Pray for St. Patrick’s Bible College
Prayer focus from GAFCON:
“Following a huge increase in the numbers of believers, St. Patrick’s Bible College (Madagascar) is expanding its capacity to train leaders.
Praise God for the increase in students and the new dormitories to accommodate them.”
Related:
The Rev Berthier Lainirina, Principal of St Patrick’s Theological College speaks at Moore College Chapel, September 2023.
Canadian Archbishop Linda Nicholls to retire by October 2024
“ ‘I am discerning the exact date of my retirement’, she says.
Anglican clergy have difficulty deciding things, they have to discern them instead. …”
– David Jenkins comments at Anglican Samizdat about the yet-to-be-determined date of Archbishop Linda Nicholls’ retirement.
Related:
Canadian General Synod ponders financial future as revenues drop – Anglican Journal.
Image from the 2023 Canadian General Synod.
O Joy! – New Year message from Church Society’s Lee Gatiss
“You know, as well as I do, that, being in the Church of England right now, can have a detrimental effect on one’s health. …
How can we cope with it all? What is the solution?”
– Church Society’s Director Dr Lee Gatiss has a message of joy, despite what’s happening in the Church of England.
Related:
Why the Global South will win the Spiritual and Culture Wars in the Anglican Communion – commentary by David Virtue:
“It’s like a sinkhole opening up before your eyes, slowly swallowing up churches, bishops and priests, while watching helplessly as the hole increases and more of the Church of England falls into it never to be seen again. …
Whatever happens, the Global South now owns the Anglican Communion and they don’t have to force schism, because they are the theological heirs of Thomas Cranmer and his legitimate heirs.”
Church Society review of 2023
Church Society has published a review of what they did, and the big stories in the Church of England, in 2023.
It’s in two parts – January to June, and July to December.
It’s been quite a year, and our friends at Church Society have been strenuously contending for the faith in an increasingly unfaithful Church of England. Do pray for them.
Misgendering and Misuse of Discipline
After the report Vicar Faces Official Rebuke From Church of England For Saying Trans Archdeacon is “Biologically a Bloke”, earlier in the week, the Rev. Brett Murphy has responded on his video blog.
Brett was also interviewed by Kevin Kallsen at Anglican TV.
GSFA Chairman’s 2023 Christmas Message and Year-end Review
The Chairman of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, Archbishop Dr Justin Badi Arama, has released this Christmas message and year-end review:
A FAITHFUL WITNESS IN ALL SEASONS
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.”
John 1:6-7
To be a faithful witness to the light of Jesus Christ is GSFA’s self-identity under God.
The work of a person who is a witness is to establish the truth beyond a reasonable doubt. May all of us continue to be strong witnesses of the God who has revealed Himself in the holy scriptures. John the Baptist was the faithful witness and the voice in the wilderness who announced the coming of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings who rules and defends us, and restrains and conquers all of his and our enemies.
In the week when we are about to celebrate our Lord’s incarnation, let us resolve to be like Him by giving ourselves sacrificially in service to those in need. Let us all resolve to share what God has given us with the poor, the suffering, the destitute as well as with all our fellow men and women who have yet to confess Jesus as Saviour & Lord.
The Year in Review
In many ways, 2023 was a momentous year for GSFA. The Lord gave us three special blessings:
1. Courage to stand for the truth
We thank God for the luminosity and the courage He gave to the primatial leadership of GSFA to stand for the truth by issuing the GSFA Ash Wednesday Statement. The Statement declared that by taking this action, which followed closely on several revisionist-leaning actions by Canterbury since Lambeth 2022, the Archbishop of Canterbury had forfeited his role as primus inter pares (“first among equals”) of the Communion.
The Ash Wednesday Statement emphasised that despite this departure from the ‘faith once for all delivered’ by the founding Province of our Communion, GSFA is not abandoning the ship. We are not leaving the historic Anglican Communion. We are stewards of all the good gifts the Lord has given our Communion through the centuries. We are therefore prepared, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to help re-set the Communion on its biblical foundation and continue our common life as God’s faithful people, rooted in the Word of God and expressed in common worship, distinctive liturgical formation, mutual care and accountability, and collective mission and ministry.
Events that have unfolded since the February 2023 Church of England General Synod Resolution, including prayers of blessing for a same sex couple for the first time on 17th December confirm GSFA’s reading of the situation and the timeliness of our response. A similarly dangerous innovation in pastoral practice on same sex blessings just announced by the Roman Catholic Church only serves to underline the depth of the spiritual crisis.
