Report by the EFAC VIC Training Officer on the Global Anglican Future Conference, Jerusalem, June 21-29, 2008 and the EFAC International Conference, Bristol, July 8-10, 2008
	reprinted from the Autumn 2007 edition of Essentials

	Report by EFAC Training Officer on the Global Anglican Future Conference, Jerusalem, June 21-29, 2008 and the EFAC International Conference, Bristol, July 8-10, 2008
	The genesis for this trip came from the EFAC Victoria AGM in March 2008 where concerns were expressed about what was occurring in the wider Anglican world, and the implications for evangelicals in Victoria. The EFAC Victoria Executive agreed that it would be good to have an EFAC representative at the GAFCON Conference and an appeal for funds was made to enable me, as the EFAC Victoria Training Officer, to attend both this Conference and an EFAC International Conference in the UK.
	Prior to the trip all the Melbourne delegates to GAFCON (Richard Trist, Richard and Helen Condie, Wei-Han Kuan, Jenny George, Matthew Williams, Justin Denholm) made an appointment to see the Archbishop. We appreciated the time he gave to us to listen to our thoughts and hopes for the conference, as well as to pray for us. The Melbourne GAFCON Group
	GAFCON
	The Conference was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem, with delegates staying at six hotels scattered about the city and catching buses to the Renaissance each day. There were over 1100 delegates from 25 nations at the event, including 291 bishops and their wives. The largest contingent of all were the clergy and lay people from the fast growing Anglican provinces of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and West Africa. It is estimated that GAFCON represented 60% of all Anglicans in the world.
	The aims of GAFCON were clear:
	To provide an opportunity for fellowship as well as to continue to experience and proclaim the transforming love of Christ
	To develop a renewed understanding of our identity as Anglican Christians
	To prepare for an Anglican future in which the Gospel is uncompromised and Christ-centred mission is a top priority.
	These aims were well fulfilled, not only in the formal conference programme (which was very full and fast pacing) but also in the pilgrimages to places such as the Mount of Olives, where we prayed as our Lord did for the peace of Jerusalem, as well as praying for the peace of our own cities and nations and for the Anglican Communion.
	The Conference Programme
	Each day began with amazing praise and worship led by a Ugandan Youth Choir, and then a Bible study given by speakers from Nigeria, Canada, West Africa, England and Singapore. Small group discussions followed, and then, after morning tea, participants chose from a number of workshops such as "Gospel and Leadership," "Evangelism & Church Planting," "Anglican Identity in the 21st Century". I chose the "Theological Education" workshop, which looked at how to more effectively prepare and train ministers of the gospel and ensure they stay focussed on proclaiming and living out God's Word without compromise. I was pleased to see that most of the conclusions reached by the group are already well under way in our own training of ministers at Ridley.
	Afternoons were spent either in pilgrimages to places such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Steps, or in plenary sessions looking at issues such as "The Gospel and Secularism", "The Nature and Future of the Anglican Communion" and "Enterprise Solutions to Global Poverty". These plenaries were all outstanding sessions and many can be seen on video at www.gafcon.org.
	Conversations
	As I find with most conferences, it is the personal stories and informal conversations that most clearly help me understand the reality of what is happening with Gods people around the world:
	On evangelism: An African bishop recounted that when he was delayed at the airport prior to the Conference he prayed "Lord make me of use to you, even here". He happened to sit next to a man who was a Buddhist and boldly invited him to consider John 3:16. The man prayed a prayer of repentance and the bishop then asked, "Have you surrendered to Jesus Christ?" The man replied, "Yes." He was then asked, "Do you renounce Buddha?" and again the man replied, "Yes." "Do you have any signs of Buddha? Will you give them up?" At this point the bishop held up a small statue of Buddha the man had handed him!!! No wonder the church in Africa is growing at such a rate!! Oh for such boldness for us in Australia.
	On persecution: A Nigerian bishop in my small group spoke of the persecution he and his people face by local Muslim authorities – churches pulled down without notice, Christians harassed by their landlords if they have Bible studies in their homes, new converts being hidden in order to keep them and their families safe. Another bishop told us of how his 100 year old Cathedral was issued with a demolition order just prior to the Conference in order make more space for the recently developed town market! Again, all by the order of the local Muslim state leaders
	More persecution: A young American curate told me how after great turmoil he decided to leave the Episcopalian church, due to the liberal tendencies he was seeing in his denomination. When he spoke to his bishop of his intentions, he was issued with a threat to revoke his orders. When he spoke to his Vicar, he was told in no uncertain terms he was sacked and had 24 hours to clear his desk. He was given no opportunity to say goodbye to the people he had been ministering to in the church for the previous 4 years and no respect for his conscience.
