‘Catastrophic” — Dr Lee Gatiss on the Global South’s rebuke of the Church of England
Church Society Director Lee Gatiss is interviewed by Dave Piper for Trans World Radio about the Global South’s rejection of the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“Lee argues this has left the majority of Anglicans worldwide aghast.
He says vicars will essentially be left to decide doctrine themselves – and could get it in the neck if they go against society’s views on marriage and sexual relationships. And he warns some parishes and dioceses could break away and seek oversight from outside of the UK.”
Whose conscience deserves protection in Australia?
Yesterday, Associate Professor Neil Foster presented a short paper at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney – as part of a panel on “The Importance of Conscience”.
He’s made it available for download at Law and Religions Australia.
(Photo from a Sydney Diocese training day.)
Even Vladimir Putin noticed the C of E’s General Synod
Even Vladimir Putin has commented on the Church of England’s General Synod. (Not that we’re endorsing other comments in his speech.)
GSFA Primates statement: “the Church of England has… disqualified herself”
This statement has been released today by the Primates of The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches:
Here are some key quotes from the statement –
“…the Church of England has … disqualified herself from leading the Communion as the historic ‘Mother’ Church …
The GSFA is no longer able to recognise the present Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Hon & Most Revd Justin Welby, as the “first among equals” Leader of the global Communion. …
GSFA Primates will expeditiously meet, consult and work with other orthodox Primates in the Anglican Church across the nations to re-set the Communion on its biblical foundation …
We do not accept the view that we can still ‘walk together’ with the revisionist provinces …”.
Full statement below:
The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches
PRESS STATEMENT
February 20, 2023
STATEMENT OF GSFA PRIMATES ON THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND’S DECISION REGARDING THE BLESSING OF SAME SEX UNIONS
With great sorrow at the recent decision of the Church of England’s General Synod to legitimise and incorporate into the Church’s liturgy the blessing of same sex unions, ten Primates of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) met virtually on 13 Feb 2023 under the chairmanship of Archbishop Justin Badi (Chairman of GSFA & Primate of South Sudan) to discuss our response.
The panel of Primates agreed on the following resolutions which it now commends to the orthodox provinces and dioceses who are part of her Fellowship for the respective Primate & Province to consider and deliberate on.
1.) As the Church of England has departed from the historic faith passed down from the Apostles by this innovation in the liturgies of the Church and her pastoral practice (contravening her own Canon A5), she has disqualified herself from leading the Communion as the historic “Mother” Church. Indeed, the Church of England has chosen to break communion with those provinces who remain faithful to the historic biblical faith expressed in the Anglican formularies (the 39 Articles, the Book of Common Prayer, the Ordinal and the Book of Homilies) and applied to the matter of marriage and sexuality in Lambeth Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference.
2.) As much as the GSFA Primates also want to keep the unity of the visible Church and the fabric of the Anglican Communion, our calling to be ‘a holy remnant’ does not allow us be “in communion” with those provinces that have departed from the historic faith and taken the path of false teaching. This breaks our hearts and we pray for the revisionist provinces to return to ‘the faith once delivered’ (Jude 3) and to us.
3.) The GSFA is no longer able to recognise the present Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Hon & Most Revd Justin Welby, as the “first among equals” Leader of the global Communion. He has sadly led his House of Bishops to make the recommendations that undergirded the General Synod Motion on ‘Living in Love & Faith,’ knowing that they run contrary to the faith & order of the orthodox provinces in the Communion whose people constitute the majority in the global flock. We pray that our withdrawal of support for him to lead the whole Communion is received by him as an admonishment in love.
4.) With the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury forfeiting their leadership role of the global Communion, GSFA Primates will expeditiously meet, consult and work with other orthodox Primates in the Anglican Church across the nations to re-set the Communion on its biblical foundation. We look forward to collaborating with Primates and bishops in the GAFCON movement and other orthodox Anglican groupings to work out the shape and nature of our common life together and how we are to keep the priority of proclaiming and witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world foremost in our life as God’s people. Together with other orthodox Primates, we will seek to address the leadership crisis that has arisen because for us, and perhaps by his own reported self-exclusion, the present Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer the ‘leader’ of the Communion and no longer the Chair of the Primates’ Meeting by virtue of his position.
