The first full day kicked off with an exhortation from Scripture based on Colossians 1, read by the Rev. Paul Donison, a Trustee of the American Anglican Council. The Bible Study teaching was by Bishop Jay Behan. He spoke on how St. Paul highlighted the glory of Jesus because the Colossians thought Jesus was a good start but now they needed more. He brought home the need for us to behold the glory and sufficiency of Christ, even when the world says we need more.
Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit of Kenya spoke at the first plenary session and facilitated speakers on the history of Gafcon and how it has been and continues to be a gift from God. He introduced three different speakers who gave their perspective on this global movement: Archbishop Glenn Davies, who gave a history of the Anglian Realignment starting in the 1960s, from the sexual revolution up through Lambeth 1:10 and the formation of Gafcon; Dr. Stephen Noll, who spoke on the historical documents over the course of Anglican history, including the development of church governance through the Lambeth conferences and then through Gafcon, particularly focusing on the development of the Jerusalem Declaration; and Bishop Keith Sinclair, who spoke about the current state of affairs in the Church of England, which has precipitated the more direct statements recently given by Gafcon and the Global South.
In the afternoon, clergy and laity met in a second plenary that focused them on what their hopes were for the Anglican Communion and Gafcon. They gathered in small groups and filled in this statement: “I would like the Anglican Communion to look like this…” After 30 minutes of conversation, microphones were passed around the room for summary statements based on those conversations. These statements and feedback were then submitted to the writing team for the first draft of the Gafcon communique, which was released in a format where all delegates were allowed to put a checkmark next to statements as to whether something akin to that statement should or should not be included in the final draft.
The session to end the day was called God at Work in the World. Bishop Andy Lines, presiding bishop of the Anglican Network in Europe, spoke on the state of the Church in Europe. “Despite all the bad news,” he said, “God is still at work.” He highlighted the work happening through the Church, both in congregations within the Church of England and outside its jurisdiction. He facilitated testimonies from those out in the field across Europe in their various Gospel contexts. Each speaker shared the faithfulness of God through the Gospel and through his people, despite overwhelming odds and a culture that keeps pushing back on the Truth.
As Bishop Lines said, it isn’t all bad news. Despite the stubbornness of some, God is still at work. Gafcon Kigali is a testimony in and of itself to this reality. Out of dry ground, streams of living water flow through the hearts of biblically-faithful, sincere, courageous, and prayerful Anglicans. At this conference, we see that walking together means exactly what it sounds like; standing for the truth, turning together towards Jesus Christ, and knowing God is at work in the world in and through us.
