The Old Grey Goose Has Died
Gafcon IoW sends a message to Aunt Nancy and all faithful Anglicans on the Isle of Wight.
As a small group of orthodox Anglicans on the Isle of Wight, we have prayed and petitioned for a repentant turning by progressives in the House of Bishops. Sadly, rather like Pharaoh in Exodus 10:27 there has been a hardening of the Bishops’ hearts. They influenced a small majority of the laity and clergy in the General Synod to press on with changes which will introduce blessings for same-sex couples, sooner rather than later, and to issue guidance for gay Church of England ministers of religion to marry their same-sex partners.
In a doomed attempt to placate the evangelical ‘tent’ of the Church of England, this trial will not be held out as Holy Matrimony. Nonetheless, the small Synod majority rode roughshod over the orthodox believers, failing to provide adequate support or pastoral concern for those who hold the majority Anglican view, indeed the orthodox Biblical view on marriage and sexual practice.
The outcome can only be a Church of England that has been torn apart by the current College of Bishops under the current English archbishop’s leadership. The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) released a response on 17 November stating that the House of Bishop’s action would “cause deep division in PCCs and parishes, deaneries and dioceses the length and breadth of the country, in the same way that the Bishops and General Synod are divided.”
The CEEC is “saddened that the House of Bishops appears to have acted regardless of legal and theological advice – and in such a way that has dramatically undermined the confidence that worshippers have in the leadership of the majority of our bishops.”
On 2 November 2023, Gafcon IoW called for prayer and support for faithful orthodox bishops who oppose the progressive push for liberalisation and re-reading or re-writing of the scriptures. We thank God for the courage of those who petitioned and voted against the motion at General Synod revering the Word of God and remaining true to the Orthodox Anglican view, they have “no need to be ashamed, correctly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 4:15).
Anglican Futures, suggest that many are asking whether they will look back in years to come and see 15th November 2023 as ‘the day the Church of England ‘died’, in the fatal car crash of the Prayers of Love and Faith.’ Loosely quoting Don McClean’s American Pie AF continues, ‘“while the king was looking down” Synod “stole his thorny crown” by rendering it needless. Needless because the Bishops of the Church of England (with honourable exceptions) believe that they can transform something from being sinful to a blessing without the necessity of the propitiation, expiation and sanctification of the King of the Jews.”’
Where do we go from here? We need to tell Aunt Nancy and all faithful Anglicans on the Isle of Wight that the ‘old grey goose has died’… ‘leaving little goslings to scratch for their own bread.’ Fortunately, there are options for orthodox Anglicans, the CEEC has issued guidance to wardens and stipendiary ministers. Secondly, Gafcon is reaching out to Christians who have lost confidence in the Canterbury-aligned structures - there are ANiE (Anglican Network in Europe) church fellowships on the Island under the leadership of Rt Rev Bishop Andy Lines. Thirdly, Gafcon IoW meets to pray monthly for the future of the Anglican Church on our Island and beyond - use the contact tab to find out more.
Finally, if our opening scripture reference is anything to go by, this will not end well for the Archbishops and progressive bishops. The Sovereign Lord is in control as Isaiah 59:1-4 says, ‘Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear….’
Κύριε ἐλέησον, kyrie eleison.
