The Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) achieved its third objective of Assembly 2024—the election of godly leaders among the Primates Council, the Council of Bishops, and the Assembly. The Assembly must also have a standing committee or board (Section 3.3). Like most dioceses and provinces, the Global South Assembly meets regularly every three to four years, but between its meetings it must have a group of people elected to carry on its work (see the Cairo Covenant, Section 3.3.3). Last night, the lay delegates, clergy delegates, and bishop delegates of the assembly elected representatives—three bishops, seven clergy, and seven laity. From North America, Bishop Alex Farmer was one of the three bishops elected to the board; from the clergy, the Rev. Canon Phil Ashey and the Venerable Daryl Critch were elected; from the laity, Ms. Rachel Thebeau was elected and unanimously voted Secretary of the Board. The board then met at noon today and received its marching orders to carry on the work of this Assembly moving forward. Please keep the board in your prayers.

Secondly, the Council of Bishops elected a Faith and Order Commission (FOC) (see Section 3.4.4) which is a critical component of the GSFA covenantal structures. The FOC is the operational means for guarding the faith and order of the GSFA. It can be called to meet with the Primates Council at any time. It may also be directed by the primates to meet separately to address matters of faith, order, and discipline. Normally, the FOC is the first body that receives a question or proposed innovation with regards to the faith and order of the whole body. It is the FOC that makes recommendations to the bishops council and to the primates. It also has the authority to enlist the help of proficient members, lay and clergy, to assist in the subject under study. In the election for the FOC, the bishops chose from North America, the Rt. Rev. Alex Farmer, and from Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Alfred Olwa.

The highest body within the GSFA is the Primates Council. Once the board and the bishops were elected, the primates gathered alone to pray and discuss among themselves who would be the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Treasurer, and the Secretary, who will be the member of the Primates Council to whom the Secretariat or Administration will report. Last night, after prayer and discussion, the primates elected Abp. Justin Badi of S. Sudan as Chair, Abp. Samy Shehata of Alexandria as Vice-Chair, Abp. Stephen Kaziimba of Uganda as Treasurer, and Abp. Titus Chung of SE Asia as the Secretary. In addition, the primates elected three other primates to the Steering Committee: Abp Titre Ande, of Congo; Abp Miguel Uchoa, of Brazil; and Abp. Stephen Than, of Myanmar.

The four office bearers of the Primates Council will also sit on the Board of the Assembly, and Abp. Badi will also chair the board until the next assembly meets in three to four years. Please pray for these leaders and the mantle they bear. Pray that they may be faithful to the Word of God and the covenantal structures of the GSFA, and that they may be led by the Holy Spirit in all they do.