Will the actions of orthodox Anglicans be as strong as their words post-Kigali?

Apr 26, 2023 by Jill

by Julian Mann, Christian Today:

Strong words came out of the Gafcon conference of biblically orthodox Anglicans last week in Kigali, Rwanda. But will the actions of the orthodox Anglican Churches in the global majority be as strong as their words?

The Churches of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda, which make up the core of Gafcon, joined with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), which represents about 25 provinces (national or multi-national jurisdictions), in the Kigali Commitment expressing no confidence in Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion:

“We have no confidence that the Archbishop of Canterbury nor the other Instruments of Communion led by him (the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meetings) are able to provide a godly way forward that will be acceptable to those who are committed to the truthfulness, clarity, sufficiency and authority of Scripture.

“The Instruments of Communion have failed to maintain true communion based on the Word of God and shared faith in Christ.”

The Kigali Commitment excoriated “successive Archbishops of Canterbury” for failing “to guard the faith by inviting bishops to Lambeth who have embraced or promoted practices contrary to Scripture”.

Gafcon and the GSFA joined in expressing disgust with the Church of England’s decision at its General Synod in February, with the support of Archbishop Welby, to authorise services of blessing for same-sex couples:

“This failure of church discipline has been compounded by the current Archbishop of Canterbury who has himself welcomed the provision of liturgical resources to bless these practices contrary to Scripture. This renders his leadership role in the Anglican Communion entirely indefensible.”

After the Kigali Commitment last Friday, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office at Lambeth Palace issued its own statement.

“We’ve heard it all before” was its basic message: “We note that The Kigali Commitment issued by GAFCON IV today makes many of the same points that have previously been made about the structures of the Anglican Communion.”

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