5.) GSFA Primates will carefully work with other orthodox Primates to provide Primatial and episcopal oversight to orthodox dioceses and networks of Anglican churches who indicate their need and who consult with us. This is to ensure that the faithful all across the worldwide Anglican Church but who find themselves in revisionist Provinces receive the pastoral oversight, guidance and care of a global, connectional Church which the Anglican Communion is meant to be.
6.) Given this action by the Church of England’s General Synod, we believe it is no longer possible to continue in the way the Communion is. We do not accept the view that we can still “walk together” with the revisionist provinces as prescribed by the Anglican Communion Office and in the exploratory way proposed by IASCUFO (Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith & Order) at the recent Anglican Consultative Council (ACC)-18 meeting.
7.) GSFA Primates are joint-stewards together with other orthodox Primates of the Anglican Communion, defined by its Formularies and that has been birthed and sustained by God through the centuries. We are accountable to the whole and to each other for the historic Christian faith and its practice in our autonomous Churches. The Church of England is the “historic first” province, but now that it has departed from the historic faith the responsibility falls to the remaining orthodox Primates. We will not walk away from the Communion that has so richly blessed us and for whose faithfulness to God and His word our forebears have paid a costly price. What has happened in the Church of England has only served to strengthen our resolve to work together to re-set the Communion, and to ensure that the re-set Communion is marked by reform and renewal. Only then will the Anglican Church as a whole be able to be God’s channel of light and transformation in a dark and broken world. Only then will we be able to live out our witness as part of God’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
To this end, GSFA will work humbly, boldly and charitably with other orthodox parts of the global Anglican Church. In our own Provinces, we will repent of the ways in which we ourselves fail to keep the covenant God has given us in Christ Jesus. We will ask God to purify and build up our churches so that we can authentically and passionately take the Gospel out to our respective nations and assigned fields.
And with a renewed and reset Communion, we will be able to join hands in mission and ministry across the nations to be a bright, collective light in the midst of the major challenges of our time.
This is what we in GSFA are looking forward to as we prepare for our first GSFA Assembly under our Covenantal Structure (Cairo, 2019) , which will be from 28th-31st May 2024 in Cairo.
To God be the glory as a new light mercifully dawns on His Church in the midst of the growing darkness. Isaiah 60:1-3.
__________________________________________________________________
This Statement is endorsed by the following GSFA Primates
1. Archbishop Justin Badi (Primate of South Sudan & Chair of GSFA)
2. Archbishop Hector (Tito) Zavala (Primate of Chile & Vice-Chair of GSFA)
3. Archbishop James Wong (Primate of Indian Ocean, GSFA Steering Committee member)
4. Archbishop Titre Ande (Primate of Congo, GSFA Steering Committee member)
5. Archbishop Stephen Than (Primate of Myanmar, GSFA Steering Committee member)
6. Archbishop Foley Beach (Primate of North America, GSFA Steering Committee member)
7. Archbishop Samuel Mankhin (Primate of Bangladesh , GSFA Steering Committee member)
8. Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba (Primate of Uganda)
9. Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo (Primate of Sudan)
10. Archbishop Samy Shehata (Primate of Alexandria)
11. Archbishop Miguel Uchoa Cavalcanti (Primate of Anglican Church in Brazil)
12. Archbishop Leonard Dawea (Primate of Melanesia)
Footnotes:
1 The GSFA is currently composed of 14 Provinces from a larger grouping of 25 Global South provinces. These 14 provinces plus one diocese have either signed on to be members of GSFA via assent to its Covenantal Structure (Cairo, 2019) or given written indication that a process to pursue GSFA membership has begun in their province. (See www.thegsfa.org)
2 ‘Orthodox’ provinces are those which hold to the plain and authoritaIve teaching of holy Scripture as historically understood, and correspondingly their ‘Faith & Order’ is consistent with what the Scriptures as a whole teach.
3 ‘The Church of England’s General Synod has welcomed proposals which would enable same-sex couples to come to church after a civil marriage or civil partnership to give thanks, dedicate their relationship to God and receive God’s blessing.’ (https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/prayers-gods-blessing-same-sex-couples-take-step-forward-after-synod)
4 Canon A5 : ‘The doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-Nine ArIcles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal.’
5 Lambeth Conference 1998 Resolution 1.10 on Human Sexuality states that “while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation …” The ResoluIon also states that the Lambeth Conference “cannot advise the legiImising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions.”
