GSFA Bishops and Canterbury both release Statements on Lambeth 1.10

“At almost the same time, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) released statements on Lambeth Resolution 1.10. Both could not have been more different in tone.

Canterbury released a letter to those at Lambeth stating that the Anglican Communion did, in fact, affirm Resolution 1.10. He even writes that the fact that Lambeth Calls: Human Dignity quotes the resolution three times should be enough to show that this is true.

What he doesn’t say is that the part of the resolution that affirms the traditional view of marriage and human sexuality was unceremoniously removed from the Call after causing liberal backlash. It is evident he is trying to appease Global South leaders and progressive leaders at the same time. …”

– Report from The American Anglican Council.

Image: Lambeth website.

Global South Anglicans invite Bishops at Lambeth to Reaffirm Lambeth I.10. Here’s the text.

Archbishop Justin Badi invites bishops to affirm Lambeth I.10, and, summarises what is at stake:

“We want to see the Communion united.”

Here’s the full text of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches Press Release published overnight –

“Press Release

ORTHODOX BISHOPS REVEAL TEXT OF RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING ‘LAMBETH 1.10’ AS THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION TEACHING ON MARRIAGE & SEXUALITY

ANGLICAN BISHOPS, representing 75 per cent of Anglicans across the globe, have released the text of a Resolution (‘Call’), and are giving an opportunity to all registered bishops at the Lambeth Conference to ‘reaffirm’ Lambeth 1.10 as the ‘official teaching of the Anglican Communion on marriage and sexuality’.

This afternoon (AUG 2), from 2pm, copies of the text are being made available to bishops around the University of Kent campus, uploaded to the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) website, available on the EFAC stand in the conference resource centre, and via email to around 250 global south bishops direct. They are also providing details of how bishops can register their support as leaders of Anglicans under their direct episcopal care.

In the preamble to the Resolution – which bishops are not asked to sign up to, only the actual stated Resolution – Archbishop Justin Badi, Chairman of the GSFA says: “Anglican identity is first and foremost ‘grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church.

“Lambeth Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference is a test of faithfulness to this doctrinal standard, because it explicitly applies the clear and historic teaching of Scripture to matters of sexual morality. The Resolution does not take its authority from the Lambeth Conference, but from Holy Scripture.”

At their opening press conference last Friday (JULY29), the GSFA announced it would proceed with giving bishops the opportunity to reaffirm. Today the text has been revealed, together with the way bishops can indicate their support for the Resolution.

Archbishop Badi explains to fellow bishops: “We are living at a time of great spiritual confusion and moral flux. The Church of Jesus Christ cannot afford to lose its moorings in Holy Scripture and drift with the world. Based on the need to establish clear doctrine on Marriage and Sexuality at this defining moment for the Anglican Communion, this conference must reaffirm the biblical teaching of Lambeth Conference 1998 Resolution 1.10.”

The core resolution reads “that this Conference:-

a. in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;

b. recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God’s transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;

c. while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn
irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex;

d. cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions;

e. notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality.

f. Urges that renewed steps be taken to ensure that all Provinces abide by this doctrine in their faith, order & practice.”

To prevent any fraud in the ‘sign in’ process, the GSFA has asked bishops to take a photo of their official Lambeth Conference pass (which contains an up-to-date picture, full name, the province/diocese they serve in and a unique ID number). They are then asked to email it to a dedicated email address, and in the subject line, include their name and importantly, the number of worshippers under their direct episcopal care.

Bishops have been assured the process will be completely anonymous. Their names will not be revealed at the conference, or at any time after. Only the province, how many bishops in that province reaffirmed, and the number of worshippers in their direct episcopal care will be revealed. The GSFA will ask a well-respected person to independently verify the processes to provide independent security, giving Anglicans across the globe assurance that the reaffirmation process was recorded accurately. Records, once verified, will be destroyed.

Details of the response from bishops will be announced by the GSFA in due course. A copy of the full text, and the associated notes can be found at www.lambeth22resourcegroup.com

ENDS”

——————————————-

and the full text of the affirmation –

LAMBETH CONFERENCE 2022: THE GSFA CALL ON RE-AFFIRMING LAMBETH 1.10 1998

1. Introduction

1.1 The prophet Jeremiah declares that the leaders of his day ‘have healed the wound of my people lightly’ (Jer. 6:14, 8:11). It is a warning for our day too. We stand at a crossroads, and must ‘ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.’ (Jer. 6:16). The only basis for our walking together is to submit ourselves again to the sovereign authority of Holy Scripture in loyalty to the Anglican tradition and its formularies.

