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

newsletter 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.)

GAFCON moves towards agreement

The chair of the Statement Committee at the Global Anglican Future Conference has told a media briefing that there is already general agreement on a number of points as the meeting is just two days away from issuing its final communique. …

– Report from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

American conservatives ‘not bank-rolling GAFCON’

Claims the Global Anglican Future Conference is being underwritten by American conservative money is false …

Bishop-elect AkinTunde Popoola, the Church of Nigeria’s press spokesman said two donors gave the bulk of the funds. … The suggestion that shadowy Western financiers were behind Gafcon was “nonsense” he said.

– Report from George Conger at Religious Intelligence. Apparently a response to this. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney)