I have my turn with Rowan Williams’ Response to GAFCON.

I’m hesitant to give yet another response to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s response to GAFCON. But you know how I am when provoked. So here goes. From Dr. Williams:


The Final Statement from the GAFCON meeting in Jordan and Jerusalem contains much that is positive and encouraging about the priorities of those who met for prayer and pilgrimage in the last week. The ‘tenets of orthodoxy’ spelled out in the document will be acceptable to and shared by the vast majority of Anglicans in every province, even if there may be differences of emphasis and perspective on some issues. I agree that the Communion needs to be united in its commitments on these matters, and I have no doubt that the Lambeth Conference will wish to affirm all these positive aspects of GAFCON’s deliberations. Despite the claims of some, the conviction of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Lord and God and the absolute imperative of evangelism are not in dispute in the common life of the Communion.

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That last sentence is so absurd, I’m at a loss for words. How can he write something so utterly divorced from reality? I think one has to receive an Oxbridge education to be able to do that.

However, GAFCON’s proposals for the way ahead are problematic in all sorts of ways, and I urge those who have outlined these to think very carefully about the risks entailed.

A ‘Primates’ Council’ which consists only of a self-selected group from among the Primates of the Communion will not pass the test of legitimacy for all in the Communion.

But heretic bishops, about which you have done NOTHING, do pass?

And any claim to be free to operate across provincial boundaries is fraught with difficulties, both theological and practical – theological because of our historic commitments to mutual recognition of ministries in the Communion, practical because of the obvious strain of responsibly exercising episcopal or primatial authority across enormous geographical and cultural divides.

So geography is more important than orthodoxy? To you it apparently is.

Two questions arise at once about what has been proposed. By what authority are Primates deemed acceptable or unacceptable members of any new primatial council? And how is effective discipline to be maintained in a situation of overlapping and competing jurisdictions?

Sorry, Dr. Williams, but after inviting the unrepentant consecrators of Gene Robinson to Lambeth, you are in no position to lecture anyone about church discipline.

No-one should for a moment impute selfish or malicious motives to those who have offered pastoral oversight to congregations in other provinces; these actions, however we judge them, arise from pastoral and spiritual concern.

But . . .

But one question has repeatedly been raised which is now becoming very serious: how is a bishop or primate in another continent able to discriminate effectively between a genuine crisis of pastoral relationship and theological integrity, and a situation where there are underlying non-theological motivations at work? We have seen instances of intervention in dioceses whose leadership is unquestionably orthodox simply because of local difficulties of a personal and administrative nature. We have also seen instances of clergy disciplined for scandalous behaviour in one jurisdiction accepted in another, apparently without due process. Some other Christian churches have unhappy experience of this problem and it needs to be addressed honestly.

O. K., now this is just playing dirty – dredging up supposed scandals without using names so the targets can’t defend themselves. I’m sure someone could dredge up plenty of scandals and such in the Church of England. The point of such exercises in mudslinging is . . . . ?

It is not enough to dismiss the existing structures of the Communion. If they are not working effectively, the challenge is to renew them rather than to improvise solutions that may seem to be effective for some in the short term but will continue to create more problems than they solve. This challenge is one of the most significant focuses for the forthcoming Lambeth Conference. One of its major stated aims is to restore and deepen confidence in our Anglican identity. And this task will require all who care as deeply as the authors of the statement say they do about the future of Anglicanism to play their part.

They HAVE done their part and more. And you, sir, have been obstructing them every step of the way. The biggest reason the existing structures of the Communion are not working effectively is YOU.

The language of ‘colonialism’ has been freely used of existing patterns. No-one is likely to look back with complacency to the colonial legacy. But emerging from the legacy of colonialism must mean a new co-operation of equals, not a simple reversal of power. If those who speak for GAFCON are willing to share in a genuine renewal of all our patterns of reflection and decision-making in the Communion, they are welcome, especially in the shaping of an effective Covenant for our future together.

Again, you tell them to work for reform while you are the biggest roadblock to it.

I believe that it is wrong to assume we are now so far apart that all those outside the GAFCON network are simply proclaiming another gospel.