	Another moving encounter was with an American layman who as a churchwarden, was being sued by his bishop because his parish voted to leave the Episcopalian Church over the consecration as a bishop of Gene Robinson, a practising homosexual.
	For people such as these, GAFCON was an absolute lifeline. When the decision was announced at the end of the Conference to ask the seven GAFCON Primates to establish a conservative Province in Nth America which would bring all the various evangelical and orthodox Anglo-catholic parishes and dioceses under the one jurisdiction, tears were literally flowing throughout the room. Such was the pressure many people were feeling and such was the relief.
	The Conference Statement
	The final statement of GAFCON was very significant:
	It launched the GAFCON Movement as a fellowship of confessing Anglicans. It aimed to set the true basis of our Anglican identity and fellowship in the things we believe and set these out in 14 points of what was called the Jerusalem Declaration. There was no mention of splitting the church but indeed an affirmation to keep on working within the church to reform and renew it.
	It outlined the reasons behind the calling of the Conference as (a) the promotion of a "different" gospel within many Diocese and Provinces which has led to an undermining of the uniqueness of Christ and a promotion of a liberal interpretation of the Bible. This in turn has led to a claim of the blessing of God on same sex unions and the consecration of a bishop living in an active homosexual relationship, (b) the declaration of the leaders of the Global South that they are no longer in Communion with Dioceses that promote this false gospel and the appointment by them of new bishops in north America to oversee biblically faithful churches, and (c) the unwillingness of the Anglican Communion as a whole to discipline these errant churches in spite of numerous warnings from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates Council.
	It established a GAFCON Primates Council to oversee the establishment of a new Province in North America which will gather up all the various disparate Anglican groups into one.
	It affirmed that Biblically minded Anglicans will differ on certain points (eg the ordination of women) but it acknowledged these as secondary matters that need to be examined in the light of scripture but not as issues over which to break fellowship and unity in Christ.
	This statement is worthwhile reading in its entirety and can be found on the GAFCON website.
	After GAFCON I stayed in London with former All Souls staff colleague Rico Tice, and as well as catching up with him and others, some highlights of this time included:
	Attending a meeting of 800 Church of England leaders at All Souls Langham Place. We heard Abp Greg Venables, Dr Jim Packer, Abp Henry Orimbi, and Abp Peter Jensen speak on the implications of GAFCON for the C of E. The meeting called for Orthodox Church leaders to remain committed to the gospel and keep on teaching the truth and evangelising the nation. A focus was made on the need to put resources into good theological education of the future leaders of the church. Clergy, lay leaders and Parish Councils were also invited to sign up their agreement with the GAFCON Statement at www.anglicanmainstream.net.
	A chance to visit the headquarters of Scripture Union UK in Milton Keynes, to get acquainted with their current plans for web based Bible reading notes, and to discuss the possibility of writing some notes for Daily Bread and Encounter with God.
	An opportunity for me to meet with the staff of All Souls to speak of the ministry of EFAC Victoria and particularly the need for mentoring and external pastoral supervision of church leaders.
	The EFAC International Conference
	After GAFCON this gathering was much more intimate with only about 30 people in attendance. Speakers included Abp Mouneer Anis from Egypt, Chris Sugden from Anglican Mainstream, Bishop Maurice Sinclair (former Primate of the Southern Cone), Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali and New Testament scholar Dr John Nolland.
	EFAC Australia was represented by our national Chairman Bp Glenn Davies and his wife Diane, Essentials Editor Wei-Han Kuan and I, as the EFAC Victoria Training Officer and Secretary of EFAC Australia. It was fascinating to hear the accolades that others gave to our group presentation of what we are seeking to achieve as EFAC Australia. Many were impressed of the commitment of the Victorian branch in particular in appointing a paid person to help in the oversight of EFAC and to work at training and mentoring the younger generation. A big tick for us!!
	As well as the excellent opportunity for networking – particularly with members of EFAC Canada and EFAC USA – the Conference worked hard at producing a Statement of Commitment. This Statement was not as comprehensive as that of the GAFCON Conference but expressed a particular concern for unity amongst evangelicals. It highlighted the need for EFAC to work with all evangelicals – those in North America who feel compelled to leave the Episcopal Church, and those who want to stay and seek to reform the church from within; those who chose to attend the Lambeth Conference and those who chose not to attend.
	Thankyou
	It was a great privilege for me to represent EFAC Victoria at these two international Conferences and I thank everyone who made my attendance possible - particularly those who sent in donations to the GAFCON Travel Appeal. These are significant times for us as evangelical Anglicans and I urge us all to continue to be prayerful and stand ever firm in the faith.
	Richard Trist
	July 29, 2008

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