A Statement of the Board of Gafcon Australia – Appellate Tribunal Matters November 2020

[Editor’s note: Gafcon Australia comments on the ruling by a national church committee which appears to permit the blessing of same sex relationships]:

The sheep follow (me) because they know (my) voice … I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:4, 10.

Gafcon Australia exists to promote the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Anglican Church of Australia. We are convinced that the fullness of life that only Jesus gives is experienced through hearing, trusting and obeying his word of grace and life, in the power of his Spirit and the fellowship of his people.  For this reason, the Board of Gafcon Australia expresses its deep regret that the recent majority opinion of the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia relies upon a disputed definition of the meaning of ‘doctrine’ rather than on a whole-hearted and glad embrace of the life-giving Word of God. In doing so, they have seriously undermined the basis of national unity in our church. We regard their conclusions as erroneous and unconvincing.

A majority of the Appellate Tribunal affirmed that certain legislation passed by two Australian Dioceses was ‘not inconsistent with the Fundamental Declarations and Ruling Principles of the Constitution’. In doing so, the Appellate Tribunal declined to follow advice they had requested from two other Australian Anglican bodies – the House of Bishops and the Board of Assessors.  Both of these bodies unanimously affirmed the historic and biblical teaching on personal sexual ethics.  The General Synod will respond to the opinion at its meeting in May/June next year.  It is possible, indeed likely, that in the meantime some Dioceses will take steps to authorise their own services of blessing of same-sex marriages in the near future.

Around the Anglican Communion where developments of this kind have occurred (notably, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Scotland) orthodox Anglicans have found themselves ostracised or isolated from their own Dioceses and Bishops.

Read here

See also: “Difficult days for our church” – Archbishop of Sydney writes to clergy, by David Ould

House of Bishops’ Statement in response to the Opinions of the Appellate Tribunal: “With pain we recognise that there is not a common mind on these issues within the House of Bishops.” From VirtueOnline

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