1.2 In 1 Peter, the book chosen for the Bible Studies at Lambeth 2022, we are gripped by the emphasis that the power of God unto salvation is experienced through the living and unchanging word of God (see 1Pet 1:23; cf Jn 17:17; Rom1:16-17; Jude 3)

“You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” ( 1 Pet 1:23)

2. Declaration

2.1 Anglican identity is first and foremost ‘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 Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer (1662), and The Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, annexed to The Book of Common Prayer, and commonly known as the Ordinal’.

2.2 Lambeth Resolution I.10 of 1998i is a test of faithfulness to this doctrinal standard because it explicitly applies the clear and historic teaching of Scripture to matters of sexual morality. The Resolution does not take its authority from the Lambeth Conference, but from Holy Scripture.

3. Affirmation

3.1 We affirm our commitment as Anglicans to being part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of God, our confidence in the gospel as Anglicans have received it

4. The Need to Re-affirm Lambeth 1.10

4.1 We are living at a time of great spiritual confusion and moral flux. The Church of Jesus Christ cannot afford to lose its moorings in Holy Scripture and drift with the world. We believe the Lord is ‘strengthening the bars of the gates’ of the city/community of His people (Ps 147:12) by guarding the truth of His Word so that His church will indeed be ‘a light to the nations.’ (Is 42:6; Acts 13: 47).

5. The Resolution

5.1 As bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference 2022, we reaffirm Lambeth resolution 1.10

Based on the need to establish clear doctrine on Marriage and Sexuality at this defining moment for the Anglican Communion, this conference:

i. Reaffirms the biblical teaching of Lambeth Conference 1998 Resolution I.10 as follows:

a. in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;

b. recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God’s transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;

c. while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex;

d. cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions;

e. notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality.

ii. Urges that renewed steps be taken to ensure that all Provinces abide by this doctrine in their faith, order & practice.

Source: Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches.

Top image with thanks to the Lambeth ’22 Resource Group.

Interview with Archbishop Badi: ‘We cannot break bread with bishops who betray the Bible’

“The struggle in the Anglican Communion is not about sexuality. It is a symptom of something deeper: it is about biblical authority, the Archbishop of South Sudan, the Most Revd Justin Badi, told me on Friday. …”

– At The Church Times, Pat Ashworth interviews GSFA Chairman Archbishop Justin Badi about what’s happening at Lambeth.

(While the Church Times is paywalled, a single article may be accessible.)

Image: Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches.

Welby meets with GSFA primates — affirms Lambeth 1.10 is the ‘official’ stance of the Anglican Communion

“The Archbishop of Canterbury has agreed to execute a letter stating the official position of the Anglican Communion on human sexuality is given in the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution 1.10.

The letter is the fruit of on-going negotiations between the Most Rev. Justin Welby and the primates representing the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, who comprise approximately 257 of the 650 bishops present at the 2022 Lambeth Conference meeting at the University of Kent in Canterbury. …”

– This report from George Conger at Anglican.Ink.

Global South Bishops to Meet Archbishop of Canterbury to Discuss Presenting GSFA Resolution on ‘Lambeth 1.10’ at the Anglican Communion Plenary

“This morning, GSFA Primates held a Press Conference in which they announced they would table their own ‘Resolution’, confirming’ Lambeth 1.10’ as the Communion’s official teaching on marriage and sexuality. They would also give all bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference an opportunity to confirm their agreement by the end of the Conference.

Archbishop Justin Badi, Chairman of the GSFA, is grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for agreeing to meet tomorrow (JULY30), to discuss the possibility of Archbishop Badi presenting the need for ‘Lambeth 1.10’ to be central to the life of the Communion, at the Anglican Communion Plenary session for bishops on Monday 1 August.

Archbishop Badi will be joined at the meeting by other GSFA Primates, including those from Indian Ocean, Chile, Congo, and others. …”

– Statement from the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, 29 July 2022.

See also the first GSFA press conference at Lambeth (video via Facebook).

