Conservative Anglicans deny plans to cut links with church
Anglican archbishop Eliud Wabukala (right) flanked by bishop Joseph Wasonga (left) and other bishops at a past press conference. A Conservative Anglican group which met in London last week under the chairmanship of Mr Wabukala has denied that it plans to break away from the 85 million-strong Protestant community. FILE PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In a statement released at the end of the meeting on Friday, April 17, the group known as Gafcon (Global Anglican Future Conference) said the group would not be “leaving the Anglican Communion.
- A parallel structure, the Anglican Church in North America, already exists in the US, but opponents of Gafcon say the organisation lacks the funds to establish an “alternative” Anglican faith in the UK and moreover lacks the support to do so.
- Critics point out that while there are divisions within the Church of England over the issue of gay priests and gay marriage, the Anglican faith in the UK is overwhelmingly supportive of both women priests and female bishops.
A Conservative Anglican group which met in London last week under the chairmanship of Kenyan Archbishop Eliud Wabukala has denied that it plans to break away from the 85 million-strong Protestant community.
In a statement released at the end of the meeting on Friday, April 17, the group known as Gafcon (Global Anglican Future Conference) said the group would not be “leaving the Anglican Communion.
The members of our churches stand at the heart of the Communion, which is why we are committed to its renewal. We belong to the mainstream, and we are moving forward.”
Before the four-day long meeting, leading Anglicans had expressed concern that the Church of England faced the risk of an unprecedented schism over plans to form a “parallel” church in protest against women bishops and gay marriage.
A parallel structure, the Anglican Church in North America, already exists in the US, but opponents of Gafcon say the organisation lacks the funds to establish an “alternative” Anglican faith in the UK and moreover lacks the support to do so.
Gafcon says it “embodies an inclusive and confessionally grounded orthodoxy in continuity with the scriptures, apostolic tradition, and ethos of the Book of Common Prayer. “We have met in London for prayer and fellowship in order to help chart the future of global Anglicanism. We are uniting faithful Anglicans, growing in momentum, structured for the future, and committed to the Anglican Communion,” the statement concluded.
Critics point out that while there are divisions within the Church of England over the issue of gay priests and gay marriage, the Anglican faith in the UK is overwhelmingly supportive of both women priests and female bishops.
The meeting in London brought together conservative elements of the church from all over the world including Africa, the United States and Asia. It was formed at a meeting in Jerusalem in 2008 and they will hold another meeting in three years’ time.
Conservatives within the Anglican faith believe the Church of England has strayed from biblical traditions and is too liberal.
