In his insightful contribution for this column last month, Chris Sugden showed that the lack of accountability and anxiety about brand protection revealed in the Oxfam scandal are also unresolved problems for the Anglican Communion.
Both have a global reach and both have to deal with imbalances of power and the need for inclusive leadership.
Archbishop is the problem
He concluded by highlighting the potential of the GAFCON Primates to provide a form of faithful but collaborative leadership which seems to be beyond the ability of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The problem, however, is not that the archbishop lacks ability, it is the way he is using his ability.
For him, Lambeth Resolution I.10 of 1998, which reaffirmed biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality, is now just a matter of history and he circulated the Primates with a letter to this effect from William Nye, Secretary General of the Archbishops’ Council, in November 2016. The toleration of a false gospel has been institutionalised, variously described as indaba, ‘good disagreement’ or ‘walking together’, and is coupled with highly efficient stage management of Primates’ Meetings (now routinely held in Canterbury) with more of the same likely at Lambeth 2020, at which I understand there will be no voting and therefore no opportunity for orthodox bishops to bring about change.
Discipline undermined
The one apparently successful attempt to bring a semblance of doctrinal discipline in recent years, the distancing of the American Episcopal Church from Communion decision-making and representation at the Primates’ Meeting of January 2016, was completely undermined just a few months later at the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Lusaka without any resistance from Canterbury.
Nearly ten years ago, the GAFCON Jerusalem Statement and Declaration of 2008 made a startling claim. It was unflinching in its diagnosis of the Communion’s ills and, noting the toleration of a false gospel at the highest levels, it stated: ‘We can only come to the devastating conclusion that we are a global Communion with a colonial structure.’ If that assessment seemed surprising ten years ago, it should not now.
Faithful leadership needed
So, can the GAFCON Primates give faithful leadership which will truly reflect the global nature of the Anglican Communion? They are not ineffective. We already know that attendance at GAFCON 2018 in Jerusalem will comfortably exceed the last global conference in Nairobi. GAFCON has been active in many ways, including the authorisation of new mission jurisdictions, bishops’ training, and building a global profile through its website and social media.
However, facing the more intense challenges of today means that the work of the Primates’ Council needs to be enhanced. GAFCON stands out from other global networks and fellowships in the Anglican Communion because, from the start, it has recognised that upholding truth has implications for governance: work is now under way to launch an advisory council (the Panel of Assistance) to support the work of the Primates. Not dissimilar to the Anglican Consultative Council (but working under the authority of the Primates), this body will give provinces aligned with GAFCON a greater sense of inclusion through the appointment of representatives (episcopal, clergy and lay) and will provide the Primates with a formal channel for consultation.
Jerusalem in June
Regional meetings of representatives to prepare for the first full meeting in Jerusalem in June have already been completed and the response of those nominated has been overwhelmingly positive. Working with the Panel will give the Primates a much stronger sense of connection to the global movement as they seek to provide genuinely collaborative and conciliar leadership.
Responsibility and opportunity
At the first Jerusalem Conference, in 2008, one option was to leave the Anglican Communion and start something new, but the delegates decisively committed themselves to remaining and pursuing the vision of a reformed Global Anglican Communion, true to its biblical roots and no longer having to accommodate the ever-increasing compromises with secular culture entailed by leadership from Canterbury. This is the historic responsibility, and opportunity, that the GAFCON Primates have been given.
