Tears and cheers as Declaration released
The Global Anglican Future Conference has overwhelmingly endorsed the Jerusalem Declaration and final communique, a document Archbishop Peter Jensen says will help bring order out of chaos. …
– Russell Powell reports for SydneyAnglicans.net.
GAFCON Statement here.
Also hear a 6 minute recording from Sunday afternoon’s press conference (Archbishops Henry Orombi, Peter Jensen and Emmanuel Kolini answer questions) – 4.2MB mp3 file (direct link), courtesy of SydneyAnglicans.net.
Dr J I Packer on lessons to be learned
The audio files of Dr James Packer’s talk and question time at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne, last Tuesday are available at the Holy Trinity website.
Dr Packer spoke on “Lessons to be learned from the Canadian church experience” – and stated that the issues which prompted GAFCON are the most serious since the Reformation. Very helpful talk.
The meeting was widely reported when – 3 minutes into the question time – Dr Packer was asked what he would say to the Archbishop of Canterbury given the opportunity.
Links to the mp3 files – talk (55 min / 9.5MB) – question time (32 min / 5.6MB).
(Photo: Ed Hird.)
GAFCON Final Statement released
The GAFCON Final Statement has now been released on the final day of the Pilgrimage in Jerusalem –
“GAFCON is not just a moment in time, but a movement in the Spirit, and we hereby:
• launch the GAFCON movement as a fellowship of confessing Anglicans
• publish the Jerusalem Declaration as the basis of the fellowship
• encourage GAFCON Primates to form a Council. …”
– read the full statement and the associated Jerusalem Declaration here (380kb PDF – direct link). It’s also available on our website in the Reference documents section.
A press conference is expected in a few hours at 9:00pm Sydney time (1100GMT) Sunday.
GAFCON Slideshow Day 7
Here’s a slideshow of photos taken at GAFCON on Day 7 – Saturday.
You can also see our slideshows of Day 6, Day 4, Day 3 – and Monday’s photos from the Mount of Olives.
We’re very grateful to the GAFCON media team, and particularly Russell Powell, for the images and stories we’ve been able to share with you.
Russell is seen here interviewing Bishop Al Stewart – with Tim Robinson filming – overlooking the Sea of Galilee yesterday. (Photo: Zac Veron.)
GAFCON Statement expected Sunday
We understand that the long-awaited Statement from GAFCON will be released shortly after 5:30pm Sydney time on Sunday (0730GMT) with a press conference around 9:00pm Sydney time (1100GMT). We’ll post details and any updates here as we receive them.
(Photo: Russell Powell.)
Where Jesus walked
On Saturday, the GAFCON pilgrims travelled to Galilee.
Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Away from the conference venue – GAFCON pilgrims have had an emotional service on the water at Galilee in which six ferries were lashed together in the centre of the lake.
(Photo: David Sseppuuya)
PCUSA ‘plants seeds of self-destruction’
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted Friday to pave the way toward the ordination of practicing homosexual persons to the offices of deacon, elder, or minister. The series of votes begin to reverse the denomination’s position on sexual practices that it has held for its entire existence. …
– Report from Christian Newswire. (Photo: Danny Bolin and Presbyterian Church USA.)
Airport delay? – Share good news
Russell Powell hears how one Nigerian Bishop took the opportunity to share some wonderful news on his way to GAFCON.
See the 4 minute 20 second video file courtesy of SydneyAnglicans.net.
GAFCON Slideshow Day 6
Here’s a slideshow of photos taken at GAFCON on Day 6 – Friday.
You can also see our slideshows of Day 4, Day 3 – and Monday’s photos from the Mount of Olives.
‘A sleeping giant awakes’ says Peter Jensen
Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen – chair of the GAFCON programme committee – speaking to a news briefing in Jerusalem – saying a sleeping giant has awoken in the church because of the actions of revisionist [i.e. liberal] leaders in North America. …
– from the GAFCON website.
930kb Mp3 audio clip here – courtesy GAFCON media team.
(Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Gafcon: a longer look
“Our story today follows up the press conference yesterday with Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya. He confirmed that Gafcon will today and on Sunday firm up plans for the new ‘church within a church’ …”
– by Ruth Gledhill in Times Online.
(Photo: Russell Powell.)
Court backs Virginia churches
A Virginia circuit judge has handed a crucial victory to a group of 11 former Episcopal churches that left the Diocese of Virginia 18 months ago over issues of theology and the 2003 consecration of the denomination’s first openly gay bishop. …
– Story from The Washington Times. (Truro Church is the largest of the churches involved.)
Draft communique on the table
GAFCON delegates have been giving their reaction to a draft conference communique released at midday on Friday in Jerusalem.
The draft, which is confidential and won’t be finalised for another 24 hours, was greeted enthusiastically by participants, who gave it a standing ovation. …
– Report from Russell Powell for SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
‘Church within a Church’
A communiqué being prepared by pilgrims to the Global Anglican Future Conference will call for new structures to support conservatives and likely formalize a break with the Episcopal Church.
The changes Gafcon sees are new structural relations between Anglican churches including a break with the progressive wing of The Episcopal Church, a common approach to reading the Bible, a new catechism and a new Book of Common Prayer shared by conservatives across the Communion, Nigerian Bishop John Akao said.
The “centre of Anglicanism has shifted from Europe to Africa,” Sydney lay leader and member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference, Robert Tong said. Past pan-Anglican gatherings had been jamborees where we “were all scouts together,” Mr Tong said, but the rise in influence of African Anglicanism meant a change was in the works for what it meant to be Anglican. …
On the opening night of the conference, Archbishop Akinola stated Gafcon had “no intention” of starting a new church … However, the archbishop’s colleagues explained that being an Anglican did not mean loyalty to a church system centring round the Archbishop of Canterbury, but to a set of theological principles. …
– Read the full report by George Conger for Religious Intelligence.
(Photo of Robert Tong by Joy Gwaltney.)
Women support Akinola
Mrs Oluranti Ademowo said that the women who form the majority of worshippers in the Anglican Church in Nigeria are solidly in support of the Primate of Nigeria Archbishop Peter Akinola in the campaign to uphold Biblical authority. …
– From the Church of Nigeria website. (Photo: Peter Frank.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…