The announcement came at the close of an unprecedented meeting in Jerusalem by conservatives, who contend that they represent a majority of the 77 million members of the Anglican Communion.<\/p>\n
They depicted their efforts as the culmination of an anti-colonial struggle against the church’s seat of power in Britain, whose missionaries first brought Anglican Christianity to the developing world. The conservatives say that many of the descendants of those Anglican missionaries in Britain and North America are now following what they call a “false gospel” that allows a malleable, liberal interpretation of Scripture.<\/p>\n
After more than 1,000 delegates to the meeting at a Jerusalem hotel affirmed their platform statement, African women, Australians, South Americans and Indians danced and swayed to a Swahili hymn and shouted full-throated hallelujahs.<\/p>\n
Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who leads the largest province in the Communion, said at a news conference afterward: “It’s quite clear we have been in turmoil. With this decision we have a fresh beginning.”<\/p>\n