Dynamic Anglicanism? You better believe it!

Dynamic Anglicanism? You better believe it. My own eyes have seen it!

There is no other way to describe the results of this Global Anglican Future Conference and its statement.

Despite the very diverse expectations and situations of GAFCON participants, the conference statement group have come up with something that has received acclamation and much joy.

As Peter Jensen put it in opening the session “The chaos of the Anglican Communion is about to receive some order”

What stands out in the statement? Five initial impressions of what will be important.

1. A strong commitment to stay in and affirm the Anglican Communion, despite all.

2. The creation of a fellowship of Confessing Anglicans within the Communion.

3. The issuing of the Jerusalem Declaration as the basis for such a fellowship.

4. A Council of Primates to oversee the movement.

5. A new Province in the USA recognised by the Council of Primates, which means that the power of the Archbishop of Canterbury alone to say who is in and who is out is to be shared. (This new Province will consist of those American Anglicans who have not been able to stay in the existing churches in the US and Canada).

I expect that there will be considerable controversy, misunderstanding and hard criticism of this move.

But I also believe that there is a new future for Anglicanism in the world - and that is not such a bad thing.

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