Primates council a body of integrity

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Release
1/07/08

The Archbishop of Sydney Dr Peter Jensen has described the Primates Council, which has emerged from the Global Anglican Future Conference, as a body of integrity and one which fairly reflects the majority of the world’s practising Anglicans.

“The conference proceeded with the spotlight of world media upon it, it was not done in a corner. Its conclusions cannot be dismissed as the work of only a few.”

“The seven primates are significant leaders within the Anglican communion and they approach this work with appropriate seriousness and solemnity.” Dr Jensen said.

The Archbishop says the lack of restraint by some revisionist church leaders in North America and the indecisiveness in response to it has made their task more urgent.

“No good can come from questioning the legitimacy of these men or their clear commitment to the church’s mission. Rather we must commend their willingness to provide clear leadership and to help bring order to this chaos.”

As to GAFCON’s influence in Australia, Dr Jensen told a news conference at the weekend that Australian leaders might not applaud it initially, but he was hoping that as it is explained they would eventually see it as very useful.

He described the GAFCON statement as ‘a very Anglican document, bringing Anglican order out of turmoil.”