A Letter from Bishop Chris (May 2023A)
Friends,
In 1998, I was a second year seminarian at Trinity School for Ministry. I remember experiencing profound hope because Anglican Bishops from around the world (and particularly from the Global South) had resolutely spoken in apostolic and catholic authority at the Lambeth Conference. The vast majority of Bishops and Primates issued Lambeth Resolution 1.10 on the nature of marriage, sexuality, the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. What they wrote was vitally important, but not particularly remarkable, in that Lambeth 1.10 was entirely aligned with Scripture and in keeping with historic Christian morality and practice. What was remarkable was that they spoke clearly and in juxtaposition to the spirit of the age. Within their statement they included an assurance of God’s love, “for all baptized, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation,” and a pastoral call to minister with compassion to those experiencing same-sex attraction.
It was the sort of thing I had always hoped for, but had never seen bishops do. They honored Jesus. They upheld the Scripture. They sought to maintain the unity of the Church. They loved people and pastorally reached out to homosexual persons. And they also brought correction with regard to various areas of sin related to sexuality by, “condemn(ing) irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialization, and commercialization of sex.” It was short, clear, and practical. It was in every sense, church discipline. However, their guidance was ignored, rejected, and then openly disobeyed by many Anglican churches, dioceses and provinces and specifically in the Global North.
Fast forward 25 years to GAFCON 2023. Once again Anglican Primates (with the input of bishops, clergy, and laity) have spoken in apostolic and catholic authority. They have maintained the integrity of Scripture and a pastoral concern for people. And they have called to account those leaders and provinces of the Anglican Communion that have acted contrary to Scripture and the historic Christian faith. As stated in the Kigali Commitment, “Despite 25 years of persistent warnings by most Anglican Primates, repeated departures from the authority of God’s Word have torn the fabric of the Communion. These warnings were blatantly and deliberately disregarded and now without repentance this tear cannot be mended.”
The Kigali Commitment is healthy church discipline - a thing too few of us in the Anglican world of the Global North have known. This discipline was neither rash nor harsh. It was issued after 25 years of repeated warnings. It is discipline that holds out the hope of restoration. The reformer John Calvin viewed discipline as a necessary extension of the church’s ministry of word and sacrament. Calvin insisted that discipline is essential to the spiritual health of a church, without which a church cannot long endure. He argued that discipline is an expression of spiritual power. (From Matthew Tuininga).
By speaking the truth in love, (Ephesians 4:15), the Kigali Commitment calls to account the structures and persons, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, who have led others astray and fractured the Anglican Communion. What amazed me was that each day at GAFCON, following periods of worship and study in the book of Colossians, we engaged in both individual and corporate repentance before the Lord. There was a recognition on the part of the Primates that the only way to bring about godly discipline was to do so, not from a place of superiority or being “right,” but from a place of humility and repentance before the Lord. The Kigali Commitment clearly reflects this. It speaks authoritatively from bended knees at the foot of the cross.
We are now at the point in which the Communion will be reset. It is clear that old colonial structures are dying including the outdated mode of Anglican relationship established through the See of Canterbury (which ultimately is determined by the secular king of England). Now, the Communion will be established based on doctrinal fundamentals. As stated, "We rejoice in the united commitment of both groups (GAFCON Primates and the Primates of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches) on three fundamentals: the lordship of Jesus Christ; the authority and clarity of the Word of God; and the priority of the church’s mission to the world. We acknowledge their agreement that ‘communion’ between churches and Christians must be based on doctrine (Jerusalem Declaration #13; GSFA Covenant 2.1.6). Anglican identity is defined by this and not by recognition from the See of Canterbury.”
We must pray for our Primates and Bishops (myself included) especially in the season of Communion reformation that lies ahead. Pray that we remain true to the faith once delivered. Pray that we remain humbly repentant before the cross. Pray that we remain pastorally committed to the good of the Church and willing to discipline - even when this brings about misunderstanding and/or backlash from a culture that believes love means permissive acceptance of everything. In reality love sacrifices for the good of the beloved.
My prayer for the Anglican Communion and my prayer for our diocese comes from Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Blessings,
+Chris