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RIDGECREST, NC: GAFCON Leaders Wrestle with New Name for Orthodox Anglicans
An exclusive interview with Kenyan Archbishop Eliud Wabukala
By David W. Virtue in Ridgecrest, NC
www.virtueonline.org
June 9, 2012
The head of the Primates Council of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) Kenyan Archbishop Eliud Wabukala says the movement he leads is heading for a name change.
In an interview at the 4th Annual Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) meeting in Ridgecrest the Kenyan Primate said GAFCON/FCA will soon become the Fellowship of Global Anglicans. "As a group of primates we thought about it. We wanted a more inclusive name that takes people in England, Africa, Southern Cone and North America and declare that we are one together," he told VOL.
"A spirit of renewal is being reflected all over the Anglican Communion and in peoples' hearts. People are aching for spiritual renewal. I see it everywhere. We had it in Nigeria and we experienced it in Nairobi last week. Among confessing Anglicans it is very encouraging and we are seeing it here today. God is at work reviving His church. The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 85:6 'Restore us again O God our Savior ... Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?'"
Questioned on why all of GAFCON Primates are in the Global South, but not all provinces of the Global South are in GAFCON, Wabukala replied that the Global South is of one mind with GAFCON. "We are here and all the Primates and their representatives of the Global South have been at this meeting.
"We are in the process of getting the rest of the Global South together and that includes our brothers like President Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis (he is also the bishop of Egypt,) and the new Archbishop of South East Asia, the Most Revd. Bolly Lapok. (The Assistant Bishop in the Anglican Church in Singapore, the Rt. Rev. Rennis Ponniah, one of the world's best Bible teachers, was recently appointed the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore was present at this Assembly representing Lapok). The process became very clear in Bangkok and in July when we meet it will be clearer.
"Most of them have confirmed this in networking and missions following our meeting in Singapore.
"The Global South and GAFCON have basically come together and we might well proceed to call ourselves Global Anglicans. Our whole family of believers is comfortable with the term. I am very optimistic that the movement is taking shape."
The Kenyan Primate expressed deep concern at what he called "Western intrusion" in the affairs of orthodox Global South provinces. "Through economic development we are strengthening the poorer members of the Global South. We now have the Anglican Relief and Development (ARDF) to take to the Congo, Central Africa and Tanzania to provide the necessary development so they won't be forced to take money from The Episcopal Church."
Wabukala acknowledged the wounds created by the disintegration of the Anglican Mission in the Americas, but he believes that time would heal the wounds. "It is His timing not ours."
Asked about the location of GAFCON II next year, the Kenyan leader said that while no definite location had been agreed upon, Athens was high on the list of options. Jerusalem, where the first GAFCON was held is definitely out, he said.
In London earlier this year, the Kenyan Primate blasted "endless dialogue" with liberals which he said was only designed to wear down resistance in pursuit of "radical inclusion."
"Those days are over we will no longer dialogue with the Western Anglican liberals, we will pursue our gospel agenda for the sake of Christ and the kingdom."
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