Orthodox bishops to offer their own ‘Lambeth Resolution’ — won’t receive Holy Communion with gay-partnered bishops

Here’s a Press release issued by the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches:

Press Release

For Immediate Release 29 July 2022

ORTHODOX BISHOPS TO OFFER THEIR OWN ‘LAMBETH RESOLUTION’ RE- AFFIRMING LAMBETH 1.10 & WILL NOT RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION ALONGSIDE GAY-PARTNERED BISHOPS

ORTHODOX bishops at the Lambeth Conference – representing 75% of the Anglican Communion – announced today (29JUL) that they will be tabling their own ‘Lambeth Resolution (Call)’. They will invite fellow bishops, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, to re-affirm Lambeth Resolution 1.10 as the Anglican Communion’s ‘official teaching’ on marriage and sexuality.

The bishops also want the Communion to impose sanctions on Provinces which ordain bishops in same-sex relations, and conduct same sex weddings – something which has led to schism in the Church. They have also revealed that at the two Conference’ Eucharists at Canterbury Cathedral, orthodox bishops will not receive Holy Communion alongside gay-partnered bishops, and those who endorse same-sex unions in the Church’s faith and order. They shall remain seated.

Speaking at their opening Press Conference of the Lambeth Conference, leaders of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) said they had taken the move after extensive requests to the Archbishop of Canterbury for a stand-alone resolution and, following the inserted reference to Lambeth 1.10 was withdrawn, on Tuesday, from the ‘Human Dignity ‘Call’. GSFA leaders claim that the Conference organisers have failed to recognise the foundations of ‘Lambeth 1.10’ which, they say, “is not just about sex and marriage, but fundamentally about the authority of the Bible which Anglicans believe to be central to faith and order”.

The GSFA will now table their Resolution and invite primates and their bishops to ‘sign up’. On Monday, senior GSFA representatives will seek to address the issue in the Plenary session on the Anglican Communion, making available the text of their resolution to all bishops, and providing secure means by which bishops can affirm their support. The GSFA is confident that leaders representing the majority of Anglicans across the globe will sign up. They will then present a signed copy by GSFA Primates, and others, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, inviting him to add his signature.

Lambeth 1.10 [1] was formally passed at the Lambeth Conference in1998, at which the majority of bishops agreed that marriage is between one man and a woman for life, and that sexual abstinence outside marriage is the Bible’s clear teaching. The Resolution also committed bishops “to listen to the experience of homosexual persons, and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ.” It also called on all churches to “minister pastorally and sensitively to all, irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals.”

Since then, provinces such as the Episcopal Church in America (TEC), the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, The Scottish Episcopal Church and The Church in Wales, have either ordained gay, married bishops, or opted to conduct gay weddings. This, despite the Resolution stating that the 1998 conference bishops “cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions, nor ordaining those involved in same gendered unions”.

Following the election of a partnered gay bishop, Gene Robinson in the United States in 2003, and subsequent breaches of moratoriums requested in the Windsor Report of 2004, orthodox provinces in the Global South have been contending for the upholding of Lambeth 1.10 across the Communion. These orthodox provinces have adopted a Covenantal Structure [2] among themselves that enhances ecclesial responsibility across member provinces.

Archbishop Justin Badi, Chairman of the GSFA and Archbishop of South Sudan said: “We have taken this action as if we are to ’walk together’ as a Communion, it must be on the based on a shared commitment to Holy Scripture.

“To us in our provinces, this is not primarily about gay sexual practices and unions, but rather that Anglicans look first and foremost to be guided in their faith and order by Scripture, and not by the passing cultural waves of Western society. Sadly, some provinces are adapting the teaching of the Church to try to appear relevant, and to make discipleship easier as a way of reversing fast-declining church attendance. But as disciples, we are not told in Scripture to mould Jesus into ‘our’ image, but to be continually transformed by the Spirit into ‘His’ image.

“For too long the Anglican Communion has been driven by the views of the West. We often feel that our voice is not listened to, or respected. We invite each primate and bishop to sign up to our resolution, and then with the majority of the Communion in favour, for the Instruments of the Anglican Communion to find ways to put faith and order back at the heart of what the Archbishop of Canterbury describes as ‘walking together’.

“Today in Canterbury, we may be ‘gathered together’, but we most certainly cannot ‘walk together’ until provinces which have gone against Scripture – and the will of the consensus of the bishops – repent and return to orthodoxy. The Communion is not in a healthy condition at present, and only major surgery will put that right.”