2. Love to build unity with other orthodox leaders
Looking back, I am grateful to God that He was pleased to use the Ash Wednesday Statement as a catalyst for unity. GSFA was privileged to host the gathering of Anglican Orthodox Leaders (AOL) in Cairo from 17th-19th October 2023 in which a total of 13 orthodox Primates participated, and they were joined by 10 Anglican leaders who were invited as Observers.
The purpose of the meeting was to consult and to develop a collective response to what it means to be a faithful Church in these unprecedented times. What emerged was a commitment to stand together for the truth of God’s word and to work together to take the gospel out to a needy and pain-ridden world (AOL Communique). This wider circle of Anglican primates recognised the viability of the GSFA Covenantal Structure as a locus of unity for the orthodox in the Communion which enables the full flowering of communion life. Importantly also, the Primates at AOL pledged that they would stand with orthodox Anglicans in revisionist and revisionist-leaning provinces.
3. Joy in God’s provision for the work of GSFA
We marvel at God’s faithfulness in not only providing the human resources for the work of GSFA but in granting us in 2023 an operational centre in Cairo for our growing ministry. We are especially grateful to Archbishop Samy Shehata of the Province of Alexandria for the provision of a beautiful office space in the All Saints’ Cathedral compound in Cairo. The opening of the Centre on 20 October 2023 captures the joy of this great step forward in our life and mission.
Plans for the coming year
GSFA plans to start the new year by conducting a Bishops Formation Retreat for new bishops and their wives in Uganda in February 2024.
We are getting ready for our first GSFA Assembly from 11th – 15th June 2024 in Egypt. Please be in prayer for this Assembly that it might be a time of spiritual refreshing and growing momentum. May we be like John the Baptist, fearless in the declaration of God’s truth and preparing the hearts of many to be faithful disciples of Christ. To our God and King be all majesty, power, authority, honour and glory, world without end.
I take this opportunity to wish you all the joy of Christmas and the blessings of the newborn King and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
The Most Rev Dr Justin Badi Arama
Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and
Chair of GSFA.
Source (with images): GSFA.
For Archbishop of Canterbury, Heading Anglican Church Is ‘High-Wire Act’
“When the archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, welcomed friends to sing Christmas carols at his London residence last week, his remarks ran, as they often do, to his coronation of King Charles III in May. …”
– The New York Times has this piece on Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
It tells us,“he is keenly aware of the limits on what he can accomplish before he hands over to the next archbishop in 2026. A bitter, yearslong debate over how the Church of England should treat same-sex marriage will not be resolved during his term, he said in an interview at Lambeth Palace…”
What is the Good News? A Response to Jayne Ozanne’s Reinterpretation
“I was astonished last week to see that Premier Christianity published what to be frank was just a heretical article from Jayne Ozanne…even more so after my own experience of being cancelled by them lest I upset some people (Why was I Cancelled and Repented for by Premier Christianity?)
They seem to have little difficulty in upsetting biblical Christians! I was not going to respond and then I came across a couple of other Christians who were influenced by Ozanne and did not see a major problem with what she said – so I wrote this piece – which Christian Today have thankfully published. …
‘But what is this Good News? The Church of England, as the Church of Scotland and much of the rapidly declining mainstream denominations in the West, seem greatly confused. I recall a group of Scottish politicians who had asked a group of “representative” clergy to give advice and how confused they were. ‘You seem to believe in two different religions’ was their accurate observation. Indeed the trumpet has been giving an uncertain sound for many years.
Jayne Ozanne, the former evangelical, who once believed the Good News, has now come to agree with this view that there are two different versions of Christianity which are incompatible with one another. She wrote of this in a revealing article earlier this month. …’
– David Robertson responds in his usual helpful way – by drawing us back to the word of God. At The Wee Flea.
Same-sex couples receive blessings for first time in Church of England
“Same-sex couples began receiving blessings in the Church of England on Dec. 17 …
Among the first couples to receive the blessings were the Rev. Catherine Bond and the Rev. Jane Pearce, both associate priests, during Holy Eucharist on Dec. 17 at St. John the Baptist Church in Suffolk. …
A day later, on Dec. 18, Pope Francis broke similar ground in the Roman Catholic Church by allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced…”
– Story from The Episcopal News Service.
As might be expected, the media were on hand at St John the Baptist, Felixstowe.
Update on the Vatican component of the story – from NotThe Bee, explaining that what was said was a little more nuanced:
“The Vatican is saying that this is not a blessing of the sin they are living in, but a blessing for those who ‘recognize themselves to be destitute and in need of his help’ that will pray before the throne of God for ‘all that is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives and in their relationships’ to be healed and guided by the Spirit.”
