A Response to the Primates Gathering 2016 Statement — Canon Phil Ashey
The American Anglican Council’s Canon Phil Ashey:
“I am writing from Canterbury, England, where the staff of the American Anglican Council has been on site assisting Archbishop Foley Beach and the GAFCON Primates in their witness at the Primates gathering this week. There is a saying about the fog of war: when it descends, there is often confusion and disorientation in the midst of the fight. Here, it would certainly be fair to say that situations changed on a daily, if not hourly basis. In the fog of war, rarely are battles decisive. More often, they turn out to be one step among many in a long and costly road to victory. Read more
Communiqué from the Primates’ Meeting 2016
This Communiqué from the Primates’ Meeting was issued early Saturday morning, Australian time.
Here is the full text:
The previously-released Statement is an Addendum to this document.
“Walking Together in the Service of God in the World
The meeting of Anglican Primates, the senior bishops of the 38 Anglican Provinces, joined by the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of North America, took place in Canterbury between Monday 11 January and Friday 15 January at the invitation of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first morning was spent in prayer and fasting.
We came knowing that the 2016 Primates’ meeting would be concerned with the differences among us in regard to our teaching on matters of human sexuality. We were also eager to address wider areas of concern. Read more
‘On the Death of the Anglican Communion’
“My prediction about the sun setting on the breakup of the Anglican Communion is coming true, even as I write before the final session of the primates gathered at Canterbury.
Enough has leaked from the gathering to be able to form a picture of what went on. The Archbishop of Canterbury and his staff had tried to direct the progress of the group’s deliberations by resorting to a standby from ++Justin Welby’s corporate days: the RAND-developed group facilitation mechanism known as the ‘Delphi Technique’…”
– The Anglican Curmudgeon, A. S. Haley, gives his take on the washup of the gathering in Canterbury. (There is one more day of meetings scheduled, with a press conference scheduled for 1500BST Friday / 0200AEDT Saturday).
The days ahead will give some clarity, however the Statement issued this morning by GAFCON Chairman Eliud Wabukala and General Secretary Peter Jensen is worth re-reading.
Anglican Network in Canada’s Bishop Charlie Masters statement from Canterbury
Anglican Network in Canada’s Bishop Charlie Masters reports from Canterbury
“Once Primates had finally addressed the issue of discipline, it was time for Archbishop Beach to quietly step away from the remainder of the meeting as ACNA had committed itself to only continue at the meeting if TEC and the ACoC had stepped away and until repentance and godly order were restored. The ACoC remained and, although mild sanctions were applied to TEC, its Primate also remained in the meeting.”
Full text below: Read more
Archbishop Foley Beach reports on the Primates’ Gathering
Archbishop Foley Beach, Primate of the Anglican Church in North America, reports on the Primates’ Gathering –
“The sanctions are strong, but they are not strong enough, and to my deep disappointment, they didn’t include the Anglican Church of Canada as they should.”
Full text below: Read more
J.I. Packer still running the race — please keep him in your prayers
“We at Crossway learned this week that J. I. Packer (who will, Lord willing, turn 90 years old in July 2016) has developed macular degeneration in his right eye. His left eye has had macular degeneration for over a decade. He consented to let this information be shared publicly.”
– Justin Taylor shares some news for your prayers.
Update: Ivan Mesa at The Gospel Coalition shares the text of a phone interview he conducted with Jim Packer.
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali’s update for the Church of Uganda
Primate of Uganda, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, posted this statement on the Church of Uganda’s website –
“I have left the meeting in Canterbury, but I want to make it clear that we are not leaving the Anglican Communion.”
Full text below:
13th January 2016
Dear Bishops, Clergy, and Lay Leaders in the Church of Uganda,
Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayers for me as I traveled to Canterbury, England, for the gathering of Primates called by the Archbishop of Canterbury to address the events that caused the fabric of the Anglican Communion to be torn at its deepest level. We traveled well, and I’m writing to give you a brief update. Read more
Statement from Primates 2016 — 14 January 2016
This statement has been released via the Primates 2016 website.
“we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.”
Full text below. Emphasis added.
________________
14 Jan 2016
Today the Primates agreed how they would walk together in the grace and love of Christ. This agreement acknowledges the significant distance that remains but confirms their unanimous commitment to walk together.
