Thanksgiving for GAFCON ‘26 and the Abuja Affirmation
To the saints and congregations of the Diocese of Western Anglicans, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in Jesus’ name!
I write you with thanksgiving for your prayers for the March 3-6, 2026, gathering of representative Archbishops, Bishops, clergy and lay leaders from the 2/3 majority of largely global south Provinces of the Global Anglican Communion. I believe our prayers have begun to be answered by the decisions at this gathering drawn together by GAFCON, and specifically by the Abuja Affirmation (2026) (Click here to read). I ask every Rector and Vestry in this Diocese to make the Abuja Affirmation available on your website and to every member of the congregation. Please read, mark, learn and inwardly digest it in your vestry, small groups and adult education classes.
I also commend to you the article by the Rev. Canon Mark Eldredge of the American Anglican Council (who will soon be with us for Church revitalization workshops) summarizing G’26 (which you can find by clicking here) and the AAC Anglican Perspective Podcast interview with the Dean of our Province, the Right Rev. Julian Dobbs (which you can find by clicking here). Please share any questions you may have with your clergy and with me. We will continue to monitor progress and answer questions in the days ahead.
I give thanks because the Abuja Declaration describes the decisions the majority of Biblically faithful Anglicans gathered from across the globe made at G26 to reaffirm genuine communion on the basis of what we believe rather than the failed structures of the Canterbury-TEC led false Communion. I give thanks that all those gathered in Abuja recognized the truth of our situation today: “There are not two Communions, but two incompatible definitions of communion – one confessional, the other institutional.” The false communion of the Canterbury Instruments has compromised the authority of the Scriptures by normalising hermeneutical pluralism, elevating cultural capitulation, and reframing the rejection of Scripture’s authority and clarity as “good disagreement,”and not what it really is – false teaching.
I give thanks that the Abuja Affirmation reminds us of our history: that at its inception at the very first Lambeth Conference of Bishops in 1867, the Anglican Communion was based upon “a shared confession of faith,” well before any structures were put in place.
And so, I give thanks that the GAFCON Primates Council has taken a first step by dissolving itself and reforming into the Global Anglican Council, a more representative body of the whole Church, rather than Primates alone. I applaud their decision to put “the horse before the cart”—to recognize that “true communion is confessional, rather than defined by a shared history or institutional structures.” Our shared confession of the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) must come first, and then conciliar structures that will enable us to propagate and defend that faith in Christ alone unhindered to all nations and to all successive generations. I am grateful that the Anglican Church in North America, along with every other Anglican Church and subgrouping that subscribes to the GAFCON Jerusalem Declaration (click here to read) will have representation in the Global Anglican Council.
I also give thanks for these critical affirmations:
The Bible at the heart of the Communion: The Global Anglican Communion is defined as “A fellowship of churches who submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, whose life and teaching is revealed in the Scriptures. We understand the Bible is to be ‘translated, read, preached, taught and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church’s historic and consensual reading’ (Jerusalem Declaration, Article II). The Bible is God’s Word written, breathed out by him and written for us by faithful messengers. It carries God’s own authority and is its own interpreter – it is clear, sufficient and true for all times. God’s Word is the final authority in the church and in the life of discipleship.
Principled Disengagement from the Canterbury-TEC false communion: While membership in the true Global Anglican Communion is open to all who subscribe to the shared confession of faith in the Jerusalem Declaration, leadership requires “principled disengagement.” Specifically, this means that “Leaders who hold office in the Global Anglican Communion must not attend future Primates’ Meetings called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, nor attend the Lambeth Conference, nor attend ACC meetings or participate in Commissions of the ACC, nor personally approve financial contributions to the ACC. It is also expected that they will not receive financial assistance from compromised sources.”
Constitutional Disconnection from Canterbury: As noted, participation in the Global Anglican Communion is by subscription to the Jerusalem Declaration. All members, leaders and participating Churches which have yet to do so are encouraged to amend their constitution to remove any reference to being in communion with the See of Canterbury, as their church laws and secular laws permit.
Written: LENT III, Sunday March 8, 2026