Image from the February 2023 Church of England’s General Synod.
Vicar Faces Official Rebuke From Church of England For Saying Trans Archdeacon is “Biologically a Bloke”
“The Revd Brett Murphy faces an official rebuke from the CofE over ‘intentionally derogatory and disrespectful’ remarks he made about the Revd Canon Dr. Rachel Mann shortly after his appointment in June.
LGBT+ campaigners had hailed his appointment as a ‘beacon of light and hope’.
The Revd Murphy, in a 32-minute-long YouTube video, criticised the CofE for putting ‘a radical rainbow activist’ in a ‘position of high authority in a diocese’. …”
– Anglican Mainstream has this excerpt from and link to a report in The Telegraph.
Since the Rev Brett Murphy has left the Church of England, he might not care very much what is said about him.
Bishop of Ebbsfleet’s Guidance on Prayers of Love and Faith
As the Church of England’s House of Bishops say that Prayers of Love and Faith are available for use from today (Sunday 17 December 2023), the Bishop of Ebbsfleet has issued his pastoral guidance. It can be summarised:
- Do not use the prayers.
- If you can, pass a PCC resolution not to use the prayers.
- Consider what implications ‘impaired fellowship’ may have on your ministry.
- Do not leave the Church of England now.
- Support the CEEC and others in seeking suitable provision.
– Read his Statement and Ad Clerum here (PDF file).
Link via Anglican Mainstream.
Hard Decisions will have to be made — Bishop Wallace Benn
“I was privileged to be part of the group at the Lambeth Conference of world-wide Anglican bishops in 1998 which produced the statement overwhelmingly supported by the Conference …
I was also part of the group that wrote the excellent Jerusalem Declaration in 2008 (which became the basis for GAFCON — the global movement of orthodox Anglicans)…”
– Both statements assert the authority of Scripture.
So, in the light of the latest moved by the House of Bishops of the Church of England, Bishop Wallace Benn asks, “What are Bible-believing Christians to do?”
– Anglican Mainstream has republished his comments from Evangelicals Now.
Photo: Bishop Benn at GAFCON 1 in 2008 by Peter Frank for GAFCON.
CEEC responds to House of Bishops’ commendation of Prayers of Love and Faith
“Revd Canon John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, said: “CEEC deeply regrets the announcement from the House of Bishops which indicates that a selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same sex couples can be used in Church of England services from Sunday 17 December.
As reported in our statement on 17 November, this confirms our belief that a line has been crossed, which we hoped and prayed would not happen.…”
– The latest from the Church of England Evangelical Council.
Deaf and arrogant — The Anglican Network in Europe on the Church of England House of Bishops
Press Release:
A response to the Church of England House of Bishops’ commendation of Prayers of Love and Faith on 12 December 2023
It is hugely disappointing, but unsurprising, that the Church of England House of Bishops has ignored the pleas of the majority of the Anglican Communion, nearly half of the clergy and laity in General Synod and nearly a third of their own members to push ahead along a highly divisive path which arrogantly rejects the authority of scripture and cravenly follows the latest trends in Western secular culture.
For both clergy and laity now standing at the crossroads and prayerfully considering their future path, we want to reassure them there is a road available which avoids an unknown and unsafe future as part of an apostate denomination, and draw their attention to the recent Gafcon Primates’ statement (9 Nov 2023) which speaks of a way of being authentically Anglican apart from Canterbury-aligned structures: “We… commend the ministry and witness of the Anglican Network in Europe as the appropriate and necessary provision of Gafcon for those who cannot in good conscience remain in a Church which flagrantly abandons the teaching of Scripture.”
Rt. Rev’d Andy Lines
Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Network in Europe.
Received via e-mail.
Note: The Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE) is the provision of the Primates’ Council of Gafcon to provide a faithful ecclesial structure for orthodox Anglicans within Europe. It currently comprises two dioceses: The Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE) and The Anglican Mission in England (AMiE).
Image: GAFCON.
C of E: Prayers of Love and Faith to be made available for use from Sunday
“A selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples can be used in Church of England services for the first time from Sunday, December 17, following approval by the House of Bishops.
The final texts of Prayers of Love and Faith, commended for use in regular public worship or private prayer, are published today, together with pastoral guidance which sets out how they could be used.
At a meeting held online this morning, the House of Bishops confirmed its earlier decision to commend the Prayers of Love and Faithresources for use in regular public worship and agreed that this should take effect from Sunday December 17.
The Prayers can be used in regular scheduled services, such as a Sunday Eucharist or Evensong.
The House also continued to discuss separate proposals for special standalone services for same-sex couples to be formally authorised under canon law. …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…