The Primates regret that it appears that this document has been leaked in advance of their communiqué tomorrow. In order to avoid speculation the document is being released in full. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of all the Primates to continue the life of the Communion with neither victor nor vanquished.
Questions and further comments will be responded to at a press conference tomorrow at 1500. Full details are available here.
The full text is as follows: Read more
GAFCON Media Release — 14 January 2016
Statement by the GAFCON Chairman, The Most Rev. Dr. Eliud Wabukala and The GAFCON General Secretary, The Most Rev. Dr. Peter Jensen
Read more
Michael Nazir-Ali on the real issue at the Primates’ Gathering in Canterbury
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight on Monday evening, UK time.
He speaks clearly about the issue being Biblical authority – on which the Anglican Communion has already agreed.
Listen via the GAFCON website. Runs for 4 minutes 15 seconds.
Continued prayer requested for Primates’ meeting
Please continue to pray for the Primates’ gathering in Canterbury.
Peter Ould, who was present in Canterbury Cathedral for Wednesday evening’s Evensong, writes,
“With barely a minute to go there were the same number of Primates as yesterday and then suddenly Foley Beach joined them and sat down. The number of Primates in the Quire then doubled as in the remaining leaders processed in full choir robes, liberals and conservatives alike.”
Here’s a prayer you could use.
George Conger, at Anglican Ink, gives his commentary:
“Gathered inside the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral the archbishops and moderators of the Anglican Communion, accompanied by translators, and a few aides, have weathered three days of intense conversation about the shape and future of the church. As of the lunch break on the third day, no one has left and no one has been ejected…”
And John Bingham at The Telegraph writes:
“The Archbishop of Canterbury was last night accused [of] treating African archbishops ‘like children’ in an attempt to avoid a full public walkout during make-or-break talks on the future of the worldwide Anglican church…”
– however, bear in mind that he quotes unnamed ‘sources’.
‘Second day report — deadlock in Canterbury’
“The Archbishop of Canterbury could face a walk out Wednesday of conservative archbishops, whose call for him to honor past agreements of the primates meetings and to restore “godly order” to the Anglican Communion, appears not to have been met.
Though no walk out has happened so far, and ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach has been a full participant from the start, the tone of the meeting has changed, and the pace has quickened…”
– George Conger reports at Anglican Ink. (Image: from the primates2016.org website.)
‘Day 2 – The facade begins to crumble’
“As we reported yesterday, all the GAFCON and some Global South (GS) Primates declined to attend Communion in the morning.
We have little details of discussions during the day but the most dramatic moment was evensong at 5.30pm when it very quickly became apparent that a large number of Primates were missing, not even attending as they had done on Monday…”
– At StandFirm, David Ould has some reports on the Primates’ meeting, Day 2. Please be very much in prayer for all involved.
“Dear Prayer Supporters,
The discussions at Canterbury are at a crucial stage and we know that God is sovereign, hence we ask you to pray with us:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
We turn once more to you in faith,
Interceding for the Primates of the Anglican Communion as they meet in Canterbury.
Please use their endeavors to hallow your great name;
May your kingdom come;
May your will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Uphold your word in the church we pray, so guiding us to live godly and obedient lives, not compromising with this world, but holding forth the gospel of salvation without fear,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenYours in Christ Service
Peter Jensen
GAFCON General Secretary.”
Update: Evening of Day 3 (Wednesday), UK time.
(Photo: Canterbury Cathedral via Primates2016.)
Message from Peter Jensen to GAFCON supporters after Day 1 of the Primates’ Gathering
from GAFCON.
Related:
- Primates Meeting – Little Progress and a Very Little Procession – David Ould.
- “Fears the first day would see a walkout did not come to pass — to the chagrin of the crew of a BBC video truck parked outside the cathedral in the rain awaiting the capture on film of the departure of the conservatives.” – George Conger.
Schism would be a failure, but not disaster – Welby
“The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said this morning that a formal schism in the Anglican Communion would be a failure; but he told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme that such a scenario “would not be a disaster” because “God is bigger than our failures.”
Archbishop Welby made his comments during a live interview on the UK’s national flagship radio news programme ahead of the meeting of Anglican Primates which gets underway today at Canterbury Cathedral…”
– from the Anglican Communion News Service. Includes a transcript of the interview.
See also: Wet, cold start to primates gathering in Canterbury – Anglican Ink. (Image: ABC Radio.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…