Wright on GAFCON

I came across this article and found it interesting. I'd encourage you to read the whole thing, it's well worth the time. Here is an excerpt:

THE DANGER of GAFCON is that the rhetoric — “the Communion’s finished” — could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Some of the organisers actually seem to want a Lambeth Conference robbed of lively, orthodox bishops from around the world, so that they can point to the results and say: “There you are: told you so.”

If, instead, such bishops come, bringing their cheerful worship, their deep understanding of scripture, and their wide experience of mission among the world’s poorest, this could be a great moment of renewal. Dr Williams has made it clear that Windsor and the Covenant are the tools with which to forge our future. “Orthodox” bishops should celebrate that, and join in the task.

Our Communion has for the past five years been living through 2 Corinthians: the challenge to re-establish an authority based on the gospel alone and embodied in human weakness. Inevitably, “super-apostles” then emerge, declaring that such theology is for wimps.

To them I would say: Are they Evangelicals? So am I. Are they orthodox? So am I. Do they believe in the authority of scripture? So do I (including the bits they regularly downplay). Are they keen on mission? So am I, and on the full mission of God’s kingdom which an older Evangelicalism often ignores.

Those who want to be biblical should ponder what the Bible itself says about such things. There are many in the GAFCON movement whom I admire and long to see at Lambeth, but the movement itself is deeply flawed. It does not hold the moral, biblical, or Evangelical high ground.

An Encouraging Update

A report from The Times today brings welcome news. Here are some choice quotes:

The prospect of schism in the worldwide Anglican Church receded as African leaders meeting in Jerusalem stepped back from the brink and declared they are not seeking to start a new church. Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, Primate of Kenya and leader of that country's four million Anglicans, and the Ugandan Primate Archbishop Henry Orombi confirmed last night that there will be no split.

And for my Australian friends:

The emerging figure that is crucial in the softening of the line on schism is the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, who has become the key player on the Anglican conservative wing, shifting the emphasis from the US and African conservatives to Australia.

GAFCON Press Conference

Thinking Anglicans has a transcript of a GAFCON press conference last night. Archbishop Peter Akinola responded to a question about violence against gays and lesbians in Africa:

OK. Every community, every society, has its own standards of life. In ancient African societies we had what are called “taboos”, things you should not do, and if you break the taboos there are consequences. Alright, so in your Western society many of these have arisen but in some of our African societies many things have not arisen and this happens to be one of them. In fact the word in our language does not exist in our language. So if the practice is now found to be in our society it is of service to be against it. Alright, and to that extent what my understanding is, is that those that are responsible for law and order will want to prevent wholesale importation of foreign practices and traditions, that are not consistent with native standards, native way of life.

I would have preferred a stronger condemnation of violence. Especially with Archbishop Akinola's past remarks that Muslims do "not have a monopoly on violence". Archbishop Henry Orombi fielded the next question and somehow still failed to condemn violence against homosexuals.

Finally, Archbishop Jensen of Australia stepped in:

I certainly have public condemned and will continue to publicly condemn any violence against any people and in particular gay and lesbian people. I am certain that this is, I understand, what Archbishop Orombi says and that is exactly the position and I am very glad that this opportunity has arisen for the question to be raised again because I thought it was not answered in the answers which were being given to the others side of the question. But I think I am right in speaking for all of us here and, indeed, if that were not the case I would certainly stand alone here and say it but I am sure I speak for all in saying that any such violence, any such behaviour within the prison system, for Christians of another variety, or whatever, is condemned by us.

Hopefully, Archbishop Jensen. But I'd still like to hear it from thier mouths.

Thoughts on Lambeth and GAFCON

Justin is right, I'm Barnabas.

Doctrinally, I find myself more in alignment with GAFCON, but the process that has been undertaken by this group is subversive and boldly arrogant. Call me skeptical, but I don't think there's anyway you can bill GAFCON as anything but an alternative to Lambeth, or, at the least, a loud protest before it.

The bishops of GAFCON are rightly concerned about recent developments in the Anglican Communion, but the key word here is recent. In the scope of church history, the current crisis is young. Try comparing it to combating Arianism. To make the claim that Anglicanism is at a crossroads never before seen is too set aside history and ignore the nature of the church. The church is always facing issues, but it seems as if this generation has the hubris to think it's experiencing something unique. Calm down, please. Pray for the ECUSA and attempt to bring them back into communion. Ten years is not enough time or effort to excommunicate a body.

If we believe that the Church is the bride of Christ, we should make every effort to avoid divorce. Avoiding any form of schism is worth the (admittedly frustrating) talking and persistence in faith.

The Moment of Truth

Honest Question

What is the point of boycotting Lambeth? Are they giving up on the church?

Wordle: Saint John of the Cross

I admit it. I'm addicted to wordle.