The Future of Global Anglicanism

GAFCON has met and to sum it up, at least we won't have an "Uber-Archbishop," and we shall have no ties to Canterbury unless she forswears her foolish ways.

From Anglican Futures comes this summary,

The Abuja Affirmation sets out and explains the decisions taken by the leaders of the Gafcon movement in Abuja.  Here are five key takeaways to share with all faithful Anglicans.

1.  New Leadership is Necessary

For decades the leadership of the Anglican Communion (known as the Instruments of Communion) have unrepentedly:

"... compromised the authority of the Scriptures by normalising hermeneutical pluralism, elevating cultural capitulation, and reframing the rejection of Scripture’s authority and clarity as “good disagreement”, and not what it really is – false teaching."

They have:

"...neither restrained nor challenged false teaching and instead have called for the acceptance of false teachers as fellow members of the Communion."

2.  The Global Anglican Communion now offers that Leadership 

Gafcon have expressed a commitment to reform the Anglican Communion for many years, they have authenticated Anglican dioceses and provinces (e.g. the Anglican Church in North America, the Diocese of the Southern Cross and the Anglican network in Europe) and encouraged real global fellowship

This week is a development of that work and represents:

" ...a shift of the stewardship of the Anglican Communion from the Canterbury Instruments to the Global Anglican Communion."

The Global Anglican Communion will be led by the Global Anglican Council, consisting of Primates, Advisors and Guarantors as voting members.

The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda was elected as the Chair of this Council and will hold that office until the next five-yearly gathering of Global Anglicans, which will take place in Athens in 2028.

3.  True Communion is Confessional not Institutional

The Abuja Affirmation asserts that, "True communion is confessional, rather than defined by a shared history or institutional structures."  The re-ordered Global Anglican Communion will therefore be open to all who assent to the 2008 Jerusalem Declaration.

"The Jerusalem Declaration was written as an expression of authentic Anglican doctrine because the Canterbury-led Anglican Communion had lost connection to its biblical roots, compromising its values, structures and mission. To embrace the Jerusalem Declaration is to apply historical Anglican doctrine and practice to the needs of contemporary society."

Provinces, dioceses, PCCs and individuals are all encouraged to give their assent to the Jerusalem Declaration and thus become part of the Global Anglican Communion.

4.  The Global Anglican Communion is not a schismatic breakaway group 

The Abuja Affirmation explains:

"There are not two Communions, but two incompatible definitions of communion – one confessional, the other institutional."

It is the Canterbury-led Anglican Commmunion which has, "lost connection to its biblical roots, compromising its values, structures and mission." This means that it has to look to shared history to find connection and thus it,"defines communion on an institutional basis."

In contrast, the Global Anglican Communion is, "... returning the Anglican Communion to its roots. The Global Anglican Communion is not a new Communion, but the historic Anglican Communion reordered from within."

5.  Leadership of the Global Anglican Communion will require 'principled disengagement' 

The Global Anglican Communion is, "committed to supporting faithful Anglicans whether they stay in revisionist or mixed provinces or decide to leave and establish separate provinces or dioceses."

However, leaders who hold office in the Global Anglican Communion will be required to disengage from the Canterbury Instruments and the power, influence and finance they provide.

They must not attend future Primates' Meetings, the Lambeth Conference or participate in meetings or commissions of the Anglican Consultative Council.  Neither may they, "receive financial assistance from compromised sources."

Whether those in the Church of England, who receive stipends, diocesan support and buildings from "the compromised ecclesial structures" can therefore hold office is therefore in doubt.

Is that it?

G26 in Abuja marks the inauguration of the reordered Global Anglican Communion.  Anglican Futures is committed to following the implications of this momentous decision as they are worked out in the coming weeks, months and years.