Archbishop James Wong, Archbishop of the Province of Indian Ocean added: “At this conference, we are being asked to look at the needs of our broken … world, and to offer hope. But we cannot mend a broken world when the Anglican Church is so broken and fractured. All provinces must remember that they are part of one body, and one Communion. Unfortunately, some provinces put emphasis on being autonomous, and forget the necessity of being interdependent.”

Commenting on the two joint services at the cathedral – which will now include the spouses of gay bishops – Archbishop Badi concluded: “GSFA primates will be discussing the services with their bishops, but all orthodox bishops will be encouraged to remain in their seats when others go to receive the bread and wine. This will be the start of a number of ‘visual differentials’ as we move forward from this conference.”

GSFA leaders are keen to stress that they have no intention of being a ‘breakaway group’ from the Anglican Communion. The Fellowship sees itself, and seeks to be part of, the ‘holy remnant’ that God has preserved in the Anglican Communion. The four-fold objectives of GSFA bishops attending Lambeth are: the unity of the orthodox, biblical faithfulness, non-separatist – but a holy remnant, and a commitment to world mission.

ENDS

Source: Global South Anglican Press Release (PDF file).

“Human Dignity” Call revised following revisionist backlash

At Anglican Mainstream, Andrew Symes highlights how the ‘Call’ in the pre-Lambeth documents has been watered down –

“The first edition of the ‘Human Dignity’ section of the Lambeth Calls discussion document contained this paragraph: …

Following a number of strongly worded objections to this from those advocating a progressive version of the Christian faith (all from affluent Western countries), the Calls Subgroup announced two major changes. Firstly, a change to the process, allowing bishops to register their dissent from the text of a Call. Secondly, all reference to Lambeth I:10 as representing ‘the mind of the Communion’ has been removed. …”

– Read it all here.

Andrew Symes image courtesy Christian Concern.

“Fury at inclusion of same sex marriage ban on Lambeth conference agenda”

“There has been a furious response to the decision to re-introduce a divisive resolution banning same sex marriage, at the forthcoming Lambeth conference of worldwide Anglican bishops. …”

– This article from Religion Media Centre in the UK is certainly not sympathetic towards Lambeth 1.10, but it does give a good glimpse of the anger at the suggestion that Lambeth might in some way reaffirm that 1998 statement on marriage and human sexuality. The Church is mirroring the world.

Image from the Conference Delegates Event Guide.

Global South Bishops to seek reaffirmation of Lambeth 1.10

In a video posted on the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches website, Chairman Archbishop Justin Badi calls the orthodox bishops at Lambeth to seek the reaffirmation of Lambeth 1.10 as the official teaching of the Anglican Communion on marriage.

This might not go well with the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Statement from the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church

The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church has responded to the Lambeth Calls document prior to their journey to Lambeth –

“Human Dignity features as one of the topics, the call for which includes a reaffirmation of the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution I.10 and defines marriage as permissible only between a man and woman. The wording of that call does not represent the position of the Scottish Episcopal Church as reflected in the Church’s Canons, which recognises that there are differing understandings of marriage in the SEC. …

The members of the College of Bishops will seek to amend the draft call on Human Dignity urging a more inclusive approach …”

– Read it here.

A Review of the “Lambeth Calls” guidance and study document

Anglican theologian Dr. Martin Davie has taken a look at the Lambeth Calls Guidance and Study Document, which has now been made public.

The document shows how well the Conference has been organised. Davie writes:

“What is said in this section of the document appears to mean that there will be no opportunity for the Calls to be amended by the bishops during the Conference. Their only choice would appear to be to indicate what ‘level of support’ they are willing to give each Call as it stands.  However, for the outcome of the Lambeth Conference to properly reflect the views of the bishops who are taking part they need to have the opportunity to amend the text of the Calls and the  bishops should therefore insist on having the opportunity to do this.

In addition, there is nothing said in the document about the possibility of the bishops being able to issue additional or alternative Calls. However, as before,  for the outcome of the Lambeth Conference to properly reflect the views of the bishops who are taking part they need to have the opportunity to do this, and they should therefore insist that this is the case.”

Read it all here.

See also:

Lambeth Conference Study Guide sends conflicting message over Resolution 1:10 – David Virtue.

Image: Lambeth website.

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