Anglicans from the Global South heard the Bishop of Egypt, Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis, condemn the way some in the western Church attempted to impose an "ideological slavery" on the Church in the south.
Opening the sixth Cairo Global South Conference attended by 12 Anglican Primates and 90 delegates from 20 Anglican provinces, Anis – who is Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East – said liberals undermine Scripture and the traditions of the Church in redefining marriage.
"The whole truth is revealed to whole Church," he said. "Unilateral decisions have torn the fabric of the communion over the last 13 years, as some provinces went on their way without regard to the rest."
He added: "Some churches are pushing a new form of ideological slavery on us and we must and resist financial and ideological slavery.
"I want to weep as Jesus did over Jerusalem," Anis said.
According to Anglican Ink, he also challenged delegates about corruption, tribalism, polygamy, poor treatment of women, and the prosperity gospel, all of which showed the need for greater theological education.
He said the southern Church should move away from depending on western aid into more sustainable development.
During the opening communion service Archbishop Nicholas Okoh of Nigeria preached on the peace of Christ and highlighted examples of conflict including Syria, Yemen, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and his own homeland.
Ecumenical and interfaith guests included representatives of Al Azhar University, the Vatican, the Coptic Orthodox and Coptic Catholic Churches, and the Armenian Catholics. Political and diplomatic guests included representatives from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the embassies of the United States and Singapore.