That is a straw man. I haven’t heard ANYONE saying that.

This is not the case; it is not the experience of millions of faithful and biblically focused Anglicans in every province. What is true is that, on all sides of our controversies, slogans, misrepresentations and caricatures abound. And they need to be challenged in the name of the respect and patience we owe to each other in Jesus Christ.

I have in the past quoted to some in the Communion who would call themselves radical the words of the Apostle in I Cor.11.33: ‘wait for one another’. I would say the same to those in whose name this statement has been issued. An impatience at all costs to clear the Lord’s field of the weeds that may appear among the shoots of true life (Matt.13.29) will put at risk our clarity and effectiveness in communicating just those evangelical and catholic truths which the GAFCON statement presents.

Oh. So we should keep on waiting while you keep on obstructing and dithering. We’ve played that game.

Game over.

BREAKING: Bishop Iker endorses GAFCON and Jerusalem Declaration.

You may find Bishop Iker’s statement here:

June 29, 2008

It has been a joy to participate in the GAFCON experience in Jerusalem, and I welcome and endorse the proclamation that has been issued at the conclusion of our week of deliberation and prayer.

It is a positive contribution to the future direction of the Anglican Communion, as well as a very encouraging affirmation and validation of the realignment that has been taking place in the Communion over the past few years.

We stand in solidarity with the GAFCON movement and principles, and we in Fort Worth look forward to the continuing saga of this exciting development in our life together as faithful Anglicans.

May the Lord continue to bless and guide us in the challenging days ahead of us.

The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker 
Bishop of Fort Worth

This is encouraging to see. I very much want Anglo-Catholics involved in this.

Thanks to Texanglican for alerting me to this.

GAFCON’s Conclusion and My Dream Coming True

GAFCON has now concluded and I share their joyous excitement over their final statement, including the Jerusalem Declaration.

I will be surely discussing aspects of this beginning of the fellowship of confessing Anglicans in the months to come. For now, two things about the statement stand out to me and will send me to Morning Prayer and Holy Communion with a glad heart:

First, although I know things need to be worked out, it’s practically in black and white that my dream in becoming part of a global orthodox Anglican communion is coming true. (And, yes, I get a bit emotional as type that.) I blinked and had to reread the following in my rector’s backyard last night. From the Jerusalem Declaration:

11. We are committed to the unity of all those who know and love Christ and to building authentic ecumenical relationships. We recognise the orders and jurisdiction of those Anglicans who uphold orthodox faith and practice, and we encourage them to join us in this declaration.

That’s includes my REC! And later on the statement:

We believe this is a critical moment when the Primates’ Council will need to put in place structures to lead and support the church. In particular, we believe the time is now ripe for the formation of a province in North America for the federation currently known as Common Cause Partnership to be recognised by the Primates’ Council.

YESSSS! (And take that, dithering Canterbury!) That also includes my REC! I’m so excited about this, I can hardly articulate it as you can tell.

Second, I am beyond pleased to see a worldwide Anglican body finally have the guts to proclaim . . .

13. We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. We pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.

This is how apostate leaders should be dealt with. How long has it been since a mainline church has so done? I’ve long felt that apostates forfeit their authority in Christ’s church. Finally, a worldwide fellowship of churches has the backbone to come out and so say and so act. The sorry history of putting up with Spongs and Bennisons and Schoris and Inghams and Chanes and ad nauseam is utterly repudiated!

St. Athanasius, who gives us godly precedent for treating heretic bishops as no bishops at all, must be smiling down upon us now.

Athanasius must also be pleased at the affirmation of his creed. (Yes, I know he probably did not write it himself.)

3. We uphold the four Ecumenical Councils and the three historic Creeds as expressing the rule of faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

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Like I said, I feel like I’m living a dream. I practically have to pinch myself to be sure it’s true.

By the way, I’m I the only one who is reminded of “the fellowship” in the Lord of the Rings? Men of courage bind themselves together to combat the forces of evil. Yeah, I know. Maybe it’s a stretch. I’m a bit excitable and excited this morning.

I’ll have more to say in due time. But for now, let the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans begin!