EFAC Global message following GFSA Conference

Message from Bishop Stephen Hale, Chairman of EFAC Executive Committee

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This EFAC Global report has been written while I’ve been in Cairo participating in the Orthodox Leaders Meeting (AOL) organised by the GSFA and GAFCON Global. It is a new meeting that arose out of the Ash Wednesday Declaration of the GSFA in 2023 and the Kigali Commitment also in 2023. Its purpose is to connect the Primates with the many mission partners and groupings who are involved in conversations about resetting the Anglican Communion. A Statement from this meeting will be issued in due course.

The background to all of this for EFAC Global is a remarkable journey from the Lambeth Conference in 2022 to today. As previously reported, at the Lambeth Conference Bishop Henry Scriven organised for EFAC Global to play an active role in supporting the GSFA Primates to have a significant media presence during the Conference. We also provided practical support for their other activities including alternative services of Holy Communion; and we had an EFAC Global Resource table which gave away hundreds of books. All of this was funded through generous friends and partners.

Flowing out of this we have since become a Mission Partner of the GSFA. Last week we participated in the First GSFA Assembly at the St Mark’s Retreat Centre north of Cairo. EFAC Global was represented by members of the Executive, which included Bishop Samuel who was the only Nigerian Bishop present at the Assembly. Bishop Seth from Burundi was instrumental in encouraging his Primate to join him at the Assembly. EFAC Global was able to make a healthy financial contribution to covering the cost of running the event. Again, we are grateful to friends and supporters for their generosity.

In between these two events EFAC Global held a Consultation in Cairo at the All Saints Cathedral Conference Centre. The Executive was joined by a number of representatives from a range of groups, most of whom were in Cairo for the Assembly. Richard Moy (SOMA), Frog Orr-Ewing (Anglican Leadership Institute), John Dunnett (CEEC), Jem Hovil (BUILD Partners) and Justyn Terry from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Charles Raven from the Relay Trust was to be with us but had to pull out at the last minute due to a family bereavement. John Dunnett facilitated our time and we have clarified a number of potential areas and partnerships for EFAC Global to consider in the future. No decisions were made and ultimately the Executive will need to sift through and pray for clarity as to what we do next. As you are aware, at present we have limited resources, yet we are held in high regard globally and have a name and history that is well known. We are now visible and present as the unfolding nature of the reset of the Anglican Communion emerges.

In other news, EFAC Australia ran a very successful national Conference in May in Sydney. We were greatly blessed to have Rev Charlie Skrine (Rector, All Soul’s Langham Place) as our Bible Study leader. He also spoke at gatherings and preached in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

I’m sure you want to join us in praying for our CEEC partners (EFAC in England) in the unfolding crisis related to the decisions of the Bishops to press on with same sex prayers of blessing and also consideration of same sex marriage for clergy. The coalition of those who are opposed to this represents virtually all of the larger and healthiest churches in the country and many other mission partners and groups.

The major announcement for EFAC Global is the resignation of Bishop Henry Scriven as the General Secretary. Bishop Henry has served us remarkably well. Bishop Henry has had a unique ministerial journey as missionary leader and Bishop, and it is amazing how he seems to know just about everyone! We wish him and Catherine well as he is freed up to move in new directions. The Executive has appointed me as the Interim General Secretary while we consider the nature of a future appointment. We welcome Michael Hall as our new Treasurer and thank Carl Hughes for his great work as our former Treasurer.

If you would like to partner with us financially, we would be very grateful. Please see the link here.

Bishop Stephen Hale (Chair)

with Bishop Henry Scriven (General Secretary) and Bishop Keith Sinclair (Chair of Trustees)