See also:
+ Global South Statement on TEC marriage vote””“we are deeply grieved again”
+ Church of Uganda’s response to TEC’s General Convention and USA Supreme Court/
+ Statement from the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas
+ Bp Mouneer Anis’s statement regarding the US Supreme Court Ruling for same-sex marriage
“Being part of a global Communion should always be such a source of mutual encouragement to faithful witness, not a source of hurt to that witness.”
A Response to The Episcopal Church of the United States’ (TEC) decision to make ”˜Same ”“ Sex Marriage’ official
The recent decision of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, to remove reference to gender in the marriage canon and introduce rites for conducting ”˜same-sex marriage’, is a mistake with serious consequences.
The problems for the rest of the Anglican Communion have already been noted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. But the fundamental reason that it is a mistake ”“ and the reason why it is so destabilizing ”“ is that it is a significant departure from Holy Scripture. This is a departure which Christians are not at liberty to make.
With this action, TEC has officially rejected the Anglican Communion’s standard, Lambeth Resolution 1.10, which expresses the Communion’s received and historic understanding of marriage and sexual relationships. TEC has now taken the pattern of behaviour which Lambeth describes as ”˜incompatible with Scripture’ and equated it with Holy Matrimony.
It may be claimed that TEC is modelling ”˜two integrities’, but the Church of God finds its integrity in teaching and living according to the received Word of God. The determination of TEC to press ahead with changes which ignore the serious concerns of many others in the Communion, in some cases for their physical safety, shows very clearly the inadequacy of initiatives designed to create reconciliation without repentance.
The recent decision of the United States Supreme Court that claims ”˜same sex marriage’ is a constitutional right puts pressure on all churches in the United States, but in different ways all of our Provinces face the temptation to compromise with the surrounding culture. It is within this context that we commend the Anglican Church in North America for their willingness to speak with courage, truth, and charity. Being part of a global Communion should always be such a source of mutual encouragement to faithful witness, not a source of hurt to that witness.
The GAFCON movement remains totally committed to the renewal of this global witness and the restoration of its integrity, knowing that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that all need to hear the good news of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ. It welcomes and recognizes Anglicans who through no fault of their own have had to disaffiliate from their original province over serious matters of biblical truth. The struggle and spirit of the remnant church must be kept alive.
Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Archbishop of Kenya and Chairman, The GAFCON Primates Council
Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of All Nigeria and Vice Chairman, The GAFCON Primates Council
6th July 2015
Posted July 7, 2015
I do love the genteel but precise way the GAFCON prelates express themselves. It’s precision cuts like a scalpel right to the heart of the matter.
No foot stomping, name calling, or “because I said so” arguments.
“It may be claimed that TEC is modelling ‘two integrities’”
By whom? Conservatives were defeated soundly. I don’t think anyone disputes that. It was expected.
” The determination of TEC to press ahead with changes which ignore the serious concerns of many others in the Communion, in some cases for their physical safety, shows very clearly the inadequacy of initiatives designed to create reconciliation without repentance. ”
Gee, almost sounds like the time before the consecration of VG Robinson.
Spot on.
Absolutely, and those initiatives make the fundamental [and quite deliberate] mistake of ignoring the Biblical base of true reconciliation which is reconciliation of man with God which in turn leads to reconciliation among men, not the other way around as the ACO and Lambeth Palace would have it with TEC money.
Allowing the CofE and TEC to lead the Communion in such a perverse redefinition of ‘Reconciliation’ is rather like allowing Europe to be led by Monaco and Liechtenstein.
Thank you GAFCON Primates and God bless you.
Monaco might do better than France and Germany have lately.
#5 Perhaps Marie, but at the cost of living in a police state?
“Reconciliation without repentance” is what Archbishop Welby preaches, and it won’t work. ECUSA doesn’t care any more about either.