Theses for a new reformation in the Anglican Communion

Speaking prior to last week's meeting of some of the Anglican Primates in Dublin, Bishop Mouneer Anis spoke of the need for a new reformation within the Anglican Communion. The failure of its current leadership to guard and proclaim the gospel, to live consistently according to the teaching of Scripture, and to discipline those who would undermine the faith and the godly lifestyle of Christians around the world, cannot go unchecked forever.

Of course we should recognise that faithful Anglicans around the world have attempted repeatedly to call the denomination back from the brink. In particular, the Global South and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (arising from GAFCON in 2008) have been crystal clear in their stand for biblical truth and for integrity in our personal and corporate lives in line with the teaching of Scripture. Yet to this point their protest, and the message they have promoted so consistently, have been steadfastly ignored. Beauocrats from the Anglican Communion Office (amongst whom the most notorious is Canon Kenneth Kearon) have ensured a distorted version of the facts reaches the world's media and even the church press. The false shepherds continue to protect themselves at the expense of the people of God. And so the crisis goes on.

Undoubtedly the trumpet calls from the Global South and the Jerusalem Declaration of June 2008 provide a basis for the kind of reformation Bishop Mouneer is calling for. These have not received anywhere near the attention they deserve. Even in Australia, where the General Synod resolved to encourage dioceses and parishes to study the Jerusalem Declaration (and also, in a separate resolution, the Anglican Covenant), attempts have been to make sure that consideration is framed in ways which ensure it will be dismissed as the sectarian ravings of a fundamentalist fringe group within the communion. Little or no attention will be given to the fact that those who met in Jerusalem in 2008 represented by far the majority of Anglicans worldwide.

I suspect nothing more is needed than the Jerusalem Declaration and the Thirty-nine Articles to which it refers. Here is a statement which, while certainly not perfect, forms a sound basis for authentic Anglican mission far into this century and beyond.

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