General Reform News
Extract from Reform newsletter to members
As the time for GAFCON draws closer, there is likely to be mounting criticism of those who have chosen to decline the invitation to attend Lambeth 2008. It is, therefore, worth remembering just how many attempts have been made by orthodox leaders within the Anglican Communion to turn back the encroaching liberal agenda on human sexuality. Each attempt has been met by more provocation This was recently articulated by Lisa Nolland on the Anglican Mainstream website. She said:
“the timeline reaches back at least to Kuala Lumpur (1997) and Lambeth (1998), after which the Diocese of New Westminster – denominational pioneers, those Canadians! – voted to bless same sex unions for the first time. In 2001 the Primates met in North Carolina and “held the line” on homosexuality in their pastoral letter, after which the Diocese of New Westminster voted to bless same sex unions for the third time. In 2002 the Anglican Consultative Council warned against unilateral moves (i.e. in relation to homosexuality). In June 2003 over 60 Global Anglican leaders discouraged ECUSA from ordaining actively-gay Gene Robinson as bishop and just months later, in October, the Primates again issued warnings not to proceed. Gene became Bishop Gene the following month. The Windsor Report of October 2004 has been largely ignored, as has the protest from the February 2005 Dromantine meeting of the Primates and the Third Anglican South-To-South Encounter (October 2005). Kigali’s “Road to Lambeth”, published in September 2006 for the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) has challenged the encroaching gay agenda in the strongest terms: “ we will definitely not attend any Lambeth Conference to which the violators of the Lambeth Resolution are also invited as participants or observers”. Finally, February 2007, Tanzania saw the most recent (and impotent) endeavour to hold the orthodox line”.
It is clear that the Lambeth desire to continue discussions on the subject will contribute nothing to the process of seeking repentance from those church leaders who have moved away from the teaching of the Bible. Phillip Jensen gave an address to a Sydney conference on just this subject on 14th March. He pointed out how American bishops have moved beyond a discussion of ideas into a commitment to action that clearly renders them false teachers. He had strong words for those who have chosen to attend Lambeth. “You cannot accuse others of disobeying the scriptures on homosexuality while you yourselves are disobeying equally clear commands of scripture to avoid such false teachers”. His argument is based on a wonderful examination of the New Testament’s teaching on unity and division. Copies can be downloaded from http://acl.asn.au/pdf/Lambeth/Limits_of_Fellowship_Phillip_Jensen.pdf
To read about Gafcon see http://www.gafcon.org/
New Discussion Booklets
Back to the future. Jonathan Fletcher encourages us to see that fundamental reform within the Church of England really is possible. There is also a mini-version.
Fractured Foundations. Angus MacLeay shows that the doctrinal issues at the heart of our present struggles couldn’t be more central to our faith, since they raise important questions about the very nature of God. There is also a mini-version.