It is too disingenuous, by half, to invoke this verse from Paul's letter to the Galatians to try and square the circle of pansexuality in the Anglican Communion. It is exegetically and theologically impossible.

Paul's interest in writing this letter was to correct the error of a group of Judaizers, who sought to make a living under the Mosaic Law a requirement of the Christian faith. They had gained an influence in the Galatian churches. Paul had addressed this at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49, a meeting where the apostles took up this very topic (Acts 15:1--30). Paul's aggressive tone shows just how important it was to him that the people embrace unity in Christ...and he went so far as to call the Galatians deserters of Christ, people turning from the truth toward a gospel contrary to the one they had received from Paul (Galatians 1:6--9). Paul's purpose was to uproot false teaching, something orthodox Anglicans have been trying to do with the Episcopal Church for over 30 years with no success, not only over sexuality issues, but over many bishops who have denied the Creed.

So consider what TEC was trying to do in Tanzania, and the spin they put on Paul's words.

"The idea for the Galatians 6:2 Conference has grown in part out of a larger conversation driven by theological differences regarding human sexuality and same-sex marriage in the Anglican Communion, as well as an ongoing changing approach to mission relationships and partnerships between churches in the United States and Africa."

To use Gal 6:2 in this manner, is to totally misread and misuse Paul's admonition to the Galatians

Mathews acknowledges that TEC had been accused of pushing homosexuality onto African Anglicans. He made that statement at the Fifth Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue, which brought together bishops from Africa and North America with a view to working toward a deeper understanding of their common life in Christ in a diverse and global communion, and suggested further conversation. The intentional dialogue in England was developed in response to those existing theological controversies, including issues related to human sexuality and same-sex blessings that have strained Anglican Communion relationships since the early 2000's.

Bearing one another's burdens also is a way of reorienting the traditional approach to missional partnerships, leading to relationships based on mutual respect and trust, they said.

There you have it. Draw people back to the table in the hope of wearing down any opposition or, if that fails, try to get along with diverse views and still keep the communion together. TEC will pay the bill for all those coming.

In October 2014, the primates of the six provinces represented here at the Galatians 6:2 Conference, met at The General Theological Seminary in New York City where they set an intention to build missional partnerships among their churches on the basis of "looking beyond the differences that so often divide us and instead chose to recognize that we need one another and can accomplish much together as fellow Anglicans," opined the Rev. C. K. Robertson, canon to the Presiding Bishop for ministry.

It is ironic this conference was held in Tanzania, where in 2006, the Tanzanian HOB declared itself to be in impaired communion with the Episcopal Church (USA) and it would only be in communion with those who are faithful to Biblical Christianity and the authority of Scripture, with those who remain in the Episcopal Church or have left, or are considering leaving that church body..

In 2007, when the Primates' met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, they issued a stinging rebuke in the form of a Declaration to TEC for consecrating an openly homosexual man to the episcopacy, with guidelines for disciplining TEC. These were later ignored by Archbishop Rowan Williams. Another line in the sand was drawn and then discarded.

Now TEC is trying once again to spin sexuality on the basis that, despite sanctions, the primates unanimously expressed their desire "to continue to walk together". This conveniently ignores what the GAFCON primates and what the majority of Global South primates have consistently said they would not do.

"The Galatians 6:2 Conference is a reminder that we in the Episcopal Church remain vitally connected to our sisters and brothers in other parts of the Communion," said Robertson, "and ties in with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's focus on the Jesus Movement themes of evangelism and reconciliation."

This wholesale textual abuse of Gal. 6:2 cannot go unanswered. The present day Judaizers are, in fact, revisionist TEC bishops led by PB Michael Curry who made it very clear in Canterbury that he had no intention of backing down from his denomination's position on human sexuality, and would, in fact, promote his views in Africa because he sensed the culture was with him. Nigerian Archbishop Nicholas Okoh lashed out at this and admitted as much in a later outburst at TEC's deviousness. He and two other Primates said they would not attend the ACC talks in Lusaka as a result.

Once more, TEC is using its money and influence to try and manipulate vulnerable Global South brothers to come to the table for a faux reconciliation. You will notice that Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda were not invited to this gabfest, or chose not to come.

If The Episcopal Church involves itself in the councils of the Communion at Lusaka, and clearly they have said they will not be kept out, then to all intents and purposes the Communion is over and when the GAFCON Primates meet in Chile, they could bring the curtain down on the Anglican Communion once and for all. They might well draw the last line in the sand.

As ACNA Bishop Bill Atwood observes it will be "high noon in Lusaka". What takes place there "will cast the die for the future of the Anglican Communion." Galatians 6:2 will not save TEC from the wrath to come.

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