A Message from Bishop Anderson
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Where do I begin to share all that transpired in the Jerusalem GAFCON meeting? Primates, archbishops, bishops, priests and laity came together in the Holy City to make pilgrimage, to hear presentations, and to take counsel together on the future of Anglicanism. Miracles seemed to abound. After a lifetime in the Episcopal Church where I watched church leaders write the conclusions before meetings began and ignore everything that didn't fit the predetermined direction (and in fact seeing Lambeth Palace do much the same since 2003), I was almost afraid to hope that orthodox Anglicans could shed the old Anglican DNA and actually do it right.
I came to the meeting personally wanting bold action with regard to the global Anglican Communion, and at least provision for a future North American Anglican Province. I know the top leadership of GAFCON and have great trust in them; still, when the church has betrayed you over and over again for years, I wondered if this meeting could really be the decisive one we were waiting for.
Early in the meeting, those gathered were asked for their hopes and desires with regard to this GAFCON meeting, and where God might be leading us in an Anglican future. Participants wrote down their thoughts and shared them with their affinity groups, usually their home province. Thoughts were collated and forwarded to the Statement Committee, who put together a first draft. As I listened to what people were saying in gatherings, at coffee/tea breaks and in the lobby, it was clear that the majority wanted strong action within the greater Anglican family. When the first draft was read in plenary session there was a great show of approval. My temptation was to call for immediate adoption of the draft - I didn't think it could be improved, it was so clear and so bold.
The commitment, however, was to take what the participants were saying and refine the text until it most accurately reflected the will and the wisdom of those gathered. Comments were recorded and more suggestions were gathered and given to the Statement Committee. They worked long hours again, praying and pondering which comments were widely held and how to incorporate them. It was steel sharpening steel. The product was given to the Leadership Committee for additional comment, and the final draft was set before the GAFCON Primates, who were in agreement and prepared to sign it. The Jerusalem Declaration was then brought before the entire GAFCON gathering. It met with roaring approval. It was a momentous occasion; there was a sense that history was taking place before our very eyes.
Instead of the Primates Council forming at some future date, the Primates' Council was already in existence with their signing of the Jerusalem Declaration. The GAFCON ship has embarked on its voyage. We all saw our role - to take the GAFCON Declaration back home and implement it. I am humbled that I was able to be there and to be a part of what God is doing to reform and reshape the Anglican expression of Christianity.
For us in North America, we have come home to work on our Common Cause Partners Federation and to prepare to submit it to the Primates' Council for recognition as the North American Province, Deo volente.
In this past weeks' news, we note with approval the ruling of Judge Bellows in Virginia, finding that the State of Virginia's Division Statute for Churches is constitutional. The ruling favors those orthodox Anglican churches that pulled out of the Episcopal Church over theological and spiritual issues and have realigned.
Separate from these remarks, I have commented on The Archbishop of Canterbury's response to the GAFCON statement. This commentary is found below.
Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson Sr.,
President and CEO, American Anglican Council
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