Chris’ Considerations

Yesterday at All Souls Langham Place there was a day long conference, entitled Global Anglicanism and English Orthodoxy aiming to provide a briefing and feedback on the recent Global Anglican Future Conference which met in Jerusalem last month. The morning and afternoon was for clergy and other local Church leaders, and the evening session was aimed at lay Church members, in particular PCC (Parochial Church Council) members. Both events were packed. John Richardson was at the first event and blogged his way through the day. I managed to get to the evening meeting – where it appears that very many similar things were said.

Morning and Afternoon: For Clergy and Church Leaders

Here are John Richardson’s detailed notes:

1. Archbishop Henry Orombi (Primate of the Church of Uganda), Orthodoxy and Effective Mission
2. The Coffee Break
3. Archbishop Greg Venables (Primate of the Southern Cone), Orthodoxy and Wider Connections
4. Interview with Rev’d Dr. J.I. Packer (Honourary Assistant, St John’s Shaughnessy)
5. Panel Discussion with Greg Venables, Peter Jensen, Henry Orombi and Jim Packer.
6. Archbishop Peter Jensen (Archbishop of the Sydney Diocese), GAFCON and England

Simon Vibert was also there: GAFCON

Evening Session: For PCCS and Other Lay Members

Having browsed through the above, it seems there was similar ground covered in the evening as in the morning. Jim Packer was not around in the evening, but Jensen, Venables and Orombi were. I missed Orombi’s address but arrived in time for Greg Venable’s talk. He explained that the problem we were facing in the Anglican Church is that there are two gospels being promoted – the biblical gospel and another false gospel, (Galatians 1), that there are two versions of Christianity in the Church of England. Venables explained that these two truths cannot be brought together, the Bible is clear. He also emphasised:

1. GAFCON is not a breaking away from from the Anglican Communion because this is where we belong.
2. GAFCON is not a seizing of power within the Communion, merely an exercising of legitimate authority.

After a panel discussion and a time of prayer Peter Jensen spoke on GAFCON and the English Scene. He, as the other speakers was bold and wanted to make it clear that we need to take sides. His talk followed similar lines to the one he gave earlier in the day. He identified that patience, pastoring, the promotion and protection of the Biblical gospel formed the strategy of the principle gospel focused action of GAFCON. He finished by reminding us of Packer’s words from earlier in the day: don’t act like an ostrich!

The meeting concluded with a song, a stiring rendition of Lord of the Church, we pray for our renewing.

Although Dr. Packer was not at the evening event, he recently spoke at Holy Trinity, Eastborne on a similar tack as to his interview: click here for MP3s. I managed to finish listening to these on the train journeys!

I hope that is all faithful and clear and accurate reporting! Please do keep on being discerning.