Updated Tuesday evening
The Primates Council of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON/FCA) met in Bermuda from 5 to 9 April 2010. They have issued a communiqué (online here and here) which is copied below the fold.
The communiqué refers to the fourth Global South to South Encounter (GSE4) to be held later this month at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore. The programme for GSE4 is here and the list of participants here.
Update See also ENS report, Conservative Primates Council elects new leadership, criticizes Episcopal Church.
Communiqué from the Primates’ Council of GAFCON/FCA
April 10, 2010
Grateful for the gracious guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the leadership of the Most Reverend Peter J. Akinola, the Primates Council of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON/FCA) met in Bermuda from April 5 through 9, 2010.
The Primates Council consists of Primates (Senior Archbishops) of Anglican Provinces who met together in Jerusalem in June 2008 as part of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). Their determination to give witness to the life transforming gospel of Jesus Christ and the trustworthiness of the Bible led to the establishment of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA).
FCA is a movement defined by theology that delivers spiritual and practical outcomes to faithful Anglican Christians around the world. Together the Primates Council represents over thirty four million Anglicans more than half of the active membership of the Anglican Communion
In faithful obedience to the Great Commission the Primates Council devoted much of their meeting ensuring that those provinces presently members of the FCA would be strengthened in their witness to the whole Gospel through engagement in various development projects, the production of critical theological resources and participation in multi-national mission initiatives.
We gave thanks for the visionary and sacrificial leadership of our founding chairman, Archbishop Peter J. Akinola, retired Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). We are also grateful for his courageous stand for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints and his leadership both of the Church of Nigeria and also within the wider Anglican Communion.
We elected the Most Rev’d Gregory Venables, Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone, as the Chairman and the Most Rev’d Emmanuel Kolini, Church of Rwanda, and the Most Rev’d Eliud Wabukala, Anglican Church of Kenya as the Vice-Chairmen. The Most Rev’d Peter Jensen, Diocese of Sydney, Anglican Church of Australia, continues as General Secretary.
We acknowledged that the issues that divide our beloved Communion are far from settled and that the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church (TEC), makes clear to all that the American Episcopal Church leadership has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture.
This action also makes clear that any pretence that there has been a season of gracious restraint in the Communion has come to an end. Now is the time for all orthodox biblical Anglicans, both in the USA and around the world, to demonstrate a clear and unambiguous stand for the historic faith and their refusal to participate in the direction and unbiblical practice and agenda of TEC.
We recognise that the current strategy in the Anglican Communion to strengthen structures by committee and commission has proved ineffective. Indeed we believe that the current structures have lost integrity and relevance. We believe that it is only by a theologically grounded, biblically shaped reformation such as the one called for by the Jerusalem Declaration that God¹s Kingdom will advance. The Anglican Communion will only be able to fulfill its gospel mandate if it understands itself to be a community gathered around a confession of faith rather than an organisation that has its primary focus on institutional loyalty.
We committed ourselves once more to the Mission of Christ working collaboratively both with our friends in the Global South and throughout the Communion and look forward with anticipation to the FOURTH GLOBAL SOUTH TO SOUTH ENCOUNTER to be held later this month at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore.
We are also aware of the challenges that many of our sisters and brothers face in different parts of the world. In particular we are mindful of those who live with the threat of violence because of their Christian faith, such as Nigeria, Iraq and Sudan and those who live in places of deprivation and disaster such as Haiti and Chile. We also observe that there are a growing number of nations, such as Kenya, Uganda and now the United Kingdom where Christian views are marginalized or ignored. We stand with all those in such circumstances and assure them of our continued prayers.
Finally:
The Primates Council expressed its profound appreciation for the gracious hospitality shown it by the people of Bermuda and the faithful witness of Christians in this land for almost four hundred years. We are aware of some of their current concerns and tensions and are praying for God’s guidance and wisdom for the leaders of both the churches and the government.
To God be the glory!
Present in Bermuda were:
The Most Rev’d Peter J. Akinola, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
The Most Rev’d Justice Akrofi, Archbishop, Anglican Province of West Africa
The Most Rev’d Robert Duncan, Archbishop, Anglican Church in North America
The Most Rev’d Emmanuel Kolini, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Rwanda
The Most Rev’d Valentino Mokiwa, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Most Rev’d Gregory Venables, Presiding Bishop, Province of the Southern Cone
The Most Rev’d Eliud Wabukala, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Kenya
The Most Rev’d Nicholas Okoh, Archbishop, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
The Most Rev’d Henry L. Orombi, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Uganda, represented by Bishop Nathan Kyamanywa
The Most Rev’d Peter Jensen, Archbishop, Diocese of Sydney
BRAVO! Spare no expense (not that it´s your money anyway), STOP at nothing to insure that millions of imagined vile LGBT Anlgican/Christians/others Worldwide are further tormented, excluded, demonized and forbidden to serve humanity at ALL levels of Churchlife…these Gafcon ¨men¨ in sheeps clothing are dangerous to fellow human beings both at home and abroad…but, they will fail from stopping our better nature from Loving God and One Another with ALL our hearts!
“We acknowledged that the issues that divide our beloved Communion are far from settled and that the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church (TEC), makes clear to all that the American Episcopal Church leadership has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture.” Once again, what WE say Scripture is is all that counts; other people’s reading and understanding thereof is inherently false and lacking, because WE, after all, have a direct conduit to God. “This action also makes clear that any… Read more »
They seem to have plenty of time and money for jollies in Bermuda and elsewhere. Isn’t that a bit obscene in itself ?
Duncan is a self appointed ‘Most Revd’ is he ?
Christian views are marginalized in the United Kingdom?
Aside from the other comments, this indicates that they are either paranoid or dishonest.
Odd this primate-ness. The Most Revd Dr Peter Jensen is not one.
And still…..The Archbishop of Canterbury remains silent. I can only see this as weak and I will never understand Rowan’s ambivalence on this divisive and un-Christ like behavior of the fundamentalist elements from the Gafcon group. Is t so difficult to make a simple short statement that the Primates’ Council of Gafcon is wrong in spreading such hatred?
“We elected the Most Reverend Gregory Venables, Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone, as the Chairman and the Most Reverend Emmanuel Kolini, Church of Rwanda, and the most Reverend Eliud Wabukala, Anglican Church of Kenya as the Vice-Chairmen. The Most Reverend Peter Jensen, Diocese of Sydney, Anglican Church of Australia, continues as General Secretary,” – Gafcon Communique – One wonders whether these ad hoc ‘Orthodox Anglican’ plotters have any authority from any of the Anglican ‘Instruments of Unity’ to meet at all, never might make their grandiose plans for the furthering of Gafcon’s aims to split the Anglican Communion –… Read more »
Let me ask if I understand correctly: the definition of “orthodox biblical Anglicans” is “no gay cooties.” Um…?
I wish I had their travel budget. “the faith once and for all (sic) delivered to the saints” I see they’re revising the Bible now. “Now is the time for all orthodox biblical Anglicans, both in the USA and around the world, to demonstrate a clear and unambiguous stand for the historic faith and their refusal to participate in the direction and unbiblical practice and agenda of TEC.” Read: We call for an end to polygamy in the Anglican Communion. We call for an end to the unbiblical practice of interracial marriage in the Anglican Communion. We call for an… Read more »
Their sojourn in Bermuda was bankrolled by a wealthy right-wing American who had one been head of Standard Oil. I don’t know if he is actually an Episcopalian, but I think not. Just a meddler with money to wine and dine these “Primates” at a wealthy “club” where they were able to luxuriate with only the best of food, winne, and accomodations while pondering their sacrificial activities. Rich right-wing Americans are prime movers in this and these “Primates” feel no shame in taking the money and the perks as they fly around the world enjoying the finer things. I wonder… Read more »
They keep on saying that having a partnered lesbian as bishop is contrary to Scripture. Where does Scripture say that? Am I missing something? There are no Scriptures about lesbians at all. The one passage in Romans is about women who perform non-procreative sex acts with men. There is nothing in Scripture which deals with people who are born gay. Again, the passage in Romans refers to men who were having sex with women (presumably out of wedlock), started worshiping idols, and then started having sex with whatever was handy, including each other. The words commonly translated as homosexual could… Read more »
Andrew, one should not discount the possibility that it it paranoia AND dishonesty.
