In mid-December, Virtue noted:
Now the idea has again emerged with a news report out of London, by
Jonathan Petre of the Telegraph, that Conservative Anglican leaders are
secretly planning a meeting next summer for the hundreds of bishops expected to
defy the Archbishop of Canterbury by boycotting the Lambeth Conference.
The unprecedented event will be widely seen as an "alternative
Lambeth", further damaging Dr. Rowan Williams's hopes of averting a formal
schism over homosexuals, wrote Petre.
Aides of the Archbishop said that any such gathering, which is due to be
held just before the official conference, would be perceived as a symbol of
division and would send out a "negative" message.
Indeed, it would.
These events in June, July, and August pose a three-fold test as I see it:
1.
It will test the strength and coherence of an emerging conservative
majority within global Anglicanism.
2.
It will test the resolve of the Anglican left-wing's agenda to steer the
global church toward affirmation of homosexuality as normative human sexual
expression.
3.
It will test the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in its ability to
provide a viable way forward for a deeply divided church.
Here's the edited version of the press release:
GLOBAL ANGLICAN FUTURE CONFERENCE IN HOLY LAND
ANNOUNCED BY ORTHODOX PRIMATES
Orthodox Primates with other leading bishops from across the globe are to
invite fellow Bishops, senior clergy and laity from every province of the
Anglican Communion to a unique eight-day event, to be known as the Global Anglican
Future Conference (GAFCON) 2008.
The event, which was agreed at a meeting of Primates in Nairobi last week,
will be in the form of a pilgrimage back to the roots of the Church's faith.
The Holy Land is the planned venue. From 15-22 June 2008, Anglicans from both
the Evangelical and Anglo-catholic wings of the church will make pilgrimage to
the Holy Land, where Christ was born, ministered, died, rose again, ascended
into heaven, sent his Holy Spirit, and where the gift of the Holy Spirit was
poured out, to strengthen them for what they believe will be difficult days
ahead.
At the meeting were Archbishops Peter Akinola (Nigeria), Henry Orombi
(Uganda), Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda), Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya), Donald Mtetemela
(Tanzania), Peter Jensen (Sydney), Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria); Bishop Don Harvey
(Canada), Bishop Bill Atwood (Kenya) representing Archbishop Greg Venables
(Southern Cone) , Bishop Bob Duncan (Anglican Communion Network), Bishop Martyn
Minns (Convocation of Anglicans in North America), Canon Dr Vinay Samuel (India
and England) and Canon Dr Chris Sugden (England). Bishops Michael Nazir-Ali
(Rochester, England), Bishop Wallace Benn (Lewes, England) were consulted by
telephone. These leaders represent over 30 million of the 55 million active Anglicans
in the world.
Southern Cone Primate Gregory Venables said: "While there are many
calls for shared mission, it clearly must rise from common shared faith. Our
pastoral responsibility to the people that we lead is now to provide the
opportunity to come together around the central and unchanging tenets of the
central and unchanging historic Anglican faith. Rather than being subject to
the continued chaos and compromise that have dramatically impeded Anglican
mission, GAFCON will seek to clarify God's call at this time and build a
network of cooperation for Global mission."
The gathering set in motion a Global Anglican Future Conference: A Gospel
of Power and Transformation. The vision, according to Archbishop Nzimbi is to
inform and inspire invited leaders "to seek transformation in our own
lives and help impact communities and societies through the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ". Bishops and their wives, clergy and laity, including the
next generation of young leaders will attend GAFCON.
Canon Chris Sugden added: "While this conference is not a specific
challenge to the Lambeth Conference, it will provide opportunities for
fellowship and care for those who have decided not to attend Lambeth. There was
no other place to meet at this critical time for the future of the Church than
in the Holy Land."
Frequently asked Questions
1.
Who is sponsoring the Conference?
The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) is being called by those who
took part in the Nairobi Consultation:
Archbishops Peter Akinola (Nigeria), Henry Orombi (Uganda), Emmanuel Kolini
(Rwanda), Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya), Donald Mtetemela (Tanzania), Archbishop
Peter Jensen (Sydney) Archbishop Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria). Bishop Don Harvey
(Canada) and Bishop Bill Atwood (Kenya) who also represented Archbishop Greg
Venables (Southern Cone). Bishop Bob Duncan (Anglican Communion Network and
Common Cause USA.), Bishop Martyn Minns (Convocation of Anglicans in North
America), Canon Dr Vinay Samuel (India and England), Canon Dr Chris Sugden
(England)
Bishop Michael Nazir Ali (Rochester, England) and Bishop Wallace Benn
(Lewes, England) were consulted and also form part of the Leadership Team.
