It is true that the forthcoming Lambeth Conference will also be a divided body, boycotted by an unprecedented numbers of bishops. But the semi-fiasco of Gafcon means that Dr Williams still has a chance of keeping the conservative Christians of, say, Uganda, in dialogue with the liberal provinces of the United States and Canada.
Whether the Anglican Communion can survive the inevitable discord of Lambeth is still unclear. But it is encouraging that some of the most vociferous critics of liberal Anglicanism have decided to join in debate and worship with their fellow bishops at their traditional gathering in England rather than declare allegiance to a rival body meeting in the Middle East.
Will anything of substance happen either at Lambeth or Gafcon or will we once again be given opportunities to study, converse, form committees, publish reports? I bet on the latter but hope for the former. I know what to expect from ECUSA and ABC. My hope for action and Faith are with the leaders of Gafcon. If this hope for a real Anglican Communion (NOT under ABC) fails this summer, I’m off to a better place where my hope and Faith will be shared and real.
“Significant absentees at Gafcon include the Rt Rev John Chew, Primate of South-East Asia, and Dr Mouneer Anis, Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East and treasurer of the “Global South†group of conservative provinces. And even those leaders who are attending the conference make up a volatile compound. Gafcon, in other words, is far from the united force it claims to be, and it does not fully represent Anglicanism in the developing world.”
I think this is an important quote. One could forget that GS includes not just the two significant Primates mentioned, but also W Africa, Congo, Burundi, Central Africa, Sudan, West Indies, Kenya, Tanzania, Indian Ocean, etc. Gafcon appears to be something chiefly focused on Nigeria and Uganda, with Sydney and Rwanda-AMiA. It will be important to see whether this is a rallying point at all for the GS, in terms of future dynamics, or a conference meant chiefly to give some lift to Common Cause. It will be good to get some analysis from someone like George Conger.
I think this quote better characterizes the Telegraph article: “Gafcon is dominated by the single issue of homosexuality; its relative failure should remind us that ordinary Anglicans – and especially members of the Church of England – are not obsessed with sexual mores or gay marriage.”
The assumptions that GAFCon is a failure and those attending are obsessed with one issue are quite inaccurate and will come back to haunt the revisionists left with their own hand-made religion.
Orthodox Christian Anglicanism will go on without the gaylord effete bishops, priests and rabid agendite layleaders holding power over their subsidizers. The days of oligarchy, of fiefdom, serfdom, privilege and colonialism are over.
While the rabid agendites and the silent ‘Camp Allen’ and ‘Windsor’ bishops and their litigious leader move ahead with their dystopic (from a commentor at SFIF) visions, the wind and power of the Holy Spirit will bless and help those who love and live in His Way, Truth and Life to go on with the true mission of the Church – raising the dead to Life in Jesus Christ.
No. 3 – In a new Reformed Protestant church/
“It’s just a flesh wound!” said the Black Knight.