Robert Duncan is legitimately a consecrated bishop. And he is now the elected archbishop/primate of a legitimate church in the USA. A church which lays claim to be a continuing Anglican church, although not a constituent member of the Anglican Communion. The customary style of office for a primatial archbishop in Anglican tradition is the Most Revd, hence his current honorific. In the case of Peter Jensen, he is the archbishop of the archdiocese of Sydney, as well as the metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of New South Wales, in the Anglican Church of Australia, hence his legitimate honorific is… Read more »
“Robert Duncan is legitimately a consecrated bishop. And he is now the elected archbishop/primate of a legitimate church in the USA. A church which lays claim to be a continuing Anglican church, although not a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.” Of course, it all depends on what you mean by the word ‘legitimate’. Is his title ‘Archbishop’ recognized within the Anglican Communion? And is Robbie Duncan really an authentic leader of an authentic Church body within the United States of America? Or is he leader of a ‘foreign body’ which has arrogated to itself the title ‘Church’? As for… Read more »
However, Jensen is not a Primate nor the Primate of Australia. The presence of Duncan speaks volumes, since his “Church” is nor part of the Anglican Communion and he is in schism. Validly consecrated or not, he has been deposed by the Church that consecrated him. The fact that he would be invited while many others were not, simply means that this is a club that has nothing to do with the work or position of Primate but much to do with being destructive. They should be thankful for gays, for without them they would have no reason to have… Read more »
Honorifics actually mean something when they are properly conferred. Duncan has chosen to use the title of Archbishop and Most Reverend on his own or has co-opted them. It’s not as if anyone will deny it to him, give that they all have invented titles in an invented church. Titles and lots of dress-up seem to be of major importance. At least the clergy haberdashers are benefitting from this exercise in preening vanity. It’s interesting that these titles and positions don’t exist in the Episcopal Church, so there is much to be gained in terms of personal status when you… Read more »
I had thought the term “archdiocese” was confined to the Roman Catholic Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury.
“I wish GAFCON would produce a Bible study which explains how having a baptized, believing Christian lesbian in a lifelong, monogamous, publicly accountable relationship as a bishop is against Scripture.”
Don’t hold your breath, Ashpenaz.
I’ll say it again (since my first comment seems to have gone missing): These GAFCONeheads in purple “have their reward.”
Duncan is not an archbishop and adopting this style is pure hubris. Although ordained a bishop, he has left the church of his ordination and is in effect an episcopus vagantes.
I’m not one bit oppressed. Who is ?
Let him set up a gospel hall somewhere and serve a district — now That I could respect….
oh dear not ‘oppressed’ (Freudian slip?) should have read not ‘impressed’.
I think that some of you are letting your individual prejudices cloud your thinking. The Anglican Church of North America is a legally organized church under the laws of the USA and Canada. Meeting in synod the members of ACNA elected Robert Duncan as the primate of their church and conferred upon that position the title of primate and archbishop. It is a moot point whether we accept the church that he leads as Anglican. The titles are legitimate and the honorific traditional. Looking further into the situation of Peter Jensen. He is the secretary of the group because he… Read more »
“This action (the ordination of a same-sex Bishop in TEC) also makes clear that any pretence that there has been a season of gracious restraint in the Communion has come to an end.” – GAFCON communique – This is just another bit of hubris from the likes of those African & South Conal prelates who have made illicit incursions into the territories of the legitimate Provinces of TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada – defying one of the so-called moratoria, but erecting the new ‘terra incognita’ of CANA & ACNA. On this peculiar ecclesial logic alone, they’re going to… Read more »
“the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church (TEC)”…”also makes clear that any pretence that there has been a season of gracious restraint in the Communion has come to an end.” The “season of gracious restraint” on the part of the GAFCON Churches never began, so how could it come to an end? Most of the bishops signing this letter preside in countries where the basic human and civil rights of LGBT persons are not respected. In fact, LGBT persons in most of these provinces live in fear… Read more »
If we have been living in a “season of restraint”, one wonders how they will behave when “unrestrained”? They have taken every action possible and there can’t me much left to do. Perhaps they will move on to the UK, having done their thing in North America.
