What will become of the Anglican Communion?
Churches in the Global South, which include about 75% of all the world’s Anglicans, have shunned the leadership of the Church of England over same-sex blessings
Following a series of sensational declarations, is it now time to reorganize the Anglican Communion? Rarely has a month like the one that’s just ended been so turbulent for the unity of its various national Churches.
The Communion was shaken on February 20 when 12 primates from Africa, Asia and the Americas announced they were removing themselves from the primacy the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Justin Welby. These leaders – a quarter of the world's Anglican primates – are members of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), which represents about 75% of the congregation.
"The GSFA is no longer able to recognize the present Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Hon & Most Revd Justin Welby, as the 'first among equals' leader of the global Communion," they said in a statement.
“You have to drive the snake out”
At the root of the rift is the Church of England’s decision, approved by its General Synod, to bless the unions of same-sex couples. The GSFA leaders say that, by doing this, the "Mother Church" has crossed a red line.
"The Church of England has moved away from the teaching of the Bible," Bishop Zechariah Manyok Biar of Wanglei (South Sudan) told La Croix. "She is the one who broke the communion by her action," he said of the CofE.
The GSFA is following in the footsteps of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a conservative branch of the Anglican Communion that is also highly critical of blessing same-sex couples. GAFCON has attempted to establish a parallel structure in the past. "GSFA primates will carefully work with other orthodox primates to provide primatial and episcopal oversight to orthodox dioceses and networks of Anglican Churches who indicate their need and who consult with us," the GSFA statement said.
"We do not wish to leave the Communion but to institute a new way of working so that we no longer recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as 'first among equals'," added Bishop Manyok Biar.
"In our country, we say that you don't leave your house when there is a snake, you have to drive the snake out," offered another African bishop.
“To break off Eucharistic communion is a schismatic act”
GAFCON, the GSFA, and Lambeth Palace – the Archbishop of Canterbury’s headquarters – all declined to speak with La Croix. But in a statement made after the twelve primates issued their Feb. 20 declaration, the general secretary of the Communion, Anthony Poggo, expressed his "sadness". However, he also said he was "grateful" to the GSFA leaders for their "frankness" and their "sincerity".
The attack, however, is unprecedented. "This is the first time the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury has been challenged on such a large scale," noted Rev. Paul Avis, editor of the journal Ecclesiology and a former CofE general secretary. "In effect, the twelve primates have left the Communion,” he said. “To break off Eucharistic communion is a schismatic act. Yet they speak only for themselves at the moment, for they cannot commit their churches without a formal synodal process," Avis pointed out.
Important meetings lie ahead
On several occasions in the past, Justin Welby has emphasized that he remains open to an evolution of his function.
"The role of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the See of Canterbury, is a historic role. The instruments must evolve with the times," he said again in early February. "I will not cling to a place or a position," Welby declared.
Is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s status as the primus inter pares (first among equals) about to come to an end?
"Justin Welby alone cannot change this traditional arrangement," said Rev. Avis. "Primates will recognize that, if the question were to be asked, several Churches and their leaders would be competing for the vacant position! So I think change in this area is unlikely," he predicted.
As yet, no other Anglican institution has officially joined the approach of the Global South. But the position of some Churches committed to traditional values – such as the one in Nigeria, which refused to attend the Lambeth Conference last year because of the same doctrinal opposition – will be closely scrutinized.
Dr. Welby will soon be convening a meeting of all 42 primates of the Anglican Communion to discuss the future. GAFCON conservatives are refusing to comment before their next meeting, which is scheduled to take place April 17 in Kigali (Rwanda). As for the GSFA leaders, they will not consider their new structure until next year during their general assembly, which will be held from May 18-21, 2024 in Cairo (Egypt).