6 The ‘holy remnant’ in Scripture refers to that segment among God’s people who remain faithful to God’s covenant against wind and tide by trusting and obeying God’s word and keeping to God’s standard of right and wrong. They do so in spite of secIons of the wider community they belong to conforming to the world around them and disobeying the revealed word of God.
7 ‘Revisionist’ provinces are those who take a liberal view on the interpretation of holy Scripture and introduce new and innovative doctrines that do not agree with the plain teaching of Scripture as historically understood by the Church. In their ‘faith & order,’ revisionist provinces and dioceses move increasingly away from the bounds of Scripture.
Put not your trust in Clause (g): A North American Perspective
“I have been reading postings from respected theologians in the Church of England arguing that the addition of ‘clause (g)’ to the General Synod Resolution last week was a victory of sorts for those who hold a biblical view of marriage and sexuality. …
I would that Ian Paul and Martin Davie were right, but the lesson I take from the Episcopal Church USA two decades ago is that the addition of clause (g) will not snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Let me explain. …”
– At Stephen’s Witness, Dr, Stephen Noll cautions against too much optimism about the amendment included at General Synod. Bishops (and others) who choose to disregard the word of God might not be too constrained by amendments.
Photo: GAFCON.
Evangelicals love the Church of England
The Church of England Evangelical Council has published this 17 minute video.
Do watch it and share widely to provoke prayers for our brothers and sisters in the Church of England.
Welby proposes pulling Canterbury out of Anglican instruments of communion
“The Archbishop of Canterbury will surrender his authority as first among equals among the primates of the Anglican Communion in light of the General Synod of the Church of England’s adoption of gay blessings.
Speaking to the opening ceremony of the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Accra, Ghana on 12 February 2023, the Most Rev. Justin Welby stated ‘I will not cling to place or position as an Instrument of Communion.’
His concession comes the day before 12 of the primates affiliated with the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans meet to offer a united response to last week’s vote in General Synod. The decision to introduce same-sex blessings, without seeking a Scriptural or theological foundation for the decision, or respecting the church’s agreements with other Anglican provinces has prompted the largest provinces: Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya to break fellowship. …”
– Is the Archbishop of Canterbury offering to jump before he is pushed? George Conger has this report at Anglican.ink.
Photo credit: Jaqui J Sze, Archbishop of Canterbury’s office.
George Carey, Former Archbishop of Canterbury, writes to The Times
The Right Rev Lord Carey of Clifton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1991-2002, writes to The Times –
“Sir, I have no doubt that General Synod’s decision to allow blessings to same-sex couples will delight many (report, Feb 9). It will concern others, including me, who believe that marriage can be a true sacramental rite only between a man and a woman in a lifelong union of love. It is obvious that the next step can only be the acceptance of same-sex marriages. …”
– via Anglican Ink.
On not snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory
“In the immediate aftermath of the Synod vote, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York declared that the vote meant that; ‘For the first time, the Church of England will publicly, unreservedly and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church’ …
The problem with this interpretation, however, is that it fails to do justice to the motion which Synod passed. When we look at this motion carefully, we find that what Synod actually voted for makes any general liturgical affirmation of same-sex relationships by the Church of England impossible. …”
– Martin Davie expands on the same point made earlier by Dr Ian Paul. That is, the addition to the Bishops’ proposed motion of an amendment – paragraph g – limits what the Bishops can do.
The paragraph reads –
“g) endorse the decision of the College and House of Bishops not to propose any change to the doctrine of marriage, and their intention that the final version of the Prayers of Love and Faith should not be contrary to or indicative of a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England.” (bold added)
He continues,
“… the addition of clause (g) to the Synod motion was a great victory. This is because when taken seriously it will mean that the Church of England continues to maintain an orthodox biblical position. However, in order to avoid ‘snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory’ traditionalist Anglicans need to do three things. …”
Image: Several members stand to seek the call during the debate in the Church if England’s General Synod.
“As for me and the Church of Uganda, we will serve the Lord.”
“There is a lot of sexual sin in Uganda. I know that, and you know that. Nevertheless, we haven’t changed our message. Our message is the message of the Bible, which is, ‘Go, and sin no more.’
The Church of England, on the other hand, has now departed from the Bible and their new message is the opposite message of the Bible. They are now saying, ‘Go, and sin some more.’
They are even offering to bless that sin. …
We now want to ask the Church of England, ‘Do you have the integrity to step out of the Anglican Communion because you have departed from the Anglican faith?’ God called you to preach a Gospel of repentance and faith. Instead, you’re like Jonah. You have disobeyed and are running in the opposite direction.
