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Final report on the Global South Encounter in Singapore (April 19-23) |
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ANiC update – 23 April 2010
Official statement – The Global South Encounter in Singapore (GSE4) has released its official communiqué at the conclusion of its meeting. It includes:
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A condemnation of the continued defiance of the clear teaching of Scripture by the Anglican Church of Canada and the US Episcopal Church. (See section #16) |
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An expression of solidarity with Archbishops Mouneer Anis (Jerusalem and the Middle East), Henry Orombi (Uganda) and Ian Ernest (Indian Ocean). “[We] are encouraged by their decision not to participate in meetings of the various Instruments of Communion at which representatives of The Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada are present”. (#17) |
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A request that all Global South provinces that have not officially declared they are out of communion “reconsider their communion relationships with The Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada until it becomes clear that there is genuine repentance”. (#18) |
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An assurance of love and prayerful support for the “Communion Partner” bishops and the orthodox Anglicans they represent within the Episcopal Church. (#19) |
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Embrace of the ACNA. “We are grateful that the recently formed Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a faithful expression of Anglicanism. We welcomed them as partners in the Gospel and our hope is that all provinces will be in full communion with the clergy and people of the ACNA and the Communion Partners.” (#19) |
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A desire to strengthen and rewrite the proposed Anglican Covenant. “We are currently reviewing the proposed Covenant to find ways to strengthen it in order for it to fulfill its purpose. For example, we believe that all those who adopt the Covenant must be in compliance with Lambeth 1.10. Meanwhile we recognize that the Primates Meeting, being responsible for Faith and Order, should be the body to oversee the Covenant in its implementation, not the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion.” (#21) |
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A desire to restructure the Anglican Communion. “We believe that there is a need to review the entire Anglican Communion structure; especially the Instruments of Communion and the Anglican Communion office; in order to achieve an authentic expression of the current reality of our Anglican Communion.” (#22) |
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Also, perhaps of symbolic significance, the Archbishop of Canterbury is mentioned in the paragraph devoted to the ecumenical speakers at the meetings. (#6) |
Plenary sessions – Earlier in the week, Primates addressing the gathering called for dramatic action. Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda) called for structural changes within the Anglican Communion. He added, "We need a new way forward. We are no longer in communion with Rowan [Williams] or TEC or Canada… I love the Anglican Communion but I am a Christian first.”
Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis (Jerusalem & Middle East) explained the need for new structures in Anglicanism by reiterating the history of the Global South. He said, “We [the Global South] need a structure – not to create another Communion as we consider ourselves the Anglican Communion. The others have departed the faith. Not us. So we are the faithful Anglican Communion… We need a structure not to compete with the current dysfunctional structure of the Anglican Communion, but to move forward away from the distraction of the current crisis.” Archbishop Anis then went on to outline specifics of the structure he was proposing for the Global South – ie the faithful Anglican Communion.
New leadership – With Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria, retired) stepping down as chairman, new leadership was announced for the Global South, an increasingly influential organization within the Anglican Communion:
Chairman Archbishop John Chew (South East Asia)
Vice-Chairman Archbishop Henry Orombi (Uganda)
General Secretary Archbishop Mouneer Anis (Jerusalem & Middle East)
Treasurer Archbishop Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria)
Other members Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo (Myanmar)
Bishop Albert Chama (Central Africa)
Communion with ACNA – ACNA Primate, Archbishop Bob Duncan, presided at Holy Communion on Day 3 – which is symbolically significant.
Anglican Communion Alliance (ACA) letter – A letter sent from the ACA (formerly know as Anglican Essentials Federation) appealed to the Global South leaders gathered in Singapore to remember the orthodox still within the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC). ACA chair, the Rev Dr Brett Cane, wrote that the ACoC “is the body to which the vast majority of the Canadian Anglican Conservatives still belong” and that one of the four ecclesiastical provinces in the ACoC, Rupert’s Land, “is deliberately holding to the moratoria set out at Lambeth 2008.” The letter also urged the Global South to “to take up the Anglican Covenant as it stands”.
Praise reports
David Virtue reported from the Singapore meetings: “There is no tension here. There is joy and peace. No one is being asked to reconcile the irreconcilable. This is Anglicanism at its finest.”
Bible Studies focused on studying God’s purpose in covenants in Isaiah 61:1-13; 41:1-9 & 50:4-9 (plus 2 Timothy 1:8-14). Plenary presentations focused on Covenant relationships and Gospel mission, including how Global South churches can help combat poverty. Reports are that the Bible studies, as well as the sessions, were excellent and worth listening to.
Additional information is available:
• On the Global South website, including:
• Audio from the plenary sessions and Bible studies
• Daily reports
• Video of key sessions on AnglicanTV
• Reports from Singapore on the VirtueOnline website
• Reports from Singapore on the AnglicansUnited blog
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