The Future Has Arrived — Gafcon Communique
A most significant announcement from Gafcon …
“As has been the case from the very beginning, we have not left the Anglican Communion; we are the Anglican Communion.”
Full Communique follows:
“To our dear Anglican brothers and sisters in Christ.
Grace and peace to you in the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, on the Commemoration of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley.
The first Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) gathered in 2008 in Jerusalem to prayerfully respond to the abandonment of the Scriptures by some of the most senior leaders of the Anglican Communion, and to seek their repentance.
In the absence of such repentance, we have been prayerfully advancing towards a future for faithful Anglicans, where the Bible is restored to the heart of the Communion.
Today, that future has arrived.
Our Gafcon Primates gathered this hour to fulfil our mandate to reform the Anglican Communion, as expressed in the Jerusalem Statement of 2008.
We resolved to reorder the Anglican Communion as follows:
1. We declare that the Anglican Communion will be reordered, with only one foundation of communion, namely the Holy Bible, “translated, read, preached, taught and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church’s historic and consensual reading” (Jerusalem Declaration, Article II), which reflects Article VI of the 39 Articles of Religion.
2. We reject the so-called Instruments of Communion, namely the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and the Primates Meeting, which have failed to uphold the doctrine and discipline of the Anglican Communion.
3. We cannot continue to have communion with those who advocate the revisionist agenda, which has abandoned the inerrant word of God as the final authority and overturned Resolution I.10, of the 1998 Lambeth Conference.
4. Therefore, Gafcon has re-ordered the Anglican Communion by restoring its original structure as a fellowship of autonomous provinces bound together by the Formularies of the Reformation, as reflected at the first Lambeth Conference in 1867, and we are now the Global Anglican Communion.
5. Provinces of the Global Anglican Communion shall not participate in meetings called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, including the ACC, and shall not make any monetary contribution to the ACC, nor receive any monetary contribution from the ACC or its networks.
6. Provinces, which have yet to do so, are encouraged to amend their constitution to remove any reference to being in communion with the See of Canterbury and the Church of England.
7. To be a member of the Global Anglican Communion, a province or a diocese must assent to the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008, the contemporary standard for Anglican identity.
8. We shall form a Council of Primates of all member provinces to elect a Chairman, as primus inter pares (‘first amongst equals’), to preside over the Council as it continues “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
As I declared in my statement two weeks ago,“the reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of Gafcon, and we are ready to take the lead.”
Today, Gafcon is leading the Global Anglican Communion.
As has been the case from the very beginning, we have not left the Anglican Communion; we are the Anglican Communion.
At our upcoming G26 Bishops Conference in Abuja, Nigeria from 3 to 6 March 2026, we will confer and celebrate the Global Anglican Communion.
Please pray that we will lead our Communion in prayerful submission to the Holy Spirit as we hear the voice of Jesus in his wondrous Scriptures, to the glory of God.
Yours in Christ,
The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates’ Council
Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Rwanda
Thursday 16th October, 2025.”
– via Gafcon.
Growth in AMiE
Prayer update from Gafcon:
“Today we give thanks to God for the ongoing growth of the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE), a Gafcon-established diocese committed to guarding and growing the gospel in England.
New church plants have begun in Hackbridge (South London), Denton (Manchester) and Bracknell (near Reading). Pray for the leaders and members stepping out in faith to proclaim Christ.
We praise God that some AMiE churches are now holding two services on Sundays, a sign of gospel growth and gathering. Pray for the Lord to raise up more leaders and resources for this new season.
We also rejoice that Bishop Tim Davies will be installed as diocesan bishop at a service of celebration and consecration on 22 November at Christ Church Central, Sheffield, 2 pm.”
– Source.
Canterbury Appointment Abandons Anglicans — Gafcon responds to the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury
From Gafcon:
To my dear brothers and sisters in our Gafcon family,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The news has finally arrived after months of prayer and long waiting. But it is with sorrow that Gafcon receives the announcement today of the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. This appointment abandons global Anglicans, as the Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.
For over a century and a half, the Archbishop of Canterbury functioned not only as the Primate of All England but also as a spiritual and moral leader of the Anglican Communion. In more recent times, the See of Canterbury has been described as one of the four “Instruments of Communion,” whilst also chairing the other three Instruments, namely the Lambeth Conference, the Primates Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council.