God called the church to go to Nineveh and preach repentance, but the Church of England is running to Tarshish and preaching acceptance of sin. There is no way we are walking together.”
‘Jesus tells the world a better story. Does the church still believe it?’
Here’s another encouraging and Christ-honouring speech given at the Church of England General Synod on Thursday morning.
In her maiden speech at the assembly, Sophie Clarke, Senior Parliamentary Assistant and lay member of General Synod, urges the Church of England to uphold Jesus’ teaching on sex and marriage.
This video clip with thanks to Christian Concern.
Related:
The C of E has forgotten its better story about sex – Peter Ladd. (Link via Anglican Mainstream.)
Be encouraged again by Ben John’s appeal to the Church of England General Synod
Amidst the gloom of bishops (and others) who turn away from the clear teaching of God’s Word, take the time to hear the appeal from General Synod member Ben John during Wednesday’s debate.
Do not be ashamed of the gospel – it is God’s power for the salvation for all who trust in Christ. (Romans 1:16, but re-read the full chapter for context.)
See it from 4 hours, 38 minutes and 50 seconds into the Wednesday afternoon video. (We also highlighted that day’s speeches by Vaughan Roberts and Ian Paul on this page.)
What exactly happened at Synod on the Prayers for Love and Faith?
At Psephizo, Dr Ian Paul gives some much-needed clarity on what the Church of England General Synod voted for –
“In reflecting about anything in the Church of England, and especially in relation to General Synod, it is worth bearing in mind this mantra from the Troubles in Northern Ireland:
‘If you are not confused, you don’t really know what is going on.’
The newspapers seemed to be very clear what had happened:
‘The Church of England has approved blessings for gay couples for the first time. In a historic vote, the General Synod, the Church’s legislative body, voted to officially recognise same-sex couples on Thursday.’
You can understand why they would understand the vote in that way—since the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have both used that language. Unfortunately, that is not what happened!
The proposals that the bishops brought to Synod were that the doctrine of marriage, as a lifelong union between one man and one woman, would not change, but within the constraints of that they would propose some ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’ which might be used to bless those people in same-sex relationships of some forms or other (as yet unspecified), but not function as a proclamation of God’s blessing on the relationship itself. (Please refer to my opening mantra!).
What Synod narrowly voted for, after about eight hours of debate on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, was for the bishops to continue to work on this, with some serious qualifications. For ecclesiastical nerds, this is the wording of the final motion as amended …”
Later, he sums up,
“If this is any kind of ‘victory’ for those who wanted to moved forward, it looks very much like a Pyrrhic victory. ‘If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined’ (Plutarch’s account of Pyrrhus of Epirus).
The motion was passed, with a significant addition which explicitly limits the scope for manoeuvre, so the work will continue. But I think the cost has been immense damage to the reputation and standing of Justin Welby, the final nail in the coffin of the Anglican Communion, damage to ecumenical relations, a further loss of confidence in the leadership of bishops within the Church, and the first signs of fracture at local and diocesans levels. And for what gain?”
Image: Dr Paul speaks at General Synod on Wednesday.
Living in Love and Faith: Moving Forward — a 3 minute promo video
Video just released by the Church of England. Must have taken some time to put together.
Says the Archbishop of Canterbury:
“Over the last six years, the Church of England has been travelling together through our Living in Love and Faith process as we consider questions around identity, sexuality, relationships, and marriage.”
Says the Archbishop of York:
“We’ve studied the scriptures, paid attention to the Church’s tradition, and listened to the wider Church through your responses.”
Says one commenter under the video,
How to say “we do not believe in the authority of scripture” without saying “we do not believe in the authority of scripture”?
Australian Church Record Statement on the Church of England’s Green Light to Bless Same-Sex Couples
“The Australian Church Record laments the regrettable decision of the Church of England to pass a motion to proceed with further steps towards the blessing of same-sex unions. This decision is contrary to the clear teaching of the Holy Scriptures on human sexuality and dishonours the gracious God who so loved the world that he sent his only-begotten Son for us and for our salvation.
The ACR considers the approval of liturgy to bless same-sex unions as tantamount to a change in the Church of England’s doctrine of marriage. What a church prays demonstrates what a church believes, and the Church of England now believes that it is right to bless behaviour that Scripture deems to be sinful and, if not repented of, will exclude people from the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…