We emphasised that ”˜be it by birth or by conversion the men and women in GAFCON which the entire Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion is a part, are people who have grown to be Anglican Christians by conviction, upholding the tenets of Anglican biblical orthodoxy. We have no other place to go nor is it our intention to start another church. Anglicans we are, Anglicans we’ll remain until
the LORD shall return in glory to judge each one according to his deeds.’ Gafcon has been held with a world-wide acclaimed resounding success and with no financial deficit. I call on this holy assembly to express gratitude to all those who made generous donations to help us fund Gafcon. Lambeth Conference too was held. About 263 bishops from around the world including at least three from the Church of England and representing over 45% of the Anglican world chose not to attend. Unlike Gafcon, it ended in huge financial deficit, and there were no clear unanimous declaration or statement[s].
I read it all, and I am left wondering how the Episcopal Cafe got it so wrong
when Andrew Brown is cited there as saying,
I too read it all, with interest and profit. And I urge everyone else who can to do the same. Nigeria has become the premier province in the Anglican world, the largest and most influential of them all. So it behooves all Anglicans, but especially those of us who consider ourselves orthodox Christians, to learn all we can about this fast-growing branch of the AC.
Among other things, I’m glad to hear that ++Peter Akinola won’t retire until March, 2010, giving him another 19 months in office. This is a very tumultuous time in the AC, and continuity of leadership at this very early and formative stage in the development of the FCA/GAFCON movement will be valuable.
I also noted with interest the plan to require seminarians in Nigeria to attend seminary for 4 years, instead of just 3, in order to spend a year in intensive language learning. The expectation is that clergy will learn not one but TWO other Nigerian languages, thus helping to overcome the ethnic and linguistic barriers that have inhibited the full unity and cooperation of the Anglican Church in Nigeria across tribal lines. Hmmm. Now that’s the kind of inclusivity that I like.
David Handy+