GAFCON statement on the 2016 primates Gathering
currently available only here
Now also available here.
The Anglican Communion is our spiritual home and the GAFCON Primates traveled to England in the hope that godly faith and order could be restored through renewed obedience to the Bible.
We are pleased that Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America has played a full part in the Canterbury meeting of Primates and that sanctions have been applied to the Episcopal Church of the United States, (TEC) recognising the need for mutual accountability on matters of doctrine within the family of the Communion.
However, this action must not be seen as an end, but as a beginning. There is much that causes us concern, especially the failure to recognise the fact that the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) has also rejected the collegial mind of the Communion by unilaterally permitting the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of those in active homosexual relationships. We fear that other provinces will do the same.
Since the beginning of the crisis in the Communion brought about by the actions of both TEC and the ACoC, the Anglican instruments of unity have been unable to guard biblical truth and restore godly order. There must therefore be doubt about the effectiveness of the sanctions that have been agreed.
In particular, it must be recognised that the continuing brokenness of the Communion is not the result simply of failed relationships, but is caused by the persistent rejection of biblical and apostolic faith as set out in Lambeth Resolution 1.10. We are therefore disappointed that the Primates’ statement makes no reference to the need for repentance.
The need for the GAFCON movement is being recognised by an ever increasing number of people and we are encouraged in our conviction that God has called us to work for an Anglican Communion which is a truly global family of Churches. We long to see a united, confident and courageous witness to God who by the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ has given us an unshakeable hope and assures us of his unfailing love.
So, it’s Archbishop Foley Beach who is to be the new de facto Archbishop of the new Anglican Communion that the Archbishop of Uganda told us has now come about – It must be Beach as he’s the only one mentioned by name in this latest GAFCON statement.
Couldn’t even leave it a day before gloating and demanding further sanctions.
And surprise there came none.
Someone on Episcopal Cafe (the TEC liberal blog) posted this report on the financial position of the ACC. http://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/195830/acc2014.pdf England and the US are the only ones who pay 6 figures into it. It’s very interesting to see who pays nothing, the GAFCON provinces. Apparently all this posturing is on our dime (UK’s 5p looks like one of our dimes and is almost worth as much, in a bad year). From two countries that have legal gay marriage and outlaws hate crimes. I’m reserving judgment on what I’ll advocate for, financially. I generally think it’s better to stay engaged. I… Read more »
Didn’t Lambeth 1 10 also say something about the wrongness of criminalising homosexuality. It is deeply sad that this doesn’t seem to have been addressed by the Primates as far as I can see.
Sickening to read pseudo-pious language as the GAFCON monster demands more blood. These purveyors of evil must be stopped, with or without ++Justin’s help.
We Episcopalians should not give one more dime to the Anglican Communion! We should fund all projects as the Episcopal Church, and if they don’t want our “tainted” money because of gays and women, there are plenty of other good causes in the world on which to spend it!
Kurt Hill
Brooklyn, NY
Well the CofE is marginalised, Christ’s church is broken by the haters and LGBTI brothers and sisters placed in even greater danger of physical harm. The evil ungodly empire of GAFCON have spoken and Justin Welby acquiesced. The sad thing is that nobody is surprised.
How ironic..this nasty vituperative communique was written by Doctor Jensen, and again it talks of Biblical and apostolic faith.
Yet there is no one more removed from Apostolic and biblical Christianity as Doctor Jensen , on the eucharist and the the very meaning of being born again.
Yet even in his mind many of the GAFCON primates are unsound as they ordain women as presbyters and some want women bishops. That is the future fissure in GAFCON.
While we’re at it, it would be good not to recognize priests from the Church of England wanting to working in the Episcopal Church. They should be retrained to get the homophobia out of them.
Gary Paul Gilbert
Archbishops of Canterbury have sat on the fence for so long that it has broken.
This statement is pure fertilizer. And it won’t be long before the Primates vote England off the Island.
From TEC’s GC budget:
“Anglican Communion Office:
We restored funds for the ACO to the $1,200,000 level of two triennia ago. This is an increase of
$500,000.”
Full budget 2016-18 here: https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/13858.pdf
There’s some 8 mil on “Anglican, Ecumenical and Interfaith” – imagine what we could do if it were just “Ecumenical and Interfaith.”
I feel the C of E need to take a step back and consider who they are serving, God or one another for their own gratification. Are the primates truly listening to the Lord God who reins ion high who died and rose again for all,. That said truly today you will be in paradise, The God I know and Love is non-judgmental, has an all consuming love for all his children, this includes those who love one another even if they are of the same sex . Do we really want to behave like Pharisees, please Lord do not… Read more »
Robert Ian Williams. – your pope would be v comfortable breaking bread with Jensen. Deal with your own RC rather than sniping at Anglicans. I guess you’re happy liberals have been defeated? Or do you want liberals to succeed because you think inclusive success will destroy Anglicanism to the advantage of your RC club? You sound v different to your pope.
Many Anglicans have worked with the episcopal churches in Africa as well as the Episcopal Church of the United States, have friends and colleagues in each and have attempted to moderate each side to the other. GAFCON’s graceless statement and reaction does nothing to attempt a reconciliation. Sadly it underlines the certainty of an unquestioned fundamentalism, dependant upon a specific exegesis of scripture. Such certainties have led to religious wars between Hindus (BJP) and other religious groups, Buddhist extremism in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cambodia and, of course, current manifestation of Islamic extremism throughout the world. The pseudo piety of… Read more »
Yes, by all means please cut off funding of the ACO and ACC. Don’t simply mouth the words. Have the courage of your convictions and write to your bishops and demand they not send another cent to these organisations.
I agree that TEC should redirect the money going into the Anglican bureaucracy to actual charity.
We should not do it, though, as a tit-for-tat response to being made to sit in the corner, but because the Anglican Communion is now undeniably an instrument of oppression.
I was disappointed with S Cooper’s comment, I thought I was being helpful.
For the record no Catholic could agree with Jensen:
1) He discounts baptism as regenerative and believes salvation depends on a personal subjective prayer invitation to be ” saved”.
2) He abominates the Mass
3) He abhors and discounts the Apostolic succession and believes in lay celebration and is totally anti-sacerdotal in his understanding of the ordained ministry.
As for a “liberal” Pope..you’ve fallen for the flawed newspaper reporting.
Robert Williams – I can see in your comments just one thing and that is your View that the RC is superior; it is obvious you’re anti Jensen because he is ‘reformed’ but also do not support inclusive Anglicans’ aims. I much prefer the impression we get of your pope but suspect you prefer his predecessor. Regardless, I don’t think you’re any friend of inclusive Anglicans.