By David W. Virtue, DD
March 4, 2025
A next-generation gathering of GAFCON primates later this month in Plano, TX has come out with a statement soundly rejecting proposed reforms by the Anglican Communion.
The G25 Mini Conference is at a very crucial time in the life of the movement, as they gather for the first time since the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to consider how GAFCON will continue to lead the renewal of the Anglican Communion.
“For this reason, we will be convening an extended Primates Council meeting, where our agenda will focus on how to strengthen our fellowship with authentic Anglicans, both those who are contesting the faith in liberal dioceses, as well as those who have found refuge in dioceses established and authenticated by GAFCON,” said Rwanda chairman and GAFCON primate Archbishop Laurent Mbanda..
The Anglican future conference issued an official statement rejecting proposed reforms to the Anglican communion citing a weakening of core doctrines.
The Council, in an official statement criticized the December 2024 report of the Inter Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order saying it sanctifies the revisionist theologies of the sitting provinces and dioceses.
Further into the statement it acknowledges the merit of rotating leadership within the Primates Council and Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) but asserts that the proposed restructuring of the instruments of communion fails to achieve genuine renewal.
The statement specifically condemns the report's call to embrace diverse locally authorized prayer books including those deviating from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer teaching on human sexuality. This only repeats and reaffirms the errors of successive archbishops of Canterbury.
The official statement accused them of failing to prevent the tearing of the fabric of the Anglican communion. According to the statement, Scripture is paramount, “the Bible is very clear that those who embrace immoral behavior will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
The statement emphasizes the centrality of Biblical teaching on sin and salvation and claims to represent 85% of the world's 85 million Anglicans.
Furthermore, it asserts that the only Instrument of Communion that ultimately matters is the Word of God.
The organization, in convening the G25 conference in Plano Texas, will discuss its continued leadership in the renewal of the Anglican communion. It also expresses solidarity with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican (GSFA) churches emphasizing their shared desire for Anglicans to speak the truth in love.
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