GAFCON re-arranged
The pre Lambeth conference sponsored by Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) has been re-arranged in response to the Archbishop of the Middle East and the Bishop of Jerusalem.
After consultation with a number of church leaders in Jerusalem, and around the world, the pilgrimage of the Global Anglican Future Conference will now take place from June 22nd through June 29th. An important Consultation in Jordan from 18-22 June will include the conference leadership, theological resource group, those bishops serving in majority Islamic settings and other key leaders. The Jerusalem pilgrimage will focus on worship, prayer, discussions and Bible Study, shaped by the context of the Holy Land."We are very grateful for the feedback that we have received on the many complex issues that confront us," said Archbishop Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney and a member of the leadership team. "The emphasis of our time together will be our future in the Anglican Communion and the reformation and renewal of our common life rooted in the Holy Scriptures and our common faith in Jesus Christ."
Participants will include bishops and their wives, key clergy and laity.
Read it all here. Brochure of the events available a web site.
HT to Dave Walker at Cartoon Church.
Mark Harris points out (1) Jordan is in the Diocese of Jerusalem, and (2) "GAFCON is dribbling off into vapor: first it was to be a great meeting to chart the course of a Global Anglican Future combined with a pilgrimage. Now it is a much smaller meeting of central figures in the Africa bible-belt and related "south" community, combined with some sort of pilgrimage in Jerusalem."
http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2008/02/hey-gafconjordan-is-part-of-diocese-of.html
A commenter there counters that by the commenter's count those primates not going to Lambeth "represent around 60% of Anglicans in the world and the parts of the AC which are growing rather than shrinking...."
Which raises further questions. Will bishops whose primates boycott Lambeth be given a free choice to attend Lambeth? And - given the social trauma, corruption and violence Africa faces - are not the boycotting primates shamefully misdirecting their spiritual leadership energies?
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 20, 2008 10:22 AM
Of course, it is the city of Jerusalem, with all its symbolism of the Apostolic Age, and not the diocese of Jerusalem, about which the organizers cared. As casual as they are about diocesan boundaries in other provinces, it is no real surprise that they are equally casual in this. And if indeed they will go on to establish an "anti-Canterbury" Anglican fellowship, this only makes sense. There are no dioceses yet established for this "anti-Canterbury" fellowship, because it doesn't yet exist. So, they have no real peers whose authority they are bound to respect.
Large or small, this will still bring our divisive issues to a part of the world that already struggles with enough of its own. Anywhere in the Holy Land - say, the ancient see of Antioch or even Alexandria - would entail the same risk.
Marshall Scott
Posted by mscottsail![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 20, 2008 10:36 AM
This is both a gaff and a con. As T. Friedman in The World is Flat says: 'we must encourage people to focus on positive outcomes...to minimize alienation..to seek inclusion rather than exclusion, openness, opportunity and hope rather than limits, suspicion, and grievance.
Posted by don hands![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 20, 2008 4:46 PM