GAFCON rejects the Church of England’s blessing of gay couples during a fourth Global meeting held this week in Rwanda.
According to a statement released on Friday by the Fourth Global Anglican Future Conference, a total of “1,302 delegates from 52 countries” met from 17-21 April 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda for the “resetting” of worldwide Anglican Communion. This, however, is consequent to a “majority vote by the General Synod of the Church of England in February 2023 to welcome proposals by the bishops to enable same-sex couples to receive God’s blessing.”
GAFCON in the statement said, “It grieves the Holy Spirit and us that the leadership of the Church of England is determined to bless sin.” The Global body rejected not only the Church of England’s approval of gay couples receiving a blessing from the clergy but also the acceptance of homosexuality by any Anglican denomination.
“Since the Lord does not bless same-sex unions, it is pastorally deceptive and blasphemous to craft prayers that invoke blessing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” It stated.
“Public statements by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other leaders of the Church of England in support of same-sex blessings are a betrayal of their ordination and consecration vows to banish error and to uphold and defend the truth taught in Scripture,” it added.
The delegates in affiliation with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches also called for a “resetting” of the global Anglican communion.
“Resetting the Communion is an urgent matter. It needs an adequate and robust foundation that addresses the legal and constitutional complexities in various Provinces. The goal is that orthodox Anglicans worldwide will have a clear identity, a global ‘spiritual home’ of which they can be proud, and a strong leadership structure that gives them stability and direction as Global Anglicans.” It stated.