The future of Anglican: African?

Is the future of the Anglican Church African? These and other questions were at the forefront of our minds as we tried to give GAFCON some shape and direction through Bible Study, discussions and reflection on what it means to be authentically Anglican.

The shape of GAFCON, and what it will mean for the future, is still unclear.

However, as we hear the profound preaching of the African bishops, listen to the stories of great struggle from their laity and clergy, and marvel at the phenomenal growth of their churches, it is apparent that God is doing a great and powerful work through our brothers and sisters there.

He has raised up some mighty leaders who speak the truth with the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.

And yet they are forging an Anglican identity that is distinctly African. We experienced this today with a spontaneous outpouring of song in a main session just as Archbishop Peter Jensen was about to speak – the bemused look on his face revealed that this is not something that we are used to, but a reflection nonetheless that Anglicanism is most certainly not English any more.

What an encouragement to see all around us today the fruits of the labours of many faithful saints, those missionaries who have taken the gospel into Africa over the last two centuries. 

It illustrated to me that wonderful truth of the universality of the gospel of Jesus Christ for all humankind.

In the words today of Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, the story of Jesus is ‘intrinsically translatable into different cultures’.

What an encouragement to world mission!

Karin Sowada is a prominent Sydney Anglican and part of the Australian contingent attending GAFCON

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