Conservative Anglican leaders head to Jerusalem

Some 1,000 conservative leaders from around the world are making their way to Jerusalem today ahead of a major summit on the future of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Anglican clergy and lay members, including 280 bishops, will arrive in Jerusalem on Thursday for next week's Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) after a consultation in Jordan was forced to wrap up ahead of schedule over problems with permission from authorities.

Upon arrival, GAFCON delegates will launch a new book specially put together for the conference entitled 'The Way, The Truth and the Life'. Published by the Latimer Trust, the 94-page book sets out the theological and historical context of the movement of orthodox Anglicans and GAFCON before going on to present their interpretation of authentic Anglicanism and predictions on what the future holds for orthodox Anglicans.

The Anglican Communion has been in turmoil since the US Episcopal Church consecrated the openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

The book, prepared by the GAFCON Theological Resource Team, makes it clear that GAFCON leaders blame current conflicts within the Communion on disobedience to Scriptures.

"Our journey is a witness that the truth of God is accessible," the book reads. "We are convinced that God has made himself known, sufficiently for us to be able to respond to him, and to make truly moral choices between obedience and disobedience."

The Primate of All Nigeria and Chairman of GAFCON, the Most Rev Peter Akinola, wrote frankly in his contribution to the book that compromise would be equivalent to denying Christ.

"We have made enormous efforts since 1997 in seeking to avoid this crisis, but without success," he wrote. "Now we confront a moment of decision. If we fail to act, we risk leading millions of people away from the faith revealed in the Holy Scriptures and also, even more seriously, we face the real possibility of denying our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Chairman of the GAFCON Theological Resource Team and Nigerian Archbishop, the Most Rev Nicholas D Okoh, pointed meanwhile to the centrality of the Lordship of Christ and the authority of the Bible.

GAFCON will see conservative Anglican leaders largely from the Global South, representing approximately 75 per cent of the Anglican Communion, come together on Sunday for seven days of prayer, Bible study and worship. GAFCON leaders said they chose Jerusalem as the venue because it represents the historical roots of the Christian faith.

The conference comes just weeks before the Lambeth Conference, a major meeting of Anglican bishops headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury that takes place once every ten years.

One of the key organisers of GAFCON, Archbishop Henry Orombi, told Anglican TV Ministries: "Going to Lambeth? The question is 'What for'?

"We don't think three weeks in Lambeth under those circumstances will edify anybody. There will be more conflicts than fellowship. It's not going to be helpful."

GAFCON will also be joined by the head of the conservative Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), Bishop Martyn Minns. Colorado Bishop Robert O'Neill will join the Jerusalem event as the "eyes and ears" of US Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. The Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Most Rev Mouneer Anis, declined an invitation to attend.