In a reference to conservative bishops who have decided not to attend the conference, Dr Williams said that the task of renewal required all “to play their part”.
He invited GAFCON leaders to take part in the drawing up of the Anglican Covenant, a document seeking to uphold the autonomy of the Communion’s 38 provinces whilst asking for their voluntary commitment to a process of joined-up deliberation to solve disputes over contentious issues. The draft document is scheduled for discussion at Lambeth.
Dr Williams also rejected the accusation of GAFCON leaders that some liberal member Churches are preaching the “false gospel” of sexual immorality.
“It is wrong,” the Archbishop said, “to assume we are now so far apart that all those outside the GAFCON network are simply proclaiming another gospel”.
“This is not the case; it is not the experience of millions of faithful and biblically focused Anglicans in every province,” he stated.
“What is true is that, on all sides of our controversies, slogans, misrepresentations and caricatures abound. And they need to be challenged in the name of the respect and patience we owe to each other in Jesus Christ.”
He appealed for patience from GAFCON leaders: “An impatience at all costs to clear the Lord’s field of the weeds that may appear among the shoots of true life (Matt.13.29) will put at risk our clarity and effectiveness in communicating just those evangelical and catholic truths which the GAFCON statement presents.”
Church
Archbishop sees ‘risks’ in conservative Anglican proposals
By: Jennifer Gold
Posted: Wednesday, 2 July 2008, 6:06 (EST)
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