Gafcon 25 - Excerpts from the Plano Statement:
The Gafcon Primates Council met in Plano, Texas on Tuesday, 12 March 2025 and during the rest of that week held G25, a conference for Gafcon leaders with a special focus on the next generation of global bishops. Over 170 leaders from 25 countries were present, including 10 primates and 83 other bishops and archbishops. Gafcon continues its commitment to reorder the Anglican Communion in joyful submission to Holy Scripture. The theme of the Conference was ‘Leading the Renewal.’
Bishops, clergy and laity from around the world in the sanctuary at Christ Church Plano, following the opening Holy Communion service for Gafcon 25.
…Each day began with Morning Prayer led by bishops from Nigeria, Rwanda and Myanmar, with clear and stimulating Bible teaching from the early chapters of Joshua by the General Secretary that encouraged us in our personal walk with Christ…
…Gafcon has sometimes been criticised, even vilified, as a sectarian and schismatic movement that has sought to undermine the unity of the Anglican Communion. But that is simply untrue. We cherish the worldwide fellowship that we enjoy through the Anglican Communion… It is those who have promoted unbiblical teachings who have torn the fabric of our Communion and shown themselves to be out of step with the apostolic faith…
…Gafcon continues to stand firm against error, re-stating and celebrating the truth of the gospel, recognizing authentic Anglican provinces and dioceses, and renewing the Anglican Communion for mission to the nations.
Through a mixture of presentations and small group consultations, the participants considered four defining features of Gafcon.
Gathering Authentic Anglicans
…Gafcon is a confessional fellowship of Anglicans held together by the theology, liturgy and vision of the Reformation Formularies. (see March 2025 editorial)
Guarding God’s Gospel
…Where Anglican leaders in some regions have departed from the truth of the gospel, Gafcon has rejected their spiritual authority, and recognised new expressions of faithful Anglicans, in order to guard and boldly proclaim the life-giving gospel of Christ throughout the world.
Growing Orthodox Leaders
…Gafcon has sought to do this through the work of its conferences, its Bishops Training Institute (BTI), and, where necessary, its willingness to consecrate duly elected bishops in new and challenging areas of ministry.
Generating Missional Resources
…Our speakers shared their own stories of God’s miraculous provision, as well as practical wisdom for how to partner together across provinces and utilise what God has given us to promote sustainable development and generate resources in our churches.
[The] Gafcon Primates Council Chairman in his final address…encouraged us to recommit ourselves to prayer, to self-sustainability within our churches, and to some of Gafcon’s key areas of ministry, including BTI, women’s ministry, and our conferences. He also outlined some new initiatives for Gafcon, including the development of a theological writing group and a theological commission, and the intentional deepening of relationships through inter-provincial visits… Next year, G26 will be meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.
View selected sessions from the Conference here
Attendees from our Gafcon region included:
From Anglican Network in Europe - Bishop Andy Lines, Bishop Tim Davies, Rev Andrew Symes. Dr Chik Kaw Tan represented Gafcon GB & Europe.
From Gafcon Ireland: David McClay, Bishop of Down and Dromore, Rev Trevor Johnston, Rev David Martin.
From the Church of England: Gafcon Trustees David Monro, Preb Charles Marnham, Rev Chris Green; Mike Tolmie (Accounts and admin); from The Alliance Rev Sarah Jackson (HTB’s Church Revitalisation Trust and Chair of the Alliance), Rev Tom Jackson, Bishop Rob Munro.
Church of England news
What kind of future awaits the faithful?
Anglican Futures reviews a new book by Martyn Snow, lead Bishop for LLF, in which he urges all in the Church of England not to separate into factions, but to put aside differences over matters such as sexuality, and work together “witnessing as one body to the resurrection life of our Lord”. AF concludes: “despite Bishop Martyn’s sincere desire to find a way forward, there is no ‘reimagination’ at all in this booklet - for at its heart, this is just the latest repackaging of ‘walking together'”.
Church of England finances and numerical decline.
A campaign to increase the level of the clergy pension is gathering pace. See this report from Church Times. The C of E has large amounts in invested assets – about £10 million administered by the Church Commissioners. Campaign group Save the Parish argues that some of this money should plug the deficit between Diocesan income (from parishes) and expenditure (on clergy and admin costs), so as to reduce pressure on parishes and ensure that clergy numbers are not continually reduced. However, while some Dioceses are wealthy, others are operating unsustainable deficits, and cathedrals are especially under financial pressure.
At root is the relentless decline in numbers of people attending church and donating to church finances, connected to a lack of agreement on what the church is for and what its core message is. Key leaders within the C of E continue to argue that the church should be about compassion, inclusion and holding together different theologies and spiritualities (eg Bishop Martyn Snow’s views outlined above, and this example here). Gafcon holds out the alternative as reiterated in the recent Plano Statement: true compassion and inclusion is found in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, as expressed clearly in the historic Anglican formularies, and in churches all over the world united in faithfulness to this gospel.
Appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury: “poor process” and “lack of transparency”? Andrew Goddard goes into detail.
CEEC promotes alternative to “Chrism Mass”. The traditional Cathedral service on Maundy Thursday, at which the Diocesan Bishop presides at Holy Communion, preaches and blesses oils for use in parish ministry, has always been seen as an occasion for visible unity. Growing differences over LLF however have led to impaired communion between some clergy and their bishops. Thinking Anglicans have published what was originally a private communication between leaders of CEEC and its members, advertising an alternative celebration of this important time in Holy Week, which serves as an example of practical action demonstrating the formation of a “de facto province”, administratively part of the Church of England but spiritually distinct from its heterodox leadership.
Church in Wales
Archbishop of Wales may step down early, say critics. Report in Nation.Cymru says Rt Rev Andy John is under pressure for unwise support of clergy linked to alleged safeguarding failures and financial irregularities. (More on Bishop John’s theological thinking here.)
Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE) news
ANiE is an Anglican jurisdiction not part of the Canterbury structures, but authorised and overseen by the Gafcon Primates’ Council. It consists of three Dioceses all firmly committed to Anglicanism as defined by the Jerusalem Declaration, and to making disciples of Christ throughout the nations of Europe:
Anglican Mission in England (AMiE): complementarian, informal in style, focussing on England.
Anglican Convocation Europe: more diversity of views on secondary issues and styles; geographically spread in Britain, Ireland and mainland Europe.
Anglican Missionary Congregations: mostly Nigerian diaspora, more formal in worship style.
ANiE Presiding Bishop Andy Lines has also been serving as Diocesan Bishop of AMiE and ACE. He stood down from his role with AMiE at their recent conference. Bishop Tim Davies will serve in an interim role until the election of a dedicated Diocesan Bishop for AMiE in June.
Social issues
Assisted suicide
“We need to pray that God works in the heart of our nation and that our MPs would vote against the bill at third reading. This Lent, could you take one minute every day to pray that assisted suicide would not be legalised in this nation?”
This piece from Christian Concern summarises how we can better inform ourselves of the issues, write our MP’s and alert our churches.
On Tuesday 25 March, the Institute, Affinity, CARE, the Christian Medical Fellowship and the Evangelical Alliance are inviting Christians to take part in a national day of prayer against the Bill, and also to encourage their church and friends to join too.
Abortion buffer zones
Retired pastor Clive Johnston is being prosecuted under abortion buffer zones laws for an open-air sermon outside Coleraine Causeway hospital in Northern Ireland on John 3:16, even though abortion was never mentioned. Report from Christian Institute here.
World news
Relying on God, Not America: A Report from the Church in Ukraine: A report from The Gospel Coalition
“…pray that Christians would be able to direct their frustration, anger, and other emotions about this prolonged war in a righteous way—to be able to give those things over to God, and not just be angry at Russia or the United States. And after that, to be able to passionately continue to pursue evangelism and discipleship.”
Christians and politics. Following on from the Editorial, see this recent article from Evangelical Focus:
Too much proximity to political power makes it impossible for the church to fulfil its role as a watchdog. A recent consultation of evangelicals in Switzerland identifies a new trend of Christian Nationalism rightly opposing ‘woke’ progressivism, but now brings its own potential problems for the church.
Nicene Creed Anniversary
This year is the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 325 a.d. which produced the Nicene Creed.
Resources:
Discover the Timeless Wisdom of the Nicene Creed for Today’s Church.
Join the church universal in confessing the Nicene Creed and discover what it means in 12 videos.
More useful articles:
How the Creed came about, and why it matters: overview by Peter Sanlon
Celebrating the Nicene Creed, from Banner Online
Prayer summary
- Pray that faithful Anglicans would not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, with all its implications in the church and in the world.
- Give thanks for Gafcon 25; for the unity of purpose among leaders in the Bible-based renewal of global Anglicanism, and for the encouragement Gafcon gives to faithful Anglicans across the world.
- Pray for increased self-reliance and releasing of resources for mission.
- For the process for the election of a dedicated diocesan bishop for AMiE.
- For leaders of The Alliance and other groups witnessing for truth in theologically diverse Provinces: pray for wisdom in how to move forward, and for closer relationships with Gafcon, facilitated by Bishop Andy Lines.
- For world leaders, especially those responsible for our region of Britain and Europe: pray for wisdom in decision making, consistent with gospel values of peace, justice and righteousness.
- Give thanks for the Nicene Creed which continues to teach, unite and inspire Christians as we consider and worship our awesome God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.