Christians of Anglican extraction gathered together between 17th and 21st April, 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda for the 4th GAFCON with the theme: TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? John 6:68
WHAT IS GAFCON? It is an abbreviation which stands for Global Anglicans Future Conference. It is a movement of the Anglican faithfuls around the world. We are authentically Anglicans. We are the faithful Anglican communion, women, men, lay and clergy representing the majority of our church, the anglican church.
GAFCON is the communion of Anglicans around the world who are determined to uphold the sanctity of the word of God and never to compromise any standard set out in this world.
When the head of the Church of England along with some of the church leaders in England chose to go against the word of God by voting for same sex marriage in the church in clear violation of Lambert 1998 resolution 1.10 which clearby says such marriage is contrary to God’s word, GAFCON therefore became a safe haven for every Anglican faithfuls who are determined not to compromise on the word of God.
Let me share my experience at GAFCON IV with you, By the way it is called GAFCON IV because it was the fourth one as three previous editions have held in the past.
First, my Kigali experience confirmed to me that God has and is indeed keeping men and women for Himself all over the world, across the globe! Men and women who will for no reason compromise the word of God even if the have to loose everything that is theirs including their lives. These people I am talking about are Anglicans like you and I who in the face of fierce persecution and threat chose to stand and still standing for Christ Jesus. Are you one of such Anglicans?
Second, GAFCON IV Kigali experience opened my eyes to see that I belong to a community of Global faithful christians. I don’t know the prison through which you are looking at your parish but honestly speaking you need to start looking at your parish and yourself as a member of a Global Anglican community, a community that is putting everything in line for the defence of the gospel.
Third, if all you have known up till now about Anglican church in the western word is about homosexuality and the likes, you might need to change what you know. While this issue is currently on going, you need to know that those who are caught up in this mess are in the minority ( less than 20% of the Anglican faithful). The western world Anglican churches are still committed to God’s word, evangelism and mission which is one major reason why good number of the churches over there are committed members of GAFCON. They have also severed relationship with the church of England!
I can therefore tell you bodly from my Kigali experience that God is not only working in African, He is also working in Europe, he is working all around the world.
Another take home from my kigali experience was the four marks of modern Anglicans as put forward by the chairman of GAFCON, Archbishop Foley Beach (Please try and listen to his opening speech at GAFCON IV Online). The four marks are summarized below:
1)Repenting church
(2)Reconciling church
(3)Reproducing church
(4)Relentlessly compassionate church
Aren’t you glad to be part of the church at this time?
Another misconception for me about GAFCON up till this time was that GAFCON is about African coming together to save the church of England, this is wrong! Rather GAFCON is the coming together of all Anglicans faithful all over the world who are committed to upholding God’s word as given and who are also working tirelessly to convince and lead back to God people and Dioceses all over the world who have succumbed to worldy pressure by impromising the word of God. What a movement! What a gathering! What a vision!
You need to also know that GAFCON is one major reason why the church of England has not been able to force her disobedience on the Anglican world as people, churches, parishes and Dioceses which were sent away or who needed to leave the church of England because of their insistence not to compromise the word of God were accepted into fellowship by GAFCON! GAFCON was able to set up new parishes, dioceses, ordain priests and consecrate Bishops who have all the legal backing to operate.
May God bless all our church fathers who saw this coming and who quickly went ahead to form this GAFCON movement.
A special mention of our own erstwhile primate The most Rev Jasper Peter Akinola is necessary at this point. He was present at GAFCON IV, may God continue to keep him in good health.
GAFCON IV in Kigali ended with GAFCON statements which is the position of all GAFCON members, we were all given the opportunity to be part of these statements drafting, and I am eternally grateful to God to be part of this history.
Kindly check online for the details of the GAFCON statements. It was read by our own primate The Most Rev’d Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba.
Since it is my own kigali experience, I think I should let you know that I made new friends (lol), I made new commitments to God and I returned with a renew strength for God’s service knowing fully well that I am a part of a global movement!
I am eternally grateful to our late Diocesan and Missioner: The Most Rev’d (Dr) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye who nominated me as a delegate to this conference, may you continue to rest in peace sir.
I need to start preparing for the next GAFCON but before then know that it will be my delight to tell you more about GAFCON and my experience in Kigali Rwanda should you require more information!
Your friend,
Engr. Oladeji E. Oladotun
Lagos Diocese Delegate, GAFCON IV KIGALI