However, due to the failure of successive Archbishops of Canterbury to guard the faith, the office can no longer function as a credible leader of Anglicans, let alone a focus of unity. As we made clear in our Kigali Commitment of 2023, we can “no longer recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury as an Instrument of Communion” or the “first among equals” of global Primates.
We had hoped that the Church of England would take this into due consideration as it deliberated over the choice of a new Archbishop of Canterbury and would choose someone who could bring unity to a divided Anglican Communion. Sadly, they have not done so.
Though there are some who will welcome the decision to appoint Bishop Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy. Therefore, her appointment will make it impossible for the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve as a focus of unity within the Communion.
However, more concerning is her failure to uphold her consecration vows. When she was consecrated in 2015, she took an oath to “banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to God’s Word.” And yet, far from banishing such doctrine, Bishop Mullally has repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.
In 2023, when asked by a reporter whether sexual intimacy in a same-sex relationship is sinful, she said that some such relationships could, in fact, be blessed. She also voted in favour of introducing blessings of same-sex marriage into the Church of England.
Anglicans believe that the church has been given authority by God to establish rites and ceremonies and to settle doctrine controversy, “and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God’s Word” (Article XX). The church cannot bless or affirm what God has condemned (Numbers 23:8; 24:13). This, however, is precisely what Bishop Mullally has sought to allow.
Since the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to guard the faith and is complicit in introducing practices and beliefs that violate both the “plain and canonical sense” of Scripture and “the Church’s historic and consensual” interpretation of it (Jerusalem Statement), she cannot provide leadership to the Anglican Communion. The leadership of the Anglican Communion will pass to those who uphold the truth of the gospel and the authority of Scripture in all areas of life.
Gafcon gathered in Jerusalem in 2008 to reset the Anglican Communion back onto its biblical foundations. Today’s appointment makes it clearer than ever before that Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead. The reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of Gafcon, and we are ready to take the lead.
For such a time as this, Gafcon has summoned global orthodox Anglican bishops to Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 6 March, 2026, for the G26 Bishops Assembly. This may be the most significant gathering of faithful Anglicans since 2008.
Today’s announcement will cause sadness and dismay among Anglicans worldwide. Yet, every morning, Anglicans throughout the world recite the words of Psalm 95: “Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
Today, that is our prayer for all bishops and leaders within the Anglican Communion, including Bishop Sarah Mullally. We pray that as she takes upon herself the weight of this historic office, she will repent, and earnestly work with the Gafcon leadership to mend the torn fabric of our Anglican Communion.
May all our hearts be softened to hear the voice of God in Scripture, and may we all be inclined to obey, as we move out in gospel mission to a lost and hurting world, for the glory of God.
Yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Friday 3rd October, 2025.
via e-mail.
Lawyers Task Force Leader Honoured
From Gafcon:
“We give thanks to God for the ministry of Dr Robert Tong AM, who continues to serve as the Leader of our Gafcon Lawyers Task Force.
Dr Tong was honoured this week at the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia, as he retires from his formal ministry in their Synod after 55 years of service.
Join us in thanking God for his strategic mind, theological wisdom, extensive knowledge of church law, and the personal example of faith and integrity he has provided throughout his years of service.
We continue to pray for the important ministry of The Gafcon Lawyers Network, as they provide legal and canonical counsel and resources to the Primates, bishops, clergy and other leaders of Gafcon as we seek to live out the Jerusalem Declaration and its implications for our life and ministry together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of the Holy Scriptures.”
– From Gafcon.
ACL members continue to be thankful for Robert’s long term commitment to advancing the reformed and evangelical character of the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly in the Diocese of Sydney, through Anglican Church League, including his continued service as Chairman.
Gafcon thanksgiving point: Charlie Kirk Memorial Service
The latest Prayer update from Gafcon:
“We give thanks to God for the clear proclamation of salvation and forgiveness in Jesus Christ at the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service held this week in Arizona, USA and broadcast globally. The gospel was preached with boldness, and many were stirred to think deeply, ask questions, and respond to the good news. …”
Related:
The Two Narratives at Charlie Kirk’s Memorial Service – Murray Campbell, via The Gospel Coalition Australia.
“Two narratives were present in the memorial service, and it is the second one that I hope shines the brightest and the longest. Charlie Kirk’s pastor Rob McCoy gave a clear presentation of the good news of Jesus …
Erika Kirk then addressed the crowds and uttered the impossible word …”
Vance’s eulogy to Kirk: Better to die young than to sell your soul – Kathy Gyngell at The Conservative Woman.
