Sydney Anglican News: FCA launches in NZ
christianreview | 입력 : 2016/04/24 [10:45]
New Zealand has
become the latest country to launch a branch of the Fellowship of Confessing
Anglicans(FCA).
Australia launched
a branch of the GAFCON-affiliated movement in 2015 and this week in Auckland and
Christchurch nearly 500 Anglicans from around New Zealand met to
launch the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans NZ (FCANZ).
The Fellowship of
Confessing Anglicans was set up out of the Global Anglican Future Conference in
Jerusalem in 2008 and has now become a force for orthodoxy in the Anglican
Church worldwide.
The conference heard messages of support from Most Rev
Dr Eliud Wabukala, Chair of the Gafcon Primates. Video greetings were also
received from Most Rev Foley Beach (Primate of ACNA) and the Rt Rev Richard
Condie (Bishop of Tasmania and Chair of FCA Australia).
Rev Canon Vaughan Roberts (St Ebbe’s, Oxford) spoke on
'True
Gospel, True Sex, True Love and True Unity' and was joined by Rev Canon David
Short (Vancouver), Dr Peter Adam (Melbourne), Rev. Dr. Sarah Harris (Auckland)
and others.
The local branch
of FCA was set up in response to the passing of 'Motion 30' in 2014 and the
subsequent release of the 'A Way Forward' document, due to be presented to the
General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia next
month.
The report
proposes the blessing of same-sex civil marriages thereby rendering them as
“rightly- ordered” relationships opening up the possibility for those in them to
be accepted as candidates for ordination.
"This week has
been a hugely significant moment for orthodox Anglicans in New Zealand. FCANZ is
committed to promoting faithfulness and providing fellowship, and orthodox
Anglicans now know that through the FCANZ there is a place for all orthodox
Anglicans in New Zealand, whether they are inside or outside the current
Anglican structures." sad the Rev Jay Behan, Chair of FCANZ.
"We continue to
pray that General Synod will pull back from making a decision which will tear
the fabric of the communion, undermining the allegiance to General Synod for
many Anglicans in New Zealand." Mr Behan said.
One of the first
decisions of the new branch was to recognise West Hamilton Community Church as
'authentically Anglican'.
The church's Rev.
Michael and Kimberley Hewat spoke of their experiences of being excluded from
existing Anglican structures due to their stand against doctrinal
change.
Mr Behan commended
the Hewats and the church for their stand for the truth.
“We rejoice in our
fellowship with you, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you in gospel ministry,
and we recognise you as authentically Anglican.” he said.
Mr Behan
stressed that FCANZ is not advocating splitting from the Anglican Church in
Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and will promote faithfulness to the gospel
with grace and truth, and provide fellowship to all orthodox Anglicans both in
and outside of existing Anglican structures.
Photo: David
Short speaks at the original GAFCON conference in 2008
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