Gafcon Primates offer sanctuary for conservatives if same-sex votes go against them

THE debate on same-sex relationships in the General Synod this week is being watched closely by conservative Anglicans around the world, who have offered a refuge for English conservatives if the Synod votes to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in church.

The Primates Council of Gafcon (the Global Anglican Future Conference, founded in 2008) met last week in Uxbridge, near Heathrow.

[…]  In their final communiqué, issued on Thursday of last week, the Primates, “conscious of the forthcoming meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England” write that they “extend the right hand of fellowship to and support all bishops, clergy, and laity who oppose these revisionist doctrines and courageously uphold the teaching of Christ on the sanctity of marriage as God has ordained it”.

The communiqué is uncompromising in its description of the majority of C of E members — bishops, clergy, and laity — who argue that allowing the blessing of same-sex couples and the granting of permission to clergy to marry same-sex partners does not undermine the traditional definition of marriage.

The Primates write: “We have witnessed over the past twenty-five years the slow, but relentless, moral decay in parts of the Anglican Communion where the world’s values have been endorsed and embraced, replacing the clear teaching of God’s word written.”

And they encourage Provinces affiliated to the Gafcon movement to consider withdrawing “all links” with any English diocese whose bishop supports the proposals to sanction blessings.

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