GAFCON responds to the Archbishop of Canterbury

From here [boldface mine]:

The Global Anglican Future Conference gathered leaders from around the Anglican Communion for pilgrimage, prayer and serious theological reflection. We are grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for engaging with the Jerusalem Statement and Declaration. We wish to respond to some of his concerns.

On faith and false teaching. We warmly welcome the Archbishop's affirmation of the Jerusalem Statement as positive and encouraging and in particular that it would be shared by the vast majority of Anglicans. We are however concerned that he should think we assume that all those outside GAFCON are proclaiming another gospel. In no way do we believe that we are the only ones to hold a correct interpretation of scripture according to its plain meaning. We believe we are holding true to the faith once delivered to the saints as it has been received in the Anglican tradition. Many are contending for and proclaiming the orthodox faith throughout the Anglican Communion. Their efforts are, however, undermined by those who are clearly pursuing a false gospel. We are not claiming to be a sinless church. Our concern is with false teaching which justifies sin in the name of Christianity. These are not merely matters of different perspectives and emphases. They have led to unbiblical practice in faith and morals, resulting in impaired and broken communion. We long for all orthodox Anglicans to join in resisting this development.

On the uniqueness of Christ. We are equally concerned to hear that 'the conviction of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Lord and God' is 'not in dispute' in the Anglican Communion. Leading bishops in The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, and even the Church of England have denied the need to evangelise among people of other faiths, promoted and attended syncretistic events and, in some cases, refused to call Jesus Lord and Saviour.

On legitimacy. In the current disorder in the Communion, GAFCON came together as a gathering of lay leaders, clergy and bishops from over 25 countries on the basis of their confession of the common historic Christian faith. They formed a Council in obedience to the word of God to defend the faith and the faithful who are at risk in some Anglican dioceses and congregations.

GAFCON, where the governing structures of many provinces were present, affirmed such a Council of the GAFCON movement as its body to authenticate and recognise confessing Anglican jurisdictions, clergy and congregations and to encourage all Anglicans to promote the gospel and defend the faith.

In their primates and other bishops, the assembly saw a visible connection to the catholic and apostolic Church and the evangelical and catholic faith which many have received from the Church of England and the historic see of Canterbury. It is this faith which we seek to affirm.

On authority. As the Virginia Report notes, in the Anglican tradition, authority is not concentrated in a single centre, but rather across a number of persons and bodies. This Council is a first step towards bringing greater order to the Communion, both for the sake of bringing long overdue discipline and as a reforming initiative for our institutions.

Whilst we respect territoriality, it cannot be absolute. For missionary and pastoral reasons there have long been overlapping jurisdictions in Anglicanism itself – historically in South Africa, New Zealand, the Gulf and Europe. In situations of false teaching, moreover, it has sometimes been necessary for other bishops to intervene to uphold apostolic faith and order.

On discipline. Finally, with regard to the Archbishop's concern about people who have been disciplined in one jurisdiction and have been accepted in another, we are clear that any such cases have been investigated thoroughly and openly with the fullest possible transparency. Bishops and parishes have been given oversight only after the overseeing bishops have been fully satisfied of no moral impediments to their action.

We enclose a response to the St Andrew's Draft Covenant. (See separate post).

We assure the Archbishop of Canterbury of our respect as the occupier of an historic see which has been used by God to the benefit of his church and continue to pray for him to be given wisdom and discernment.

Signed

The Most Rev Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria
The Most Rev Justice Akrofi, Primate of West Africa
The Most Rev Emmanuel Kolini, Primate of Rwanda
The Most Rev Valentine Mokiwa, Primate of Tanzania
The Most Rev Benjamin Nzmibi, Primate of Kenya
The Most Rev Henry Orombi, Primate of Uganda
The Most Rev Gregory Venables, Primate of The Southern Cone
July 18 2008

Tanzania: Valentino L. Mokiwa enthroned as primate

From EpiscopalLife Online:

The Most Rev. Valentino L. Mokiwa was enthroned May 25 as primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania during a five-hour ceremony in Holy Spirit Cathedral in Dodoma, Tanzania.

The entire service, including the sermon delivered by Mokiwa himself, was conducted in Swahili.