“What touched me most about the memorial to Charlie Kirk held in Arizona on Sunday – understood to be largest in known history – was the way speakers spoke so openly, eloquently and unaffectedly about their deep Christian faith.
This is something British people of faith find difficult, preferring to keep their faith, and maybe their doubt, private. Or perhaps they are simply not sufficiently versed in it. …”
Gafcon Solemn Summons to Global Bishops
“Dear Brothers and Sisters of Gafcon,
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus, our rock and our redeemer!
The next six months are crucial for our global Anglican church.
This is why the Gafcon Primates have summoned the world’s orthodox Anglican bishops to gather in Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 6 March, 2026.
This may be the most important assembly of authentic Anglicans since Gafcon reset the Communion at Jerusalem in 2008. …”
– Read the full message from Archbishop Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council.
Rwanda Centenary Celebration
“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We give thanks to God with the people of Rwanda as they mark a momentous milestone: the centenary of gospel proclamation in the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
For one hundred years, the good news of Jesus Christ has been faithfully preached in Rwanda, taking deep root in its communities, transforming countless lives, and shaping the spiritual foundation of an entire nation.
An event to mark this centenary was held last week in Gahini, Rwanda, as we gathered with over 10,000 people on the same hill where the East African Revival began. …”
– Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison writes at the Gafcon website.
Gafcon Theological Educators Network meeting
Prayer update from Gafcon (published on Thursday):
“We give thanks for today’s gathering of international theological leaders at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, under the leadership of The Revd Canon Dr Bill Salier, coordinator of the Gafcon Theological Educators Network.
The event gathered theological leaders from across the globe, including The Rt Revd Canon Dr Ashley Null (Bishop of North Africa, Wittenberg Center for Reformation Studies), Dr Jake Griesel (George Whitefield College, South Africa), The Revd Canon Dr Mark Thompson and The Revd Dr Mark Earngey (Moore Theological College), The Revd David Clancey (Bishopdale Theological College, New Zealand) and The Revd Peter Blair (London School of Theology), as well as other key members of the Anglican academic world.
Pray that the Lord will bring great fruit from the discussion about the importance of Reformation studies for the good of the Gafcon movement, as together we seek to guard God’s gospel by growing orthodox leaders through the strengthening of seminaries across the world.”
– Source: Gafcon. And a reminder to pray for and support clear, faithful theological education throughout the Anglican Communion.
Donison Down Under Tour — November 2025
A prayer point from Gafcon –
“We pray for the upcoming November visit to Australia and New Zealand by our General Secretary, The Rt Revd Paul Donison, as he presents the ‘Gafcon Global Vision’ events, and visits key leaders in the two countries.
Bishop Paul will be speaking at free evening events this November in Melbourne (Tuesday 18th), Hobart (Wednesday 19th), Perth (Thursday 20th), Adelaide (Friday 21st), Sydney (Wednesday 26th), Brisbane (Friday 28th), and Christchurch (Saturday 29th).
Pray that this two-week visit will energise and inspire Aussies and Kiwis as they hear important updates about our movement, and that it will help grow their Gafcon Global Vision as they hear of the many opportunities to partner with brothers and sisters around the world in generous fellowship.”
– Prayer point and photo: Gafcon. Might be good to pop in your calendar.
More prayer points and stories from Gafcon here.
“Archbishop of Wales Election Shatters the Communion”
“Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Gafcon family,
Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the earth.
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you of grievous events in our beloved Anglican Communion.
The decision by the Church in Wales to elect the Rt Revd Cherry Vann as Archbishop and Primate is another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy. …”
– Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, Archbishop Dr. Laurent Mbanda, shares a pastoral letter.
Earlier:
New Archbishop of Wales elected.
Gafcon Sunday 2025 Preparations
From Gafcon:
“Pray that the celebration of Gafcon Sunday on June 29th 2025 will a joyful day of thanksgiving for the movement and ministry of Gafcon, as we long to see the Bible at the heart of the Anglican Communion.
Pray that the two-minute video will be played in churches around the world so that the Gafcon family will be encouraged to grow in their participation in our shared mission, and that this will help strengthen the understanding of the four key purposes of Gafcon.
Pray also that churches and individuals will be stirred up to give generously to Gafcon, to provide for our urgent need of funds as we continue and develop our ministry of guarding God’s gospel, to his great glory.”
Here’s the two-minute video.
And this page might be helpful in explaining what Gafcon is about.
Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
From Gafcon:
“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ within our Gafcon family,
I bring you greetings in the mighty name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
We are grieved by the escalating violence between Israel and Iran.
With heavy hearts, we watch as this conflict brings death, destruction, and unspeakable suffering to the innocent.
Each of those killed or wounded—Israeli, Iranian, or others caught in this conflict—are made in the image of God. Reports of civilian casualties, including children, drive us to our knees in lament and prayer.
I ask you to join me in prayer.
Pray for this conflict to cease. Pray for the protection of the innocent. Pray for the wounded and for the bereaved. And pray that the Lord will raise up peacemakers in our time.
For, our Lord Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We must all be voices for peace in a world that too often chooses the way of violence.
As we pray for Israel and Iran, let us also remember the long-suffering people of Sudan, Eastern Congo, Ukraine, and all others who are suffering in this moment.
Even now, we do not lose hope.
For, Jesus Christ was born into a world torn by conflict. Through the cross, he reconciled not only humanity to God but enemies to one another: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
In this season of Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit rekindle in us the ministry of reconciliation and prayer—for the sake of a world in need.
The Most Reverend Dr. Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda
Bishop of Gasabo
Monday, 16th June 2025.”
– via e- mail.
Save the date for Gafcon Sunday 2025 — 29th June
From Archbishop Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council:
“Dear Gafcon family,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Will you celebrate with us Gafcon Sunday on the 29th June?
On this day in 2008 we gathered at our first Gafcon conference to unveil the historic Jerusalem Statement, which continues to express the truth and unity that binds together our movement in love.
At our G25 mini-conference in Plano, Texas in March, we played this short video that captured this historic moment:
We invite every Gafcon church to devote time during worship services on Sunday 29th June to read or display a short item about Gafcon, and to lead prayers for our movement.
We also humbly request that each church collect a special thanksgiving offertory for Gafcon, so that through your precious partnership in the gospel, you might equip us to guard God’s gospel.
In the coming weeks our Gafcon Secretariat will make available some digital resources which you may choose to distribute or display at church, or share via email and social networks.
As we gathered in the land of our Lord Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection, we experienced a moment that continues to lead us to pray to see the Bible at the heart of the Anglican Communion.
Please join with orthodox Anglicans everywhere, as we gather to celebrate Gafcon Sunday on 29th June, in just under eight weeks’ time.
The Most Rev’d Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Monday, 12th May 2025.”
In Memoriam: Pope Francis — Message from the Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
“On behalf of the Gafcon movement and the Anglican Church of Rwanda, I extend my heartfelt condolences to those closest to Pope Francis, and to the many Roman Catholics within our regions whom we know and hold in deep respect.
His life of quiet humility and steadfast service to the poor and marginalised leaves a lasting witness in our world.
We join with others around the world in giving thanks for his life and praying for comfort for all who mourn his passing.
The Most Rev’d Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Thursday 24th April 2025.”
– from GAFCON, via e-mail.
The Living Hope of Easter
An Easter message from the Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council:
“This Easter, we celebrate the cornerstone of our faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not merely a story of the past, but a powerful declaration of life, salvation, and hope for today and the days to come.
When we think of Easter, we think of resurrection—a promise fulfilled, a Saviour risen, and a future secured. As 1 Peter 1:3 declares, through Christ’s resurrection, we are given a living hope.
This hope is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation rooted in God’s unchanging promises.
Hope, for the believer, is more than optimism. It is a deep trust that no matter how long the night, dawn will surely break. It is looking toward the Son—Jesus—with hearts full of anticipation, knowing he will act, redeem, and restore.
This hope connects to three powerful truths.
Firstly, hope relates to salvation. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Without Easter, life is without meaning or direction. But because he is risen, we have access to forgiveness, a relationship with God, and eternal life.
Secondly, hope looks to the future. It stretches our faith and gives us strength to persevere. Even in the darkest valleys, hope whispers that God is working, that better days are coming, and that his promises will be fulfilled.
Thirdly, hope transforms us. It builds patience, anchors our souls, inspires prayer, and fills us with peace. Without hope, life falls into despair. With hope, we rise with confidence.
So this Easter, remember: Christ is our hope.
May the resurrection ignite in you a renewed joy and faith. In every hardship and trial, hold fast—because Easter proclaims that hope lives.
He is risen. He is our living hope. Amen!
The Most Rev’d Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Maundy Thursday, 17th April 2025.”
– Source: Gafcon.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…