“The Anglican Church of North America is a legally organized church under the laws of the USA and Canada.”
And so is every cinder-block “Church of Whatever” in the boonies.
The question is, are they Anglican? Let alone Christian.
“The Anglican Church of North America is a legally organized church under the laws of the USA and Canada.”
So what? So is Scientology.
Adam Armstrong, their actions have been “restrained” only because they say so. Just as they are “orthodox” only because they say so. These folks are so connected to the Will of God that whatever they say can only be the Truth. It is the new Protestant dogma of Infallibility.
Shame on you for not knowing that.
“They are a self-selected and self-appointed group of the like-minded who have given their group a name and themselves positions in it, but it is their own creation to suit their own agenda. It has no legitimacy outside their egos.”
“Perhaps they will move on to the UK, having done their thing in North America.”
I expect they will make some such move, but stealing the property of the established C of E is probably not as easy as their attempted thefts here, so they will have to adopt other strategies. A lot of their funding is American, and that funding may not be so forthcoming for an invasion of England.
As far as I’m concerned, the Anglican Communion was kaput when one group of bishops refused to share Table fellowship with another group of bishops at Dar es Salaam. The Communion ended with that act.
Nothing ends a Communion of churches like refusing to share Communion.
“The Anglican Church of North America is a legally organized church under the laws of the USA and Canada. Meeting in synod the members of ACNA elected Robert Duncan as the primate of their church and conferred upon that position the title of primate and archbishop. It is a moot point whether we accept the church that he leads as Anglican. The titles are legitimate and the honorific traditional.” However, being ‘legal’ does not automatically carry the cachet of ‘authentic’ – which is really the point at issue here. The Head of ACNA has been kicked out of TEC –… Read more »
“Nothing ends a Communion of churches like refusing to share Communion.” – Counterlight, on Tuesday – Except, of course, that those who are not part and parcel of the Re-Asserters. Loyal Bishops, who actually attended the last Lambeth Conference (and are not part of the upcoming GAFCON/FOCA Singapore Conference) are part of the on-going, authentic and still existing Anglican Communion, which was raised up to subscribe to the ethic of ‘Scripture, teradition and REASON’. Also, don’t forget, the Instrument of Unity which most clearly represents the whole of the Anglican Communion – is known as the A.C.C. – composed of… Read more »
Well said, Counterlight! Godspeed to the new, pure, evangelicalized, bible-believing, fundamentalist, Anglican Church. They have my blessing and my well-wishes. Just as the white supremacist groups in America have dwindled into obscurity, the GAFCONites will enjoy their season in the sun and then fade into oblivion over the years. It is impossible to maintain any entity in hatred, fear, and condemnation although there will always be a remnant of the weak-minded who will be drawn to their absolutes. Much like the dissolution of the RCC — it took 2000 years but they finally stepped over the boundary of acceptable arrogance… Read more »
What still amazes me, is that the Global South Primates don’t realize what’s happening to them. They’re jumping on this bandwagon – started by a bunch of rich white men in the U. S. – thinking that they’re getting a blow in at the West that has oppressed them for so long. In fact, they’ve joined with a steadily shrinking minority who represent *exactly* the mindset that has done the oppressing while it was still in the majority, and alienated those who would give them the care, compassion and aid they need. They have, in a real sense, chosen to… Read more »
“We acknowledged that the issues that divide our beloved Communion are far from settled and that the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church (TEC), makes clear to all that the American Episcopal Church leadership has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture.” Once again, what WE say Scripture is is all that counts; other people’s reading and understanding thereof is inherently false and lacking, because WE, after all, have a direct conduit to God. “This action also makes clear that any… Read more »