Mokiwa, 43, has served as bishop of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam since April 2002.

Mokiwa's homily centered on Paul's letter to the Philippians and he appealed to all Christians in the province, partners and well wishers to work together to support the church and build the body of Christ, said the Rev. Emmanuel Sserwadda, the Episcopal Church's program officer for Africa, who attended the service. "The new archbishop promised to reach out to all people, especially the marginalized."

Tanzania's vice president, Ali Mohamad Shenyi, spoke for an hour and pledged for the government to work together with the church in improving people's lives.

Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda and Justice Akrofi of West Africa attended the ceremony, while the primates of Burundi, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda were represented by bishops from their respective provinces. . .

Check out this posting from January of this year, when then-Bishop Valentino visited San Diego and spoke at our local AAC meeting. From Holy Trinity Ocean Beach, we have this message:

Fr. Bausch is away from May 19th until June 3rd in order to attend the installation of our companion bishop as Primate of Tanzania. John and Lenora Witt will also be attending.
Please pray for their safe travel and for the LORD to continue leading Bp Valentino.

So the Province of the Southern Cone by way of San Diego is being well represented in Tanzania!

The Rt. Rev. Valentino Mokiwa elected Archbishop of Tanzania

From SanDiegoAnglicans.com, some international news with a local connection:

Some exciting news for my rector, Fr. Lawrence Bausch, and the people of Holy Trinity Parish, where Archbishop-elect Mokiwa (Dar Es Salaam) is companion bishop (Archbishop Gregory Venables, Diocesan). Many in our community had the chance to meet then-Bishop Mokiwa during his visit to Holy Trinity Parish and the local AAC Chapter just this past February.

Of note, the province of Tanzania has typically alternated its selection of primates, choosing more Anglo-Catholic archbishops for itself every other election. In this instance, however, the province has chosen a second Anglo-Catholic as successor to Archbishop Mtetemela.

I understand some from Holy Trinity Parish may be attending the installation on May 25 of this year.

See also my posting on Bishop Valentino's visit to San Diego.

The MEA Foundation in the Diocese of Dar-es-Salaam

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hear the Rt Revd Valentino Mokiwa, bishop of the Diocese of Dar-es-Salaam of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, speak to the San Diego chapter of the American Anglican Council at their monthly board meeting. Bishop Mokiwa was visiting Holy Trinity Parish, an Anglican parish in the Diocese of Argentina (in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone), and will be in Charleston for the January 26 consecration of Mark Lawrence as bishop of South Carolina.

In his talk, Bishop Valentino mentioned the MEA Foundation which sponsors the Buguruni Anglican Health Centre. The centre's mission is to deliver clinical health care services and public health programs to women and children.

According to the MEA Foundation website, the Diocese of Dar es Salaam is

developing a comprehensive women and children health program serving the impoverished Buguruni District (population 250,000) of Tanzania’s capital city. The health center and public health programs will be carefully linked with the government district hospital, the other two general clinics serving the area, and the medical school hospital in order to create an integrated health system for the mothers and children of the area.

Currently on a 3-year mission in Dar-es-Salaam to help with this effort are Drs. Henry and Priscilla Ziegler, a physician and nurse team with community health training and experience. They have had experience in several other African countries: Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, and are sponsored by the Episcopal Church. You can read some of their letters here but this most recent note from August, 2007, says:

. . . We are now actively helping 94 children by supplying a small amount of emergency food aid, full health care coverage, and support for education or job training. The children stay in the community with extended family caregivers or adoptive families. Since beginning in January of 2006 with a $15,000 grant from the Incarnation Episcopal Church in North Carolina, we have helped 107 children. Unfortunately, we can no longer accept new children into the program because the funds are fast disappearing and we must fund the educational needs of children already in the program. We are seeking grants to continue the program but could certainly use your help.

We just graduated another class of community health workers. They include community residents from the Buguruni area, a community resident from the Rufiji Delta, a nurse from Mafia Island, and a doctor who will be our rural health educator. Their community outreach, mosquito net distribution, and health education through the Nets for Life program are one of the most valuable things that we do in helping decrease death and suffering in our communities. . .

Read it all and consider donating as well. Donations should be sent to:
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church
4228 Factoria Blvd. SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
Attention: Ziegler Mission