GAFCON the conference is over, but GAFCON the movement has only just begun! That's the clear message of the Jerusalem Declaration and Statement, assented to by the 1200 pilgrims and signed off by the attending Primates of the Anglican Communion. I flew out of Jerusalem today to London, from where I'm writing.
On Tuesday at All Souls' Langham Place, there will be a special briefing for the Church of England by various GAFCON delegates and leaders. These include Henry Orombi, Peter Jensen and J. I. Packer. It has been organised by a coalition of nearly 50 vicars and leaders who represent a wide spectrum of orthodox believers within the C of E. As of yesterday morning they had 750 registered attenders! Interest in GAFCON and what it means for the future shape of Anglicanism is, to put it mildly, intense.
Richard Trist and I will be attending the meeting here and would love to have your prayers for us, as we keep learning and thinking through what all this means for us back in Melbourne and Australia.
I also want to offer my reflections on GAFCON at this stage. I'm exhausted! It was an intense 8 days of meeting lots of sisters and brothers in Christ and hearing lots of stories - good and bad - of ministry and life as an orthodox believer in Jesus Christ.
Our corporate worship was a wonderful wonderful experience, a real foretaste of heaven. I have video of Richard Trist doing the Nigerian 'shaky shaky' song and dance: just him and his 1200 new best friends!!! We are first hand witnesses of South American worship led by Bishop Tito and the 3 Amigos (including Greg Venables) - Alabare!!! We even saw Peter Jensen break into song, African-style, mid-way through announcements!
Our discussions were serious, thoughtful, passionate, and tinged with a sadness that we have come to this point in Anglican history when heterodoxy must be called out for what it is, and no longer condoned. It is one thing to be Anglican and comprehensive, another to close our eyes when so-called Anglican leaders are actively persecuting faithful sisters and brothers in their own church as they clearly have and are in North America. Some of those stories of persecution are genuinely disgusting, distasteful and devillish. I had not appreciated the intensity of the situation there as clearly before. It was one thing to read about it on the web, another to hear them first-hand.
Many encouragements were shared: the way the Gospel is moving forward in parts of Nigeria and Uganda is amazing! There's great ministry happening in the UK, in the US, in South America, in Asia, in NZ, in Australia. Many challenges were identified: I have a notebook full of 'Big Important Ideas' for the future, for a global future in Gospel ministry! So beware, if you're going to catch up with me when I get back!
But for now, please do pray for us: that we would travel home safely; that we would not fall ill (post-conference let-down); that we would be protected from evil and sin; and that we would discharge our ministry faithfully and well, by the grace and power of God.
in Christ Jesus our Lord,
