Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, of the Anglican Church of Kenya, spoke to the press on Thursday, June 28 about the progress and content of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) Statement.
While not in final form, there is already general agreement among pilgrims about a number of points. At GAFCON, there is a determination to maintain the authority of scripture in the life of the Church, a profound sadness about the current state of the Anglican Communion. Pilgrims also want to see GAFCON develop into a long term movement instead of a one-time conference, agree that more permanent structures need to be established for faithful Anglicans who live in serve in provinces that have left the traditional teachings of scripture, and desire to continue to reach out to other Anglicans.
Every pilgrim has had multiple opportunities to provide concerns, hopes, and suggestions to the statement committee throughout the week. The first draft of the statement will be read to all pilgrims on Friday, June 27. The statement will be finalized before GAFCON ends on June 29.
Good, measured report. A number of fronts are being addressed, and one can pray that a stronger Communion results in the end. This also puts the right kind of pressure on Lambeth for those who are attending from Gafcon to carry on this important work.
Who was/is eligible to attend this conference?? Only invitees???
Like most Americans, I would like to see a speedy process. I continue to remind myself that it took us decades of orthodox neglect and solipsism to get to VGR, and we won’t see a quick reformation. As long as GAFCON takes a step in the right direction, even a baby step, it will have fulfilled its purpose. But GAFCON has definitely NOT been the next Council of Nicea, as some wanted!
Jason, NO reformation happens overnight. The reformation we’ve all been seeking is happening now, and it will be years before it’s finished….if it ever will be. But at least we’re making some progress; slow though it might be.
Actually, this statement does give hope that real steps, realistic in size, will be taken. So, how will this work into the bigger picture of the whole Anglican Communion? Will we have somethng along the lines of a Communion within the Communion? Of course, this conference is not just about support for reasserters within North America, but how can they be supported? It looks like we’ll get some real answers to these questions.
The descriptions that I have read about GAFCON sound amazingly familiar: that everyone would participate, all voices would be listened to, that any statement would come from all the participants together, that the conversations would begin with the small groups before being discussed by the whole group; is not this the same language being used to describe Lambeth?
This is a true indaba in action. Google indaba and you will find that the word is used in a business setting to mean a gathering which brings people together to get something done. Rather than a weak–daba daba doo–connotation, it has a strong let’s get the deal done connotation. This more dynamic image seems to fit GAFCON as it is currently unfolding in Jerusalem.
What might this mean then for Lambeth? While indaba is a Zulu word, the concept appears to be more widely African. The Nigerians, Kenyans, Ugandans, etc at GAFCON are showing the world what an indaba can achieve. Now it is up to the orthodox who go to Lambeth to make certain that they are ready to talk, listen, and get the job done. Some voices will be there recommending an avoidance of any decision, some voices will actually be pushing for a refutation of Lambeth 1998, but the big question is whether or not the orthodox voices will speak up and be listened to, to re-affirm 1998, and to re-affirm our historic, catholic, apostolic, biblical faith?
Would someone please answer my question.
#7, Yes, the conference was by invitation only.
tks