An historic gathering of 1148 orthodox Anglican lay and clergy participants, including 291 bishops from around the world, met in Jerusalem to mobilize reform within the Anglican communion. The meeting ‘was called in a sense of urgency’ in the belief that ‘a false gospel’ has ‘paralysed the Anglican Communion’ requiring that ‘this crisis must be addressed’. The cause for this impasse is the perceived erosion of core Anglican beliefs and standards relating to the authority of Scripture and the ordinance of clergy within the Anglican communion. The recent blessings of homosexual unions in North America and the U.K., even between members of the clergy, has brought a reaction of consternation and alarm amongst conservative members of the Church. On 29th June, the bishops in Jerusalem issued a declaration, presenting their views and the tenets to which they uphold.
The agreement reached recognizes the authority of the Old and New Testaments: ‘to be respected in its plain and historical sense’, the 39 Articles of the Church for doctrine, and the 1662 prayer book as an authoritative standard. The movement intends to create its own province in North America, to set up theological colleges and its own Primates Council. It stays in communion with the Church of England but recognizes Canterbury only as an historic see. In particular, the following tenets clearly define the distinguishing boundary lines that set it apart:
8. We acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family. We repent of our failures to maintain this standard and call for a renewed commitment to lifelong fidelity in marriage and abstinence for those who are not married.
13. We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. We pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.
What will be the outcome of this declaration? What impact will it have on the Church of England and on the Anglican Church in America?
I, for one, rejoice that a stand has been made to uphold the plain teachings of Scripture and the biblical standards for those appointed to positions of pastoral leadership in the Church. God bless their efforts!
Reference GAFCON