Orthodox Anglicans pursue path of ‘principled disengagement’ from Canterbury-led Communion

The Gafcon movement has declared itself to be the true Anglican Communion because it continues its shift away from the historic instruments of communion under the spiritual leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

In the Abuja Affirmation, issued at the top of a weeklong meeting within the Nigerian capital, Gafcon Chair Archbishop Laurent Mbanda said that recent Archbishops of Canterbury “have did not guard the religion” and that the “moral and spiritual authority of the Seat of Augustine” has been “severely compromised” by their embrace of same-sex blessings.

Elsewhere he said that the Canterbury-led Anglican Communion had “failed to take care of real communion” by continuing to advertise “false teaching”, and that “principled disengagement” was subsequently essential. 

The Global Anglican Communion was launched last October in response to this departure from historic Anglican teaching, with Gafcon leaders using the Abuja meeting to further solidify the brand new communion’s structures. 

It was announced earlier in proceedings that the Global Anglican Communion can be headed by a “conciliar” Global Anglican Council as a substitute of a primus who would have been seen as a rival to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop Mbanda was elected Chair of the council, with Archbishop Miguel Uchoa serving as Vice-Chairman and Bishop Paul Donison as General Secretary. 

“The Canterbury Instruments have compromised the authority of the Scriptures by normalising hermeneutical pluralism, elevating cultural capitulation, and reframing the rejection of Scripture’s authority and clarity as ‘good disagreement’, and never what it truly is – false teaching,” said Archbishop Mbanda. 

He went on to say that the Global Anglican Communion shouldn’t be viewed as a departure from the Anglican Communion but a reordering “from inside”. 

“The Global Anglican Communion is neither a breakaway Communion nor an alternate Communion,” he said.

“The Jerusalem Statement clearly says that ‘We cherish our Anglican heritage and the Anglican Communion and haven’t any intention of departing from it’.

“What has occurred as a substitute is a shift of the stewardship of the Anglican Communion from the Canterbury Instruments to the Global Anglican Communion. We are returning the Anglican Communion to its roots.

“The Global Anglican Communion isn’t a latest Communion, however the historic Anglican Communion reordered from inside.” 

The launch of the Global Anglican Communion got here just weeks after the appointment of Sarah Mullally as the primary female Archbishop of Canterbury. Gafcon was one among the first to denounce her appointment in light of, amongst other concerns, her support of same-sex blessings. 

The Abuja Affirmation states that a “full and public disengagement” from the Canterbury-led structures of communion is “essential”. As such, leaders who hold office within the Global Anglican Communion will not be allowed to attend future Primates’ Meetings held by the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Lambeth Conference, a serious meeting of bishops from across the Anglican Communion held around once every decade. They are also to not receive financial assistance “from compromised sources”. 

“Continued participation in these Canterbury-led meetings gives credence to the lie that it is feasible to ‘walk together despite deep disagreement’ with those that have abandoned biblical teaching,” the statement reads.

“A separation from the Canterbury Instruments is essential to reveal that such teaching isn’t of secondary importance. The warning of the prophet Amos rings true: ‘Can two walk together unless they’re agreed?’ (Amos 3:3).

“Office holders within the Global Anglican Communion who proceed to take part in any Canterbury Instruments won’t have the ability to proceed on this role.”

It continues, “Those who disengage from the Canterbury Instruments will not be schismatic. 

“The Church of England was reformed by Thomas Cranmer, leaving the errors of the Church of Rome behind. Like Cranmer, we’re reforming the Communion from inside and leaving the Canterbury Instruments behind.”

Dame Mullally was formally confirmed because the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in January and might be installed on 25 March. She is the primary ever woman to carry the position. Like her predecessor, Justin Welby, she is supportive of same-sex blessings. 

Lambeth Palace has been contacted for comment.