These bishops and their colleagues represent over 30 million Anglicans out
of the 55 million active Anglicans. ( Nigeria 18m , Uganda 8m, Kenya 2.5m,
Rwanda 1 m, Tanzania 1.3 m, plus Southern Cone, US, Sydney, England). The
notional total of the Communion is 77m. The active membership is nearer 55 m,
since of the 26m notional members in CofE 3.7m attend at Christmas Services)
2.
Whom do you expect to come?
We will be inviting bishops and their wives, senior clergy, church
planters, and lay people including the next generation of young leaders. We aim
to make it a Global Anglican Conference with its eye on the future and future
leadership.
3.
Is this a Global South Initiative?
Not quite. Many of the Primates at the Nairobi Consultation are in the
Global South, but it also included Anglican leaders from parts of the world
beyond the geographic Global South.
4.
Why a pilgrimage?
We are looking to the future of the Global Anglican Communion, which is
itself a pilgrimage.
Those who want to hold on to the Biblical and Historical faith need to come
together to renew their faith and develop a fresh vision for our common
mission. The way we have chosen to do this is to undertake a pilgrimage to a
land whose heritage we all share, the land where Jesus Christ was born,
ministered, died, rose again, ascended into heaven and sent his Holy Spirit,
and where the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. We believe this will
strengthen us for the difficult days ahead.
The conference will outline the mission imperatives for the next 25 years
for orthodox Anglicans. It is important therefore to reconnect with our roots
in the biblical story.
5.
Is not Israel/Palestine a controversial venue?
Israel/Palestine has been a place of conflict for decades. That should not
keep us from making pilgrimage to a land that is our common heritage. We want
to bring fellowship and bear testimony to the Christian communities in
Israel/Palestine. Those of us from Africa are no strangers to the pressure that
Christian communities are put under from other religious groups and
communities.
6.
Why call it in June?
The pilgrimage is to strengthen bishops at a crucial time in the life of
the Anglican Communion. Many bishops will not be able to accept the invitation
to the Lambeth Conference as their consciences will not allow it. Some will
attend both gatherings. The purpose of the consultation is to strengthen them
all spiritually.
7.
Is it not really an alternative to the Lambeth Conference?
No. It is not at the same time or in the same region as the Lambeth
Conference. So there will be some who will attend both conferences and thus be
able to consult with the Archbishop of Canterbury and others there.
As Archbishop Gregory Venables has said: "While there are many calls
for shared mission, it clearly must rise from common shared faith. Our pastoral
responsibility to the people we lead is now to provide the opportunity to come
together around the central and unchanging tenets of the central and unchanging
historic Anglican faith. Rather than being subject to the continued chaos and
compromise that have dramatically impeded Anglican mission, GAFCON will seek to
clarify God's call at this time and build a network of cooperation for Global
mission."
GAFCON is a call to vision and action for mission based firmly on the
"faith once delivered to the saints" and revealed in Scripture, to
reform the church and transform persons, communities and societies through the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. African Bishops had this focus at their Lagos
2004 conference. The Episcopal church's agenda has recently overshadowed it. We
now need to develop this gospel agenda for all like-minded in the communion.
It is to outline the mission imperatives for the next 25 years and how to
begin to respond to them.
It is a pilgrimage to the places of the Biblical story to renew our faith
and commitment. It is to envision the Global Anglican Future.
The Lambeth Conference has a different agenda.
8.
Is this all over a gay bishop?
No. GAFCON is about churches being grouped by what they have in common.
We're for growth, we're for being passionate about the truth. We want to look
to the future. That's what the conference is about - Global Anglican Future.
9.
Aren't you splitting the church?
No. Communion depends on having something in common. Churches in the Global
South are growing. They're passionate about the truth and their faith. We are
building on this strength.
As the Anglican Communion develops, some of the old bonds are loosening,
and some new bonds are being formed. That's a good thing. These bonds involve
churches which are growing, and which have something distinctive to say to the
world. GAFCON is enthusiastic about mission. Its focus is the future.
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