At a meeting of Trustees in October, the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion (EFAC) restated its vision and appointed new leadership.
EFAC’s purpose remains to encourage and develop biblically faithful fellowship and mission throughout the Anglican world. It is adjusting its goals and strategies to best serve its constituency, which has seen tremendous change since John Stott founded the Fellowship in 1961.
The Anglican presence in Africa, Asia and South America has grown in encouraging ways but, in recent years, moral and doctrinal confusion in some Western provinces has impaired relationships. Separate ecclesial bodies have been formed and energy has been diverted from vital missiological concerns.
In the light of these contemporary challenges, the Trustees resolved that EFAC continue to live up to its name. It is Evangelical, serving Jesus Christ by acknowledging and living under the supreme authority of Scripture. It is a Fellowship, working together for the gospel across divides with all who share our biblical commitment. It is in the Anglican Communion, with and for all those who believe our heritage from the Reformation is part of our contemporary witness to the gospel and of our global future.
Global commendations
EFAC Nigeria, founded in 1978, is a substantial lay and charismatic movement with branches in most dioceses – 12,000 people attended its 1992 Convention. Archbishop Josiah Fearon, now Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, was Secretary of EFAC Nigeria from 1981 to 1990. He commented: ‘I am thankful to God for EFAC, which helped me in Nigeria. The biblical reforming and renewing ministry of EFAC within the Anglican Communion is welcome.’
A former General Secretary of EFAC International, Canon Dr Vinay Samuel of Bangalore, India said: ‘EFAC was always a global Anglican network focused on nurturing evangelical leadership where resources were shared across the Communion. In the current context, its rich heritage of facilitating such training needs to be resourced and adapted to the new context where the Church in the non-Western world has grown rapidly. I am delighted that EFAC is poised to do that.’
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali of Uganda welcomed this development too: ‘EFAC has been a great blessing to the Church of Uganda, especially in support for the training of pastors and in building up the Church. I am delighted that it sees a renewed vision for itself.’
Bishop Rennis Ponniah of Singapore, commented: ‘I thank God for the ministry of EFAC and believe its relaunch is timely in God’s wonderful purpose. EFAC’s role as a resource for Evangelical Anglicans to speak up for the central place of Scripture in the life of the Church and to bear witness to its unchanging truth in a world that is changing and without moorings is vital for such an hour.’
A recent General Secretary, Bishop David Evans, was ‘delighted to hear that it has been possible to reactivate EFAC. I shall be following events with great interest and prayer.’
The English branch of EFAC is the Church of England Evangelical Council (www.ceec.org). The President is Bishop Julian Henderson of Blackburn and the Chairman is the Revd Hugh Palmer, Rector of All Souls Langham Place.
The Chairman of EFAC Australia (www. efac.org.au) is Bishop Stephen Hale. EFAC Australia held a national conference in 2015 and plans a National Anglican Future Conference in Melbourne in September 2018.
Recent appointments
EFAC appointed the Revd Richard Crocker as General Secretary. A graduate of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, he was ordained in Birmingham in 1982, and served in England and the USA. He is President of EFAC-USA and will be based in Northern Virginia. Canon George Kovoor’s time as Trustee and General Secretary has concluded; EFAC is grateful for his service. The Rt. Revd Keith Sinclair, Bishop of Birkenhead, has been appointed as a Trustee.
The year ahead
Projects in 2018 include the renewal of EFAC Theological Resource Network (TRN), whose most recent Chairman was the Revd Dr Chris Wright. The Trustees will ask TRN to address immediately the current confusion around issues of missiology and ecclesiology, with the international perspective made possible through the widespread membership.
EFAC International Council will meet in 2018 to continue the progress, and to review opportunities for strengthening and developing national Anglican evangelical movements.
