A Gaff and A Con

by The Most Reverend Dr Laurent Mbanda, the Primate of Rwanda, as Chairman of the GAFCON Primates' Council, in which he claims that they are the legitimate future leaders of the Anglican Communion, is not only foolish but very sadly regrettable for a number of reasons.Just at the time when a divided and fractured world is in need of the Church of God to be a sign of human unity and peace, Archbishop Mbanda announced the withdrawal of the GAFCON Churches from Communion, not only with the See of Canterbury and the Church of England but with all other Churches of the Anglican Communion which do not similarly join them in breaking this sacred fellowship.Somewhat confusedly, this withdrawal of Communion is said not to be a withdrawal from the Anglican Communion, but the first step in a 're-ordering' of the Anglican Communion, something which one might think is the legitimate task of the Anglican Communion as a whole rather than of a sub-group trying to effect a kind of ecclesiastical coup.The statement hardly qualifies as an expression of Christian charity and mutual respect.The thinking of the statement is sadly wanting in theological coherence for a number of reasons: