[Same Sex Practice]…goes against the teachings of the Bible and should not be admitted to the Church, conservative Anglican leaders have said.
Gathering in Nairobi for week-long Global Anglican Future Conference, the clergy on Monday said they would preach for adherence to the teachings of the Bible and do not support the infiltration of “secularising” influences.
Conference members have been enjoying the outstanding venue of All Saints Cathedral, its Trinity Conference Centre and grounds festooned with tents for meals, stands for 44 exhibiting organisations and a street craft market. There are one hundred patient volunteers of whom eighty are members of the cathedral congregation.
The Dean and the Church Council have closed all other Cathedral activities for the week and taken a bank loan of £100,000 to pay for the extra facilities. The overall impression is that this is how a Cathedral and its precincts can be used to resource the whole Church.
There were nine day long ‘mini-conferences’ …on Islam, Marriage and Family, Theological Education, Aid and Development.
It was ably demonstrated from history and contemporary analysis that the West is be default proclaiming a gospel of cheap grace. That means proclaiming a faith without repentance, and which therefore requires no forgiveness; a grace that is self bestowed, not given by God, and therefore a presumption. All this has flowed from the man-centredness from Kant onwards, where ”˜maturity’ implies autonomy and entitlement, leading to rights without duties, and a narcissism that responds to any challenge with irrational rage.
The fruit of this non-gospel is a worldly church promoting itself to others with an attractive mix of technological and financial superiority, but worldly in its theology. It only proclaims as sin things that culture is willing to concede are has, like racism or injustice; what it won’t do is challenge what culture approves. Many examples of the fruit of this were given, from places now persecuted over it.
This morning I stopped to chat with John W Yates III of Holy Trinity Church in Raleigh, N.C.. John was a former study assistant to John Stott and we talked about Uncle John’s influence on North American Anglicans.
Take the time to listen to it all.
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(Photo courtesy of Bob Lawrence)
Watch it all (about 18 1/2 minutes).
This post is sticky – look below the GAFCON links entry for new posts. UPDATED FRIDAY Oct 25th – 15:20 GMT / 11:20 Eastern
UPDATE: The video of today’s (Friday) Press Conference on the draft of the Conference Statement is now online. There is an accompanying Press Release here.
***
The tireless Kevin Kallsen has got some new GAFCON videos uploaded (not easy when you’re dealing with African internet connections!!)
From Tuesday at GAFCON:
VIDEO: Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali: Global Challenge [12 minutes]
VIDEO: Dr. Mike Ovey’s presentation on The Grace of God or the World of the West [50 minutes]
Other videos we recommend include:
(Sunday) Archbishop Welby’s Sermon at Nairobi Cathedral
(Sunday) VIDEO: Archbishop Jensen’s address to the archbishops’ luncheon with Justin Welby [12 minutes]
(Monday) Opening Press Conference
(Monday) Abp. Wabukala welcomes delegates to Kenya [7:48]
(Tuesday) The Rev. Paul Perkin: What is happening in the Church of England [18 minutes]
(Tuesday) The Lonely Church [13 minutes]
All the Anglican TV videos can be found here (YouTube)
The GAFCON videos page is here (Vimeo)
Selected Tweets from the #GAFCON2013 feed – October 21, 2013 (also some tweets from #GAFCON, and #GAFCON13)
Louisa Pfitzner ”@louisapf 21 Oct
Fascinating arvo on East African revival. Key themes centrality of Christ, public repentance, making restitution #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 21 Oct
Revival does not begin with a church. Revival begins with submission and repentance to Christ. “Revival begins with you!” #gafcon13
Jeff Walton ”@jeffreyhwalton 21 Oct
Bible precious & true: we take away foundation of Christian life when we undermine biblical authority. J. Senyonyi #gafcon #anglican
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 21 Oct
When theology begins to undermine the authority of the scriptures, the theology has gone bad. – Dr John Senyonyi #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 21 Oct
Big theme of East African revival is true repentance. Putting past sins aside & right. Men went & paid back those they stole from. #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 21 Oct
Rev Dr Alfred Olwa addresses #gafcon13 about the East African revival. 1930s to today!!
Heather Strong Moore ”@StrongHeather 21 Oct
@gafconference The Gospel transforms or it is no gospel – Archbishop Jensen #GAFCon2013 #preach
AnglicanGeeks ”@AnglicanGeeks 21 Oct
#GAFCON gathers #Anglicans from across the globe to build friendships and share ministry of reaching out in our broken world. #GAFCON2013
Rev. Anson Ann ”@revansonann 21 Oct
Some stats : 2008 GAFCON @ Jerusalem – 19 provinces, 1138 delegates
2013 GAFCON @ Nairobi – 27 provinces, 1352 delegates
David Ould ”@davidould 21 Oct
Jensen doing the roll call of nations! #GAFCON13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 21 Oct
Who is here. People from: Argentina, Bermuda, brazil, Burundi, Canada, chile, Congo DR, Fiji, France, Gambia, India, Iran, Ireland #gafcon13
Israel, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, NZ, Nigeria, USA, Pakistan, Paraguay, PNG, Rwanda, Seychelles, #gafcon13
Singapore, South Africa, sth Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, uk, Zambia, Australia, Mexico, Germany Sierra Leone #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 21 Oct
Just heard there will be more than 400 Nigerian delegates here. Incredible. #gafcon13
Karen Stevenson ”@loubaker 21 Oct
Worship with a taste of heaven, all nations..well at least 38 in this worship. Jesus you get the glory #GAFCON2013 @gafconference
Karen Stevenson ”@loubaker 21 Oct
So it was amazing….in a matter of hours we now have friends in 10 new countries. #GAFCON2013 @gafconference
daveclancey ”@daveclancey 21 Oct
Revival doesn’t start in the church. Revival starts in the individual. #gafcon2013
Anglican Future ”@gafconference 21 Oct
“Repentance leads to revival” – #gafcon2013
Canon Jack Lumanog ”@CanonLumanog 21 Oct
Singing “Revive Us Again” with 1,300+ Anglicans from all over the world at #GAFCON2013 in Nairobi. Such a powerful moment.
Porterbrook ”@Porterbrook 21 Oct
Everyday radical discipleship is firmly at the heart of the agenda for #gafcon2013- walking in the death and resurrection of Christ.
Porterbrook ”@Porterbrook 21 Oct
Being challenged and refreshed by African bishops passionately exhorting #gafcon2013 to say “not I but Christ” what ever the cost.
AnglicanGeeks ”@AnglicanGeeks 21 Oct
#GAFCON gathers #Anglicans from across the globe to build friendships and share ministry of reaching out in our broken world. #GAFCON2013
Sam Allberry ”@SamAllberry 21 Oct
Seems right that an Anglican conference – even a global one hosted in Kenya – should formally begin with afternoon tea. #gafcon2013
Selected Tweets from the #GAFCON2013 feed – October 22, 2013 (also some tweets from #GAFCON, and #GAFCON13)
Satan ”@thetempter 22 Oct
Gafcon getting dangerous. Too many calls for solid gospel teaching and solid training. Bad for business. Love, Satan X #gafcon13 #gafcon2013
David Ould ”@davidould 22 Oct
“You are not alone!” – the great #GAFCON13 encouragement we’ve heard over the past few hours
Mel Lacy ”@lacymel 22 Oct
Amazing testimonies of godly Anglicans standing for Jesus in horrendous situations around the world. Praise God for them #gafcon13
Richard Condie ”@CondieR 22 Oct
GAFCON 2 shaping up as stimulating and stretching as 2008. Heard about the persecuted, compromised, and lonely church today. #gafcon2013
Zane Elliott ”@squeakycog 22 Oct
Amazing afternoon discovering that “we are not alone” as we surveyed the state of the Anglican Communion. God is faithful #gafcon2013
Heather Strong Moore ”@StrongHeather 22 Oct
As we hear from one another of the challenges facing the Communion let us not forget that darkness does not overcome our Light #GAFCon2013
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
Church of NZ. Lonely. Isolated. Trying to honor Jesus in a country that prides itself on pushing boundaries. #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
Shocking stats on UK clergy. 1/4 male clergy don’t believe the trinity, 1/2 that Jesus is unique Saviour. Even fewer of females. #gafcon13
David Ould ”@davidould 22 Oct
Paul Perkins tells #GAFCON13 about the institutionalised compromise of the CofE.
Matt Lemsing ”@mattlemsing 22 Oct
A worldly church will always oppose a church that takes Gods word to the world. #gafcon13 #gafcon2013
Mel Lacy ”@lacymel 22 Oct
If the church is sent into the world, what a tragedy when the church is infected by the world – Paul Perkins #gafcon2013
Matt Lemsing ”@mattlemsing 22 Oct
While the world wants cheap grace, it’s not the grace it needs. It’s greatest needs is that it’s sins be forgiven. #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
Biblical repentance is about being horrified at ourselves and hoping in Christ. The Western church is teaching the opposite. #gafcon13
Heather Strong Moore ”@StrongHeather 22 Oct
“People think revival is the top being blown off, when really its the bottom falling out” #GAFCon2013 #repentance
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
The cheap grace of western church is repentanceless and self-bestowed. Christ is methodologically excluded. We are exalted. #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
Mike Ovey firing up #gafcon2013 #gafcon13 with a rebuke of the cheap grace of the West. God’s been ignored!!
David Ould ”@davidould 22 Oct
Dr Mike Ovey of @OakHillLondon gives address on the loss of repentance in the West. #GAFCON13 pic.twitter.com/iA8edtUOEP
Heather Strong Moore ”@StrongHeather 22 Oct
Morning tea outside All Saints, enjoying some great Kenyan brew #GAFCon2013 #LaterGram http://instagram.com/p/fxM01cl3tc/
Karin Sowada ”@karinsowada 22 Oct
Rachel, Maasai woman & rep Mothers Union Kenya – ‘a great multitude…from every nation’ Rev 7:9 #gafcon2013 pic.twitter.com/bMUdyqhqJS
Sam Allberry ”@SamAllberry 22 Oct
Just so everyone’s clear, these guys can SING. And dance. At the same time. #feelingEnglish #gafcon2013 pic.twitter.com/g9mvSyBBCl
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
GAFCON 1 acknowledged that the Anglican Communion had been paralysed by a false gospel. – Bsp Wabukala, Chairman #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
The paralysis has intensified and we need new wine skins to reach the world with the Gospel. – Bsp Wabukala #gafcon13
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue 22 Oct
Big themes of GAFCON today are atonement, salvation, inspiration and mission. #gafcon13 #gafcon2013
Zane Elliott ”@squeakycog 22 Oct
#gafcon2013 celebrated Holy Communion this morning ‘If you take out the resurrection, xty is an empty shell.’ Most Rev. Emmanuel Egbunu
Anglican Future ”@gafconference 22 Oct
#Anglican leaders began the day singing Oh Worship the King and We are Marching in the Light of God”. #GAFCON2013 pic.twitter.com/XTmev1H5AF
Anglican Future ”@gafconference 22 Oct
Tuesday morning Eucharist! 1,352 #Anglicans at #GAFCON2013 worshipping The Lord. Great way to start a day! pic.twitter.com/BFmbeHd9tp
Canon Jack Lumanog ”@CanonLumanog 22 Oct
I am amazed by the hospitality being extended by the Anglican Church of Kenya for #GAFCON2013. So many bright and smiling faces – it’s totally contagious.
Canon Jack Lumanog ”@CanonLumanog 22 Oct
I admit – I got quite a bit emotional when we gathered @The_ACNA delegates for a group photo at #GAFCON2013. Such a great team!
Canon Jack Lumanog ”@CanonLumanog 22 Oct
#Anglican Archbishops and Bishops gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for #GAFCON2013 pic.twitter.com/4lUCm4wYvp
Since the GAFCON conference delegates broke up into smaller “mini-conferences” today, it’s less easy to get a feel for what transpired. No plenary transcripts or videos. The Twitterverse gives a good overview of the day and glimpses of some of the mini-conferences. It’s also good to get a taste of the preaching on Ephesians 2.
Selected Tweets from the #GAFCON2013 feed, October 23, 2013
Chris Edwards ”@musicbyfaith
Thrilling to hear what’s coming out of Nairobi this week at #gafcon2013 – a strong centre of gravity for the future of biblical Anglicanism.
Jeff Walton ”@jeffreyhwalton
“Without the witness of the spirit of Christ, our witness is futile.” -Dr. Alfred Owla #GAFCON2013 http://bit.ly/16tcypP #Anglican
Richard Condie ”@CondieR
An Aussie (Kanishka Raffel), a Ugandan (Alfred Olwa), a Brit (Mike Ovey), an American (Ashley Null), amazingly stimulating day #gafcon2013
Anglican Future ”@gafconference
“GAFCON is one of those unstoppable movements. We praise God for the leaders.” -#GAFCON2013 FB page comment #Anglican http://tinyurl.com/navgm4q
Canon Jack Lumanog ”@CanonLumanog
Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Nigeria is teaching on the priorities for a bishop’s leadership at #gafcon2013… http://fb.me/2CmiV9c20
Jeff Walton ”@jeffreyhwalton
“This is the heart of the GAFCON meeting: that the gospel may transform the cultures we live in.” -Dr. Alfred Olwa @ #GAFCON2013 #Anglican
Heather Strong Moore ”@StrongHeather
If Christians think the Church is the place where they get their needs met they won’t respond sacrificially to the Gospel -Tong #gafcon2013
Kukunda Liz Bacwayo ”@busingye
#GAFCON2013 Poverty is not lack of resources, its a mindset #aid&development mini conference . Jesus can change the mindset
Kukunda Liz Bacwayo ”@busingye
#GAFCON2013 Money is needed 4 #development but it doesn’t drive #development . Say what?
Kukunda Liz Bacwayo ”@busingye
#GAFCon2013 #Aid&development mini conference brought out some unexpected reactions. Makes one wonder about how we define #development mini
daveclancey ”@daveclancey
Fellowship must be in the truth for that is the only fellowship there is. #ephesians2 #gafcon2013 #fb
Joshua Kuswadi ”@JoshuaKuswadi
Bishops singing “This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long.” #gafcon2013 #africansingingrocks #loudandproud
Anglican Future ”@gafconference
“This is wonderful, defining the Unity we are in Christ. Quite Awesome” #GAFCON2013 FB page comment http://tinyurl.com/navgm4q
Matt Lemsing ”@mattlemsing
Nazir Ali giving a brilliant lecture on the history of Islam. #gafcon2013 pic.twitter.com/fZIw0Amiyw
Lee Gatiss ”@LeeGatiss
It’s not enough to just teach theology. We must train people for ministry. #gafcon2013
ACNA ”@The_ACNA
#Anglican women from around the world gather to pray together at #GAFCON2013 https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1381648_434064726698719_1407687865_n.jpg ”¦ #Episcopal #prayer
David Ould ”@davidould
Very muted applause for @ABCJustin video. #gafcon2013 but massive applause for volunteers!
Rev. Anson Ann ”@revansonann
Kanishka Raffel+ just preached an absolutely marvelous expository sermon from Eph 2 on the Grace of God. Must listen again. #GAFCON2013
Matt Lemsing ”@mattlemsing
Cannot abandon the prophets & apostles without abandoning The Lord.We must not be moved from the foundation that has been laid. #gafcon2013
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue
We grieve those who abandon the cross, the apostles testimony and grace. Without the cross there is no hope. #gafcon2013 @KanishkaRaffel
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue
There must be welcome, reconciliation, fellowship in prayer and the truth here at GAFCON. #ephesians2 #gafcon2013 @KanishkaRaffel
David Ould ”@davidould
with tears, @KanishkaRaffel tells us of the reconciling embrace of repentance, forgiveness and love that grace brings. #gafcon2013
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue
Humanity without Jesus: stateless, friendless, hopeless, godless. #ephesians2 #gafcon2013
David Ould ”@davidould
“the wonder that God has raised YOU????!!!! Praise His Glorious Grace!!!!” – @KanishkaRaffel #gafcon2013
David Ould ”@davidould
if we get grace wrong, we get devotion, evangelism, discipleship, works of service, relationships wrong” – @KanishkaRaffel #gafcon2013
Canon Jack Lumanog ”@CanonLumanog
“If you are spiritually dead, you don’t need a doctor. You need a resurrection.” – Rev Kanishka Raffel #gafcon2013 #anglican
Nigel Fortescue ”@nigelfortescue
The best words in Ephesians 2 are these…. “But God…” #gafcon2013
David Ould ”@davidould
Now @KanishkaRaffel preaches on Ephesians 2. #gafcon2013 pic.twitter.com/wTsuY7qm8i
Heather Strong Moore ”@StrongHeather
When we started worshipping together it was beautifully remarkable to join our many cultures. Today it is joyfully normal #GAFCon2013
daveclancey ”@daveclancey
Never has ‘The church’s one foundation’ sounded so good or meant so much. #gafcon2013 #fb pic.twitter.com/YF5btGQS9p
This talk generated a lot of “buzz” on the #GAFCON2013 Twitter feed yesterday. Highly recommended!!
The Grace of God OR the world of the West?
The Rev Dr Michael Ovey, Principal of Oak Hill College, London, England
Day 2, Oct 22nd GAFCON 2013
1. Introduction
My first really significant encounter with worldwide Anglicanism came at theological college. It was 1990 and an east African priest was on secondment with us. He preached in the college chapel. He posed a question. Which gospel, he asked, which gospel do you westerners want us to believe? The one you came with or the one you preach now? Which gospel? I was horrified, not because what he said was not true. I was horrified because it was true.
My east African brother`s question has nagged away at me ever since. But how has it come about that we have a different gospel now from the one we first preached. What is this difference between what we westerners say now and what we said then?
I think the difference is nothing less than the grace of God and what we mean by it. The difference comes from the way that western culture and the western church deny or distort God`s grace. The modern west, in both culture and church, is, overall, graceless, and has become so because of its worldliness. That is why I have called this plenary talk the grace of God or the world of the west. Ultimately you cannot have both. It is either/or. My prayer is that as global Anglicans we choose grace, not the world of the west. For those of us who have tried to have grace and the world, I pray for our repentance. My fear is as global Anglicans we will try to have grace AND the world, and that God justly hands us over to the consequences of our sin in rejecting his grace as it truly is and builds his kingdom through others.
But I must now explain why grace is at stake, why the culture of the west denies grace and how the western church distorts grace.
2. Why is Grace at stake?
Let me begin with grace
On first hearing you may well be thinking that I am simply crazy. People in the western church still talk about grace. They talk about it a lot. If anything the charge is that traditional believers like me lack grace. So what am I getting at? It’s this. It`s not enough just to say the word `grace` a lot. The issue is what we mean by it, and whether we mean what the bible means or whether we have made up our own meaning for ourselves.
2.1. Cheap Grace?
Now the kind of grace that I think the western church talks about, and come to that western culture when it thinks about grace at all is this: cheap grace. Cheap grace. I am borrowing from the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He says this. ‘ʹCheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate’ʹ1
We especially need to note three points.
”¢ This grace is worldly. Bonhoeffer means that it conforms to the patterns of the world, is no different from the world and listens to the world.2 Crucial. Bonhoeffer was warning us about mixing Christian grace with the world’s idea of grace, and at worst substituting the world`s view of grace for the Christian view. For Bonhoeffer, who was writing in the 1930s, that influence from the world came from the tragic infatuation of some German Christians with Nazism. The precise kind of worldliness may be different now from Nazism then. I`m not saying that modern western culture and the modern western church is pro-””‘Nazi. I am saying it is pro-””‘world, just as, in their different way, Nazi Christians tried to be.
This worldliness is at the heart of Bonhoeffer’s criticism. He is echoing the Barmen declaration of 1934, when German Confessing Christians rejected the idea that Christ’s people should listen to any other voice claiming to stand on a par with his. The Barmen declaration comes back to that time and again: the imperative that Christ’s people listen to him the good Shepherd and not to any competing voice. It is Christ alone, not Christ and something else”¦. Whether the something else is Nazism or liberal democracy or an understandable pride in establishing oneself as an independent country. But what does this cheap grace that conforms to the world look like? Bonhoeffer points especially to 2 things that mark out cheap grace from real grace.
Ӣ This grace is repentanceless
Ӣ This is a grace we bestow on ourselves, in other words, it is a grace we give each other when we see fit, rather than according to the pattern of God
We need to look at both aspects, the lack of repentance and bestowing grace on ourselves.
From the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh (via George Conger at Anglican Ink)
Dear Friends of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh,
Please continue to pray for our Archbishop Robert Duncan. We received word from Nara this morning that he is to have a surgical procedure performed today at 6:00 p.m. Nairobi time ”“ which is 11:00 a.m. here in Pittsburgh (EST). It is hoped that this will enable him to be well enough to return home on Saturday. His Grace will remain recuperating in the hospital until then.
[Note: Abp. Duncan is suffering from an abscessed tooth and infection. He entered the hospital in Nairobi on Tuesday morning to receive intravenous antibiotic treatment.]
There’s a short (2 minute) video now up at the GAFCON website that interviews participants taking part in various of the mini-conference sessions at GAFCON 2013 today – Friday.
The mini-conference topics and leaders are:
The Challenge of Islam ”“ led by Bishop Michael Nazir Ali
The Work of the Holy Spirit ”“ led by Dr. Stephen Noll
Marriage and Family – led by Dr. John & Ruth Senyonyi
Children and Youths – Rev Zac Vernon
Gospel and Culture – Dr. Alfred Olwa
Being Women of God – Christine Perkin
Aid and Development – Rev Dennis Tongoi
Theological Education – Dr Andrew Shead
Episcopal Ministry – Bishop Wallace Benn
In addition to posting specific prayer topics for GAFCON 2013, our friends at the prayer blog Lent & Beyond have posted two entries this week in a series “Why GAFCON 2013 Matters.” It’s an attempt to look at GAFCON and pray for this event from a “big picture” perspective.
Here are the links:
Why should we care about, and pray for, GAFCON? ”“ Part 1: By the Numbers
Why GAFCON 2013 matters ”“ part 2: Praying for the “mini conference” sessions
Some excerpts from the first entry:
In terms of size and the make up of the participants alone, it’s clear that GAFCON 2013 matters! I believe it is the largest truly GLOBAL and REPRESENTATIVE Anglican gathering in modern history. GAFCON 2013 gives us a glimpse of what the Anglican Communion REALLY looks like. […] GAFCON is a step towards helping towards creating new wineskins for the shape of today’s Anglican Communion. […] May this week in Nairobi be a time of building friendships, love and trust, strengthening the bonds of unity in Christ. May each individual present, and the delegates corporately, re-center themselves on the foundation of Scriptural truth, and with that foundation strong and solid, may the Holy Spirit do a wonderful work of knitting together and rebuilding a temple for the praise of His glory. We who only know the current brokenness and destruction of the Anglican Communion can hardly imagine what new wineskins might look like”¦, what wholeness and health is. May GAFCON 2013 be an occasion for God to impart His vision for the future. May God help us glimpse the promise of new wine and new fruitfulness that’s ahead if we allow Him to reshape us.
The full entry is here.
The second entry, posted this morning, focuses on the various “mini-conferences” that will be taking place today – Friday as part of the GAFCON program, and draws on the author’s own experience of the working groups that were formed following the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in 1974. As the author writes: Not all conferences are just TALK. Some, through the creation of effective working groups, lead to actions that change the world!
GAFCON II is not all about rousing Plenary Sessions and worship, and fellowship, but it truly is a WORKING CONFERENCE. Of note is that throughout the week (today ”“ Friday) there are a number of “mini-conferences” taking place.
The Challenge of Islam ”“ led by Bishop Michael Nazir Ali
The Work of the Holy Spirit ”“ led by Dr. Stephen Noll
Marriage and Family – led by Dr. John & Ruth Senyonyi
Children and Youths – Rev Zac Vernon
Gospel and Culture – Dr. Alfred Olwa
Being Women of God – Christine Perkin
Aid and Development – Rev Dennis Tongoi
Theological Education – Dr Andrew Shead
Episcopal Ministry – Bishop Wallace BennThese mini-conferences are a big part of why I believe GAFCON 2013 is important and an event we should uphold in much prayer.
Let me share a somewhat personal example of what can come out of a conference and conference working groups. Although I am too young to have atttended the first Congress on World Evangelization in Lausaane Switzerland in 1974, I have heard a lot about it from a number who were there. John Stott is quoted as describing Lausanne’s Impact as follows:
”˜Many a conference has resembled a fireworks display. It has made a loud noise and illuminated the night sky for a few brief brilliant seconds. What is exciting about Lausanne is that its fire continues to spark off other fires. ’ [from here]
THAT IS MY PRAYER FOR GAFCON 2013 ”“ that it will spark many such fires in terms of effective partnerships and ministries that will lead to the growth of the worldwide Church ”“ both in maturity, and in numbers!
Read it all.
In order, the speakers are Richard Ellena, Bishop of Nelson in New Zealand (about which you may read a little over here), Miguel Uchoa, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Recife, (about which you may read a little over there), and the third is Charlie Masters, Bishop Coadjutor of the Anglican Church in North America’s diocese in Canada (about which you may read a little over there)–KSH.
Watch it all (a little over 13 1/2 minutes).
This post is sticky – look below GAFCON Links entry for new posts
The video of Abp. Peter Jensen’s address to the Primates luncheon and the Abp. of Canterbury in Nairobi on Sunday Oct. 20.
Update: There is also a Transcript of this talk available on the GAFCON site [pdf] and on the AAC site here and on Anglican Ink copied below
TRANSCRIPT: DR PETER JENSEN, General Secretary of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans
Your graces, my lords, ladies and gentlemen, actually brothers and sisters, it is a very wonderful thing to stand here and look around and see so many whose faces I know so well who I count as comrades, brothers and sisters in the long, arduous business of being Christian. As well as that, I see quite a number whose acquaintance I have just made.
My first duty today is to say particularly to the local committee who have arranged for GAFCON to take place here, how very, very grateful we are to you for the extraordinary amount of work you have done, for the skill with which you have done it, and for the endless hours of time you have put into this. I might say with the High Commissioner how much this has enhanced if I can say so and will enhance the reputation of Kenya and Nairobi.
You have been through two horrendous incidents with the fire at the airport and of course this last tragedy. You have continued on, faithfully and steadfastly. You have looked again at the security for example, I know that, but you have been so faithful in doing all this. We will not be adequately able to thank you but please accept these words as our deepest thanks to you for making this great convention possible.
Can I also say that I didn’t think it would be possible until I walked into the Trinity Centre and then I knew, since we could never build that centre in Sydney, I knew I was in the presence of people who can run a convention and do it well. So I want to lead the rest of us in applause to the local committee. (Applause).
Your Grace the Primate of Kenya we want to thank you. It is not an easy thing to extend an invitation to hundreds and hundreds of people to come. My whole aim in Sydney I have to say was to avoid the General Synod occurring ever in Sydney, always have it somewhere else. I know what it’s like, and that was nothing compared to having GAFCON here. So again and very publicly I want to say how very grateful we are to you. And today of course I want to thank you, on behalf of all your guests, for this magnificent meal that you and Mama Rhoda have been hosting for us and I want to say how grateful we are; but also I want to assure you publicly that you are loved, you are deeply loved, both here in Kenya but also around the world, and we love and honour you for all you have done for us ”“ thank you. (Applause)
I have also been asked to say just a few words about GAFCON. One of the reasons why it is so appropriate to be here for GAFCON this week is that it was born in Nairobi, Room 1216 of the Hilton Hotel to be exact, well I have to check my records, but I think it was 1216. A number of people sitting here today were present at that meeting. And it was intentionally held here in Kenya. The leader of the meeting of course was Archbishop Akinola, and I can remember Archbishop Okoh at his right. And Archbishop Okoh’s great contribution to the meeting, amongst others, was to tell us that the word GAFCON was the word we should have. So I think it was you sir, I can’t see you, but it was you sir who gave us the word GAFCON and for that we are very grateful because it is the Global Anglican Future Conference which we decided on.
Now a number of the folk here today were present at that. How little we could have guessed that we would be here five years later and asking ourselves what has been accomplished. I heard earlier today – Archbishop Wabukala said – that in a sense the crisis has passed, and that’s true because you can’t live in a state of crisis. The crisis having been passed, the results have become permanent, or at least permanent for the time being if I can put it like that. Something has happened with grave consequences which now go on. And what indeed has happened and why?
Well, the genesis of GAFCON as you know was the authority of Scripture: Is the word of God the word of God?
Long ago, even before GAFCON, Bishop Nazir-Ali said to me that the debate we were having was about the clarity of Scripture. I’ll never forget him saying that. And I thought yes, he’s right of course: Is the Bible the Bible for everybody, that all can read, in a way in which it interprets itself? Is it the Bible for the lay people as much as it is the Bible for the clergy and anyone else? And this was Bishop Nazir-Ali’s point: that we can read the Bible too; and we can understand what it is saying to us. And the clarity of the Scriptures – particularly in the area of human sexuality – which is so important for our identity, means that we believe that we know ”“ always ready to look again – but when we look again, the same message appears:: that human sexual expression needs to occur within the bonds of marriage between a man and a woman, and anything else is unholy matrimony, if you like.
Now it’s those great issues, aren’t they: the Bible and our obedience to the Bible, which gave us the explosion if you like which occurred at GAFCON. Since then, I see GAFCON ”“ it’s interesting, you occasionally hear what people say about GAFCON and the FCA, not always very nice ”“ it is often far from accurate.
I often hear it said that it is a ”˜schismatic movement’, which is very funny considering how many Anglicans are involved in it – ”˜it’s a schismatic movement’. And I’ve heard a view that ”˜it is homophobic’ of course, and all the other terms of abuse that’s it’s so popular to throw.
I want to say to you that the GAFCON movement is a movement for Unity. I remember the Saturday night after GAFCON I, we had gathered in the room, the Primates gathered there, I gathered as the boy in the room, and the discussion was held. And I think it was I, but someone asked the question: ”˜Are we leaving the Anglican Communion?’ And immediately all said: ”˜No we are not leaving the Anglican Communion; that is not the intention, we would never do that.’ But our intention is to gather up the fragments of the Anglican Communion. And what GAFCON has done, particularly in North America, has been to gather up the fragments and to unite and to make sure that our beloved friends like Archbishop Bob Duncan here today, our beloved friends are kept and recognised as the authentic true Anglicans that they are, and that they don’t have to pretend to be something else. (Acclaim and applause)
And of course it is not only the North Americans but others as well, and this is going to happen in other places around the Communion, indeed it has begun to happen in other places around the Communion, where to stand for Biblical truth is going to cost you very, very dearly indeed, as it has cost our brothers here. And then you will have to ask yourself: who are our friends? Who will stand with us? And GAFCON is a way of delivering friendship, it is a way of delivering unity, it is a way of making sure that to quote the immortal words of a Nigerian bishop at our last meeting in London: ”˜Now we know we are not alone’ [Approval]. I’ve never forgotten him saying that.
That’s GAFCON: Now we know that we are not alone.
Now, as we heard this morning, the Anglican Communion 21st Century is going to look very, very different from the Anglican Communion that began the 21st Century ”“ that’s obvious. Indeed it is not only going to look different, it is different, it already is different. The events of 2008, little did we know it, was the birth of something new in the Anglican Communion. And in a sense GAFCON is called I believe to model what a Communion could be, a different Communion. I like to put it this way: that the British Empire is dead but the British Commonwealth of nations has followed.
There’s a different partnership, a different equality between the partners now, a bringing together of bishops, laity and clergy, altogether in a great conference where all may play their part, and a way of modelling and being the Anglican Communion for the sake of the whole Gospel, of Christ and the Gospel, in a way which will bring our gifts to bear for the sake of one another. That’s a great picture, and I believe in microcosm this is what the FCA movement is already and has begun to be.
Here is, when thirteen hundred and – now last night it was thirteen hundred and fifty-two, this morning it is thirteen hundred and forty-eight and one baby from Nigeria I believe ”“ are gathering in Nairobi.
1,352 Anglican Christians are gathering here in Nairobi for a week in which we are going to seek, according to Archbishop Wabukala, we are going to seek the Glory of God.
Our prayer is that we may see the Glory of God in this week together and go home changed. We are going to hear about the East African Revival. We are going to be challenged by it. We from the West are going to be deeply challenged about the East African Revival. We are going to hear about the Persecuted Church. We are going to hear from each other. We are going to minister to each other. We are going to hear the Word of God together and sit underneath the teaching of the Word of God. It is I believe that we are going to sing the praises of God and worship together.
It is I believe going to be an extraordinary week, not just a sort of missions conference, something I know +Bob Duncan was worried about, but it is an ecclesial conference – it is more than that. [Oh you mean I’ve learned something from you?] Archbishop Duncan is always hoping I am going to learn something from him, and I have. (laughter). It is more than just a conference, it is more than that.
Now we are deeply in prayer, Archbishop Wabukala told us to be in prayer we will see the Glory of God. For my part I have asked that we will see that the Lord will maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, because Unity is what we are about.
Now that’s the genesis of FCA, GAFCON, and I have talked about it’s meaning.
And just to conclude by saying it has two great Purposes:
– First of all to recognise and authenticate Anglicans, who for no fault of their own, in a stand for Biblical truth have become disaffiliated from their own denomination or original church ”“ to gather up the fragments of Christ’s church, and to maintain them in unity.
– And then Secondly, to bring together Anglicans from all around the world – [we’re not the only Anglicans, of course, that would be nonsense] ”“ but to bring together Anglicans from all around the world, to release the energy of the Anglican Communion for the sake of: the Mission of the Gospel; the Sovereignty of God’s Word; the Glory of God’s Name; and the Good of God’s People.
Dear brothers and sisters as we are here today enjoying this wonderful occasion together, let’s remember what’s drawn us together, the Glory of God, and let us join in prayer that we will indeed see the Glory of God this week in Nairobi. (Applause)
Sobering accounts of rape, murder, torture and other forms of persecution challenged GAFCON 2013 delegates in Tuesday afternoon’s plenary session. Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of the Barnabas Fund, spoke of Christian persecution around the globe. From the terrorizing of small towns outside of Damascus to the systematic destruction of Christian communities in Iraq, Sookhdeo drew a picture of faithful Christians under attack in multiple areas of the globe. Expressions of Christian persecution are not limited however to violent ones said Sookhdeo. The NATO analyst said that secular humanism is deadly force to the marginal Christianity that exists in the West. Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Jos, Nigeria, has seen concerted attacks on his people and other Christians in central Nigeria….
The day began with a Eucharist in Nairobi Cathedral where there was standing room only. Afterwards the 331 bishops, over a third of those in the Anglican Communion, gathered for a group photograph in which they gave the “One-way” sign.
In his chairman’s address Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya said the challenge facing the church “is that the nations which were once the spiritual powerhouses of world wide mission have now become deeply secularised and even hostile to the Christian faith”.
“What really rots the fabric of the Communion is the process by which weak churches are gradually taken captive by the surrounding culture,” he said.
To carry out the task of telling people about Jesus Christ, we need to be a Church that is holy. And for us as individuals and for us as churches right round the world that is always a massive challenge. We all live in different contexts and the challenge overlaps but is slightly different wherever we live. We are dealing with very rapid changes of culture in the Global North and the issue of sexuality is a very important one. How we respond rightly to that ”“ in a way that is holy, truthful and gracious ”“ is absolutely critical to our proclamation of the gospel.
Some churches are responding to challenges in their own context that are very very different. We have churches that are caught up in the midst of wars and violence and have to learn to proclaim the gospel in the midst of that. That’s really incredibly hard, and I’ve much experience of seeing it. There are other churches that are in countries where there are governments that are corrupt and it can be very hard to proclaim the gospel truly in those situations. Wherever we are, there’s a different context; but wherever we are, in our own context, in the right way, we have to live as a Church that is holy.
In addition, the gospel has to be proclaimed by a Church that is in unity….
After morning tea we turned to the opening plenary session and the chairman’s address. Archbishop Wabakula of Kenya is a softly-spoken man but even his gentle voice could not disguise the power of what he had to say. We reported yesterday that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had been challenged by the Primates in their meeting and Wabukala had equally firm words to say. Here’s the key paragraph,
Five years on, the paralysis of which we spoke has intensified. And it has become clear that the Communion now needs new wineskins, a new way of ordering its affairs to fulfil the world wide scope of the Great Commission. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury has now come to this conclusion and I am grateful for
His Grace’s honesty in acknowledging that the Anglican Communion’s neo- colonial leadership structures need to be replaced when he preached here at All Saints Cathedral last Sunday. However, it is difficult to see how stable and effective leadership can be developed unless the depth of the spiritual crisis we face is acknowledged. Organisational change on its own will not be enough. Even the very weak theological discipline of the Anglican Covenant has failed to win consent despite years of negotiation and the Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer able to gather the Communion.
Or, put in simpler terms, it’s not enough for Welby to visit GAFCON and tell them that he recognises that the current structures are failing. If he will not deal with the real issues (the apostasy of the American and Canadian churches) then GAFCON will continue on without him. He no longer commands any leadership amongst them.
The full transcript of Abp. Wabukala’s “Chairman’s Address” to the morning Plenary Session at GAFCON II today in Nairobi. Highly recommended.
It is quite impossible or us to experience worship and fellowship like this and ignore the global scope of the gospel. This is God’s revealed truth and saving for all people in all times an the Anglican Communion at it best demarcates this reality. Historically its origins lie in the expansion of the English speaking world, but here we are in Africa where, as elsewhere, the gospel has taken root in very different cultures. This is the Global Anglican Future conference because biblical Anglicanism is by its very nature global ”“ not merely because of our history, but because the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ is to ”˜all nations’ (Matt28:19).
The challenge we face is that the nations which were once the spiritual powerhouses of world wide mission have now become deeply secularised and even hostile to the Christian faith and the Churches of those lands have more often than not been strongly influenced by the societies in which they are set. I am aware that for some of you, the threat of violence from Islamic extremism may be uppermost your minds, and we have had a painful reminder of that reality recently here in Kenya, but that which really rots the fabric of the Communion is the much more insidious process by which weak churches are gradually taken captive by the surrounding culture.
Those of us in Africa and the Global South have no room for complacency. A few weeks ago we discussed GAFCON in our Provincial Synod and one senior layman remarked that GAFCON is for the sake of our children. There are powerful and well funded organisations working to see Kenya and other African nations adopt the same values which are causing so much havoc to faith and family and society in the West and we must confront these challenges together as a truly global Communion.
One hundred years ago, what is now Kenya teemed with wildlife which roamed freely through the land. Now our wildlife is largely limited to special game reserves and some worry about possible extinctions. I think this is a picture of what is happening in part of the Anglican Communion. There are those who would like to see orthodox Anglicans allotted a reserve in which they must stay and not challenge false teaching and it is very sad to see faithful people struggling for a place to survive in such compromised Churches. Orthodox Anglicans who feel themselves beleaguered should never settle to be thought of merely as an endangered species called ”˜traditionalists’ because our Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans links us together as what we are, a global majority.
Reality struck home today.
There are forces within the Anglican Church that are making it hard for some of our brothers and sisters to remain Anglican. There are forces outside the Anglican Church that are making it hard for some of our brothers and sisters to remain Christian.
Just recently I gave a talk in which I quoted Paul in 2 Timothy 3: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. I almost want to go back to that group of people and apologise for trying to unpack what Paul meant without any real understanding.
Gafcon II began on a different key than its first assembly in 2008. The anger-tinged passion that drove the Jerusalem conference is absent from Nairobi and there is a confidence in the vigor of the global reform movement.
Yet, for its successes ”“ playing midwife to the birth of the Anglican Church in North America, expanding the circle of supporters across the globe, garnering acknowledgement from Canterbury — the movement is in the midst of a reimagining of its identity.
“Who are we” asked Dr. Peter Jensen, the Gafcon General Secretary in the opening address to the 1352 delegates from 40 countries representing 28 provinces. Will we be here in five years, he mused.
The 21-26 October 2013 conference is expected to give direction to the movement ”“ but to where remains unclear.
[Sunday] evening’s gathÂerÂing at All Saint’s CatheÂdral after tea on the grounds was an OpenÂing worÂship freely flowÂing with hymns brought by WestÂern misÂsionÂarÂies yet touched by an African vigor and sway. It also brought varÂiÂous speakÂers to the podium to focus our attenÂtion on the East African Revival of the 1920s and 30s and which had a secÂond or renewed out pourÂing of the Holy Spirit in the 1970s. Indeed as the ChanÂcelÂlor of Uganda ChrisÂtÂian UniÂverÂsity reminded us in a stirÂring address””“We speak of the East Africa Revival as if it is a relic of hisÂtory. It is not just a relic”¦not just a moveÂment in hisÂtory; it is a livÂing moveÂment today.” (ParaÂphrased from my jotÂted notes from his address) This moveÂment which has as its cenÂter the Death and ResÂurÂrecÂtion of Jesus Christ, the call of the Holy Spirit for believÂers to “Walk in the Light” and the necesÂsity of repenÂtance, pubÂlic conÂfesÂsion of sins and putting of wrongs right in the believer’s life, as well as a corÂreÂspondÂing call for humilÂity and broÂkenÂness, was and remains a mighty presÂence in the Church in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and TanÂzaÂnia. This revival like so many great revivals in hisÂtory was preÂdomÂiÂnately a lay moveÂment. It calls every man to be a Bible stuÂdent, responÂsive to the leadÂing of the Holy Spirit, tranÂscendÂing denomÂiÂnaÂtional boundÂaries yet seekÂing to keep (in the phrase I rememÂber from sevÂeral decades ago in the Renewal MoveÂment of the 1970s and 80s) “the fire in the fireÂplace.” Indeed as the ChanÂcelÂlor noted, from the heart of this livÂing moveÂment today’s Church is preÂsented with some probÂing questions:
What is the cause of coldÂness and deadÂness in our churches?
Why are peoÂple allowed to come to the Lord’s Table who are livÂing in known sin?
What can be done to bring revival to the Church?
Appeals to scriptural authority and the urgency of a revival that spread across East Africa characterized the opening session of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday. The evening spotlighted the experience of Global South Christians who are both hosting the conference and leading the renewal movement.
“If you are to get anything from East Africa at GAFCON 2, revival begins with an individual,” shared Dr. John Senyonyi of Uganda Christian University. “Revival doesn’t begin with the church, it begins with me when the Holy Spirit convicts me, I bow and say ‘Lord, may you begin with me.'”
Senyonyi was one of several speakers who came to faith through the 1930s-1970s revival, but warned of danger in talking of it as though it were a relic of history when it was a “lived experience” that could be shared in.
It is easy in a gathering like GAFCON to see only the things that set us apart. To hear only the different accents, to have the eye caught up in the beads, and the linen, the silk and the embroidery, and to get lost in colour for a while, and then to continue the worldwide pastime of separating pale and dark. To look around and see only difference. Here. And Here. And Here.
But that would be settling for the surface of things as the way things are. And it is not the way things are for believers.
In the first gathering at GAFCON we sing and pray, and listen to the word of God together, because of our communion, not because of our difference. We sing songs of praise to God because we are thankful that there is something that binds us together that is stronger than cloth, stronger than colour.
Watch it all (a little over 33 minutes).
Update: a short 3 minute video with excerpts from the Press Conference may be found here.
Archbishop Welby’s whirlwind visit to Nairobi on Sunday provided an opportunity for him to take the measure of six Primates and half-a-dozen other key leaders, including the General Secretary of GAFCON, Dr Peter Jensen, and the retired Nigerian Archbishop, the Most Revd Peter Akinola, in a private meeting at All Saints’ Cathedral.
The conservatives also had an opportunity to size up Archbishop Welby. All of those questioned after the meetings expressed a personal regard for the man, but were sceptical that his office could provide a solution to the divisions within the Church if it sought to take a neutral stance.
“Archbishop Welby’s statement ‘The old ways are no longer appropriate, the old structures no longer work,’ given on the eve of GAFCON, give us hope,” Dr Jensen said. Nevertheless, the future envisioned by Archbishop Welby “began with GAFCON 2008”, Dr Jensen said. “It’s time for him to catch up.”
Read it all (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) refuted characterizations in the western press of the gathering as a breakaway movement, with recently retired Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney responding that “nothing could be further from the truth.”
Instead, the FCA General Secretary portrayed the movement as seeking to model how the worldwide Anglican Communion can function “particularly when the Communion insists on strong theological standards” centering on the bible.
“There is a temptation to change Christian faith to comply with surrounding culture,” Dr Jensen observed at the press conference on the opening day, October 21st, 2013. “We think this has occurred far too often in the world.”
We’ve found already just in the first half day how many people from around the world appreciate this website, but also how many are not aware of the material that is available to help resist the tide of pansexualism. Other ministries being displayed range from mission and evangelism, relief and development, and theological education.
One such ministry is BUILD, a programme developed by the Church of Uganda over the past decade. This provides biblically faithful training for local clergy and lay ministers in the midst of the ministry they are already doing. The programme takes them through a series of modules which participants complete in groups and on their own, that systematically build biblical knowledge, practical skills and godly character, in a way that enables them to equip others ”“ so it has a multiplying effect. Hundreds have so far been trained in this way at comparatively low cost. The church is beginning to share the programme with neighbouring Anglican Provinces. Canon Stephen Kewaza has been leading the programme from the COU education department. More can be found on www.buildcurriculum.org . Over the next few days I hope to feature more ministries like this from the global south….
Recently retired Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen, the secretary for GAFCON 2, had to briefly fight back tears as was overwhelmed by the reality of the fulfillment of months of hard work and preparation. A list of countries represented was read out, which included Bermuda, Burundi, Fiji, Argentina, Gambia, India, Iran, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Singapore, South Sudan, Uganda, Germany, Sierra Leone and many others. Why are we here? Jensen asked, and said that the structures of the old communion could not contain the new wine of today’s confessing Anglicans. Our task is repentance from “captivity to the world”, and recovery of the true Gospel which leads to transformation. “We are here to support each other especially where there is false teaching in the church, and where there is poverty and persecution.”
Jensen explained that a drafting committee will work on communiqué and statement to be read out at the end of the conference. But a word of warning: “We can plan a conference, but what is God’s plan? What is he going to do? Something different and unusual? How will God manifest his glory here?”