But GAFCON is no limp compromise. The declaration rejected bishops and churches that proclaim a “false gospel” in which “all religions offer equal access to God” and “a variety of sexual preferences and immoral behavior” are treated as human rights. Because existing “instruments” that unite and lead Anglicanism have failed, GAFCON stated, the crisis requires “realignment.”
The new movement will be led by a council of the primates (bishops) who head conservative Anglican provinces, starting with Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, West Africa, southernmost South America, and probably Tanzania, with hopes to enlist other nations. Australia’s large Sydney diocese is solidly on board. Right after GAFCON, nearly 800 Church of England clergy and laity met in London to discuss joining the movement, which is backed by England’s prominent, Pakistan-born Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali.
Dramatically ignoring Anglican tradition against overlapping jurisdictions, GAFCON hierarchs will jointly establish a new North American province to rally some 300 dissenting congregations that recently quit The Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada, plus hundreds more from earlier breakaways. These fellowships will include those who both allow and forbid women clergy.
The spiritual leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, personifies what GAFCON considers an outdated “colonial structure.” GAFCON acknowledged Canterbury as “an historic see” but added, “We do not accept that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Is “semi-schism” sort of like “kinda pregnant”?
Alice, I think it is more like “the enemy within”, except we’re the ‘good guys’ kinda enemy, IMHO.
Bill