"Together with many evangelical clergy from across this diocese and the nation we have resorted to this action for the needs of the churches. It also expresses our unity with the many orthodox Bible-believing Anglicans across the world who are outraged at the way things are headed in England. Sadly we are having publicly to distance ourselves from the Bishop of Southwark."

The churches of the 'Co-Mission Initiative' are temporarily facing the reality of 'impaired communion' with the Bishop of Southwark after he wrote to Rev Coekin refusing to distance himself from the recent controversial House of Bishops' Pastoral Statement concerning civil partnerships. The Bishop had also previously refused to ordain two of the clergy despite their both being fully trained, eligible for ordination and leading growing Anglican congregations.

Rev Coekin explained: "In ten years we have seen 400% growth, from one congregation of 40 adults to eight congregations totaling more than 600. Yet the Bishop of Southwark has repeatedly refused to assist us through ordaining staff to lead these growing congregations. If the Church of England really wants to halt its decline and reach the people of England in the 21st century then it must encourage growth, not stifle it."

The special ordination service was conducted by Bishop Martin Morrison of the Church of England in South Africa and attended by more than 500 people, including many clergy who support the move. The staff ordained were Andy Fenton and Richard Perkins who lead churches in Wimbledon and Balham respectively and Loots Lambrechts, a South African who will lead a bilingual Afrikaans/English congregation in Wimbledon.

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--Background information - Dundonald Church, in Wimbledon, south west London, is an Anglican Evangelical church which was planted in 1990 from Emmanuel Church, a proprietary chapel in the Church of England. Dundonald Church meets in Dundonald Primary School and is part of the Co-Mission Initiative family of churches.

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SYDNEY: The Anglican Church League, Sydney, expresses unqualified support for London ordinations

The Anglican Church League wishes to express its unqualified support for the ordination of Richard Perkins, Andrew Fenton and Loots Lambrechts at Christ Church Surbiton in the Diocese of Southwark on 2 November 2005. We rejoice that such gifted and godly young men have been raised up by God to serve churches in the south-west of London and affirm that is entirely appropriate that this ordination should take place at the hands of a bishop who is thoroughly committed to upholding the teaching of Scripture.

The churches in which these men serve found themselves in impaired communion with the diocesan bishop and so invited Bishop Martin Morrison of the Church of England in South Africa to officiate at the service. This is undeniably an extraordinary turn of events. However, this is equally an extraordinary moment in the history of the Anglican Communion. In many places throughout the world, those concerned to take the word of God seriously, to have their thinking and behaviour shaped by the teaching of the Bible, find themselves in conflict with those who should have been encouraging and supporting them in gospel ministry. They have been forced to seek the help of others because their leaders have neglected and in some cases denied biblical doctrine and ethics. Fellowship and support is not geographically defined and so it is right and proper that they avail themselves of the care and protection of other faithful brothers and sisters throughout the world.

We stand with these three men and the congregations they serve as they continue to honour Christ by word and deed. We assure them and the other churches in the Co-Mission Initiative of our prayerful support in the months and years ahead.

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