Seventeen years after its historic founding in Jerusalem, the Global Anglican Future Conference has kept up its momentum with a meeting in the United States of more than 170 leaders from 25 countries.

“We have prayed together, worshipped together, studied Scripture together, and been encouraged and edified by the faith that unites us across our differing languages and cultures,” said a statement from the gathering at in Plano, Texas.

Referencing the founding assembly of Anglican leaders in 2008, the statement said “That meeting could have been a one-time occurrence, but it was not. The GAFCON movement continues to grow, continues to gather, and continues to stand firm for the faith once delivered to the saints. We also continue to grieve over how some leaders in the Anglican Communion have led the flock of Christ astray, diluted the authority of Scripture and distorted the gospel, endangering many souls. We once again call them to repentance.”

Leaders from the United States, Nigeria, Rwanda and Myanmar were among those who led services. Bishop Paul Donison, the General Secretary of GAFCON hosted the conference at Christ Church Plano, a cathedral church of the Anglican Church in North America.  The Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel and the Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross Glenn Davies also attended.

Before the meeting, GAFCON leaders commented on a plan to rearrange one of the Anglican Communion organisations, replacing the Archbishop of Canterbury with a rotating, international chair. In February, the leaders said the proposed restructure “fails to bring genuine renewal to our Anglican Church.”

In the face of such failure, the Plano statement said “Our fellowship has not diminished but expanded. Our resolve to proclaim the gospel has not been weakened but strengthened. Our commitment to reform and renew the Anglican Communion has not wavered or faltered.”

In his final address, the chair of the GAFCON Primates Council, Dr Laurent Mbanda, described GAFCON Anglicans as “a gospel people, a rooted people, an orthodox people, and a Bible people.” 

“He encouraged us to recommit ourselves to prayer, to self-sustainability within our churches, and to some of GAFCON’s key areas of ministry, including BTI (Bishops Training Institute), women’s ministry, and our conferences,” the statement said.

Among the new initiatives announced were the development of a theological writing group and a theological commission. The Plano conference was the first of a series of annual mini-conferences. Next year, G26 will be meeting in Abuja, Nigeria with a special focus on the more senior leaders of the global movement.

“Where Anglican leaders in some regions have departed from the truth of the gospel,” the statement said, “GAFCON has rejected their spiritual authority, and recognised new expressions of faithful Anglicans, in order to guard and boldly proclaim the life-giving gospel of Christ throughout the world.”