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GAFCON: Two accounts
The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) took place in Jerusalem, June 22 – 29. GAFCON is a movement to preserve and promote the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Anglican Communion. by the Rev. Todd and Cherie Wetzel
The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem was a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. Its 1,280 participants were from 35 countries around the globe. The largest number of participants came from Nigeria, Kenya, Australia, and England. Two hundred-eighty were bishops or archbishops; another 600 were priests; and the remaining 480 were laity. It was refreshing to have Americans in the minority. They usually dominate in both number and discourse. Organized around communal worship and study of scripture, every day consisted of four hours of worship and Bible teaching with small group discussion; and four hours of community time for workshops or optional field trips. The conference speakers were outstanding authorities in their field: Dr. Os Guinness, the Trinity Forum, VA — “The Gospel and Secularism;” Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, Rochester, England — “The Gospel and Anglicanism;” Bishop Wallace Benn, Lewes, England — “The Gospel and Leadership;” and Bishop John Akao of Nigeria — “The Authority of Scripture.” Panel discussions took place about “the Gospel and Religious Practice Today,” HIV/Aids, microeconomics, and inadequate infrastructure in some countries — like potable water, sewage treatment, malaria prevention, and roads/transportation. Teachers included Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who taught on the top of the Mount of Olives looking across the Kidron Valley at the Old City and the Dome of the Rock mosque that now sits where Solomon’s temple once stood. It was very poignant. Other instructors were the Rev. David Short, St. John’s Shaughnessy, Vancouver; the Rev. Vaughn Roberts from St. Ebbe’s parish, Oxford; the Most Rev. Datuk Chung, retired archbishop of SE Asia; and Bishop Michael Fape of Nigeria, who taught Luke 24: “The Son of God.” He exclaimed, “Only Christianity has an empty tomb. Mohammed died and never rose; Buddha died and never rose; the human founders of Hinduism died and never rose. Jesus Christ rose from the dead.” Listeners responded with shouts of acclamation. Each speaker emphasized that Jesus Christ must be central to any form of Anglicanism that hopes to survive — while recognizing that post-moderns find this truth difficult to believe. Groups of 12 met an hour each day for discussion and prayer. Our group included bishops and their wives from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, England, and two music-team members from Kenya. Fr. Todd Wetzel led our group, and we had lively discussions. Although we came from different places, we believed the same things about scripture and had similar prayer concerns for those at home in our dioceses and parishes. Workshops covered interpretation/teaching of scripture, family issues, Anglican identity, worship, canon law, and constitutional issues. The largest workshop was for bishops’ wives from around the world who found comfort and solidarity in their times together. Our pilgrimages took us to the most historic sites in Jerusalem. We gathered at the top of the Mount of Olives for worship; made our way to the Church of all Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane; journeyed to the Flower Gate; walked the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulcher; visited the Anglican Chapel inside the Jaffa Gate; saw the Dung Gate; and explored the ancient steps of Herod’s Temple where Peter preached after receiving the Holy Spirit in the upper room. When we went to the Wailing Wall, the sun was setting, and then the moon shone over Bethlehem, just to the south. It was amazing! During our trip to Bethlehem, we had our first experience with Palestinian checkpoints and the alarming encounter with young people carrying M-16s and AK-47s and staring at you. The city sits on a series of hilltops and the Church of the Holy Nativity is atop the highest rise. Its shrines depict where Jesus was born. In a field outside the town, we saw where the angels greeted the shepherds. Painted on the walls of this site were murals, filled with sheep. They made us homesick for our parish, Good Shepherd.Our longest field trip took us north to the Sea of Galilee. All 1,200 of us boarded boats for Capernaum where we landed west of Peter’s home. We visited places where Jesus started his ministry — the fields where he taught the Beatitudes, the location where he multiplied the loaves and fishes, and the spot where he told his disciples to drop their nets on the other side of the boat so that they would make an astonishing catch. Archbishop Venables and the worship team led the service there. His Excellency Elias Chacour, the Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Galilee, talked about the Christians’ plight in the Palestinian areas across the Sea of Galilee where they are an ignored minority. Joy and expectation filled the closing Eucharist, and many participants wept. Archbishop Akinola led the final session at which he read the GAFCON statement and the archbishops who were present processed to the front to sign it. There were no fanfares or grandiose behavior. All of us were keenly aware of the solemnity of the moment. The intellectual challenge of this conference and spiritual impact of this pilgrimage to the Holy Land were far greater than we could have imagined. Informed by the Holy Spirit, GAFCON’s leadership made that happen. We were at home in Jerusalem where there are no strangers! About the authors: Fr. Todd Wetzel is rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church (915 Straus Rd., Cedar Hill) and executive director of Anglicans United. His wife, Cheryl, writes for Anglicans United, Latimer Press, and The Living Church. Go to the second account by David and Kristin Williamson.
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