Conservative group led by Archbishop Akinola urges faithful to remain with Anglican communion
November 11, 2009
A group of conservative Anglican prelates has welcomed Pope Benedict’s “gracious” invitation, but said that “this is not the time to abandon the Anglican communion.” The bishops of GAFCON-- named for their joint declaration on the Global Anglican Future-- proclaimed themselves “proud inheritors of the Anglican Reformation,” and indicated that they were committed to a Protestant approach that “gives supreme authority to the Holy Scriptures and acknowledgement that our sole representative and advocate before God is the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The GAFCON statement-- released by Archbishop Peter Akinola of Abuja in his role as chairman of the group-- praised the Pope for issuing his apostolic constitution, saying that the move “reflects the same commitment to the historic apostolic faith, moral teaching and global mission that we proclaimed in the Jerusalem Declaration on the Global Anglican Future and for this we are profoundly grateful.” Showing their profound disagreement with the liberal leadership of the Anglican communion, the GAFCON group lamented that “the current the current crisis within our beloved Anglican Communion has made necessary such an unprecedented offer.” This crisis, the statement said, has been brought about by the “abandonment of biblical faith and practice by The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada” and by the failure of other Anglican leaders to distance themselves from these wayward branches.
Nevertheless, the GAFCON bishops insisted “that Anglicanism has a bright future as long as we remain grounded in the Holy Scriptures and obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ's call.” Their statement encouraged any Anglicans who are considering the Pope’s offer to recognize the strength of those Anglican churches that have remained faithful to the apostolic tradition.
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Posted by: -
Nov. 14, 2009 3:04 PM ET USA
"that Anglicanism has a bright future as long as we remain grounded in the Holy Scriptures and obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ's call." This certainly has not happened up to this point. Why should it be any different in the future. The call of Jesus was to obey Peter and his successors. There never should have been a Protestantism (of which Anglicanism is) in the first. To follow the call of Jesus is to be Catholic.
