Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,
The recent of the EC [8112] contained the Jerusalem Declaration and information concerning the formation of the Diocese of the Southern Cross which has adopted that Declaration. The recently appointed Bishop of the Southern Cross is Glenn Davies. As much as one rejoices for both we ought to be aware of the misleading position of GAFCON in terms of its makeup and theology, and thus, the theological foundation of this new diocese. One reads the Declaration in vain to know the more precise details of what GAFCON stands for, for GAFCON is not all it seems.
The following excerpt is disturbing. It is from a discussion at the commissioning of Glenn Davies as the Bishop of the new Diocese and may be seen on YouTube, the relevant section is about 12 ½ minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84gJm8fnZJE:
“HERCOTT [The Rev. Jennifer Hercott]: Will you be able to support female clergy who feel the need to come into the Diocese of the Southern Cross?
DAVIES: Absolutely, absolutely. I want men and women as Gospel ministers to preach Christ to our nation and I rejoice in women’s ministry as well as male ministry and I want to see that as a reflection of God’s gifts to us in that regard.
HERCOTT: Will you help them flourish?
DAVIES: I will help them flourish.
STEELE: It’s probably important to say that GAFCON and the Diocese of the Southern Cross is broader than Evangelical. Do you want to speak to that, Glenn?
DAVIES: Correct. It’s orthodox Anglican faith. That’s the groundwork of GAFCON – so there are Charismatics, and Anglo-Catholics, and Evangelicals. That has been GAFCON from the very beginning. And there are majorities of those in different parts of the world, because we have GAFCON branches around the world as well as the GAFCON Primates themselves.”
This is neither Orthodox nor Reformed Anglicanism but a compromised mishmash disguised under the misleading, self-applied term of “genuine Anglicanism” – which it is not.
All this leaves one with a rather sour taste in the mouth and huge disappointment. GAFCON is not what it seems. Modern or “broader Evangelicalism” is, in fact, a sad betrayal of the robust faith of our fathers.
Yours, sincerely,
John Dunn
Isle of Wight
