Friday 21 April 2023
The GAFCON IV Conference Statement – The Kigali Commitment 2023 – was read this morning, to resounding applause from the delegates.
The Kigali Commitment 2023 comments on eight separate topics, including the current crisis, the failure of the Archbishop of Canterbury and resetting the Communion.
“The Kigali Commitment reflects the mind of the 1300 delegates here at this conference. They in turn represent most of the world’s worshipping Anglicans (estimated to be around 85%),” says the Rt Revd Dr Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney and Chair of the GAFCON Statement Committee.
“It is clear from this conference is that most of the world’s Anglicans have lost confidence in the Archbishop of Canterbury to provide a godly way forward that will be acceptable to those who are committed to the truthfulness, clarity, sufficiency and authority of Scripture.
“This grieves us, but it is they who have walked away from us,” says Bishop Stead.
Gafcon stands ready to welcome those who feel they can no longer remain in the Church of England because of the failure of its leadership and is actively looking for ways to stand with and support faithful Anglicans who choose to remain within the Church of England. This includes churches in England, but also extends to churches all around the world where similar failures in leadership exist.
The Kigali Commitment reads, ‘the purpose and mission of the church is to make known to a lost world the glorious riches of the gospel by proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, and living faithfully together as his disciples.’
“The gospel of the risen Lord Jesus is our priority, and we are excited to get back to the task of proclaiming Christ faithfully to the nations,” says Bishop Stead.