While I was in Jakarta I received word from Pittsburgh that I will be going to GAFCON in Nairobi this October as a “Delegate-at-Large” for the ACNA.

Most of you know that this is the second GAFCON meeting.  (The acronym stands for Global Anglican Future Conference.) The first was held in 2008 at Jerusalem.  It gave birth to the Jerusalem Declaration, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, and the ACNA.  Among other things, GAFCON is a unifying center for Anglicans who are seeking to stand for the scripture and the faith of the early church.  The theme of this conference is, “Making Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I will be leaving on October 19th and returning on the 28th.  While the conference is one week long, getting there and back will require me to miss the two Sundays on either side.  I regret this but I feel honored to represent not only the ACNA, but one of her newest churches–St Peter’s, Frankfort, KY!

There is a lot at stake in this gathering. Here is a recent statement by Archibishop Ntagali of Uganda giving a concise history of GAFCON.  And here is a statement by Archbishop Wabukala of Kenya last month.  Predictably ++Wabukala’s address has received some hard push-back.  Challenging Canterbury is no small thing, nor is suggesting that the issue at hand is not a matter of differing pastoral approaches, but fundamentally differing gospels.

Many still want to believe that Archbishop Welby will soon give clear leadership for biblical truth, and find a way to unite the progressive and conservative wings of the Anglican Communion.  I hold out prayerful hope for the former, but that would seem to preclude the latter.  The longer he delays decisive action the more likely there will be a permanent schism in the Communion, with Canterbury left behind in the twilight of a compromised and dying church.

Some dismiss the whole GAFCON movement as a conspiracy by conservative hardliners in the ACNA who are manipulating the African bishops to promote their own ignoble agendas.  It’s hard to imagine that so many robust Anglican leaders of the global south could be so easily duped by two or three aging, penniless and property-less refugee bishops in America.  But that is the rumor.

If the church of the global south could be that easily bought GAFCON would not be happening.  TEC and the C of E spend far more promoting the progressive agenda than the ACNA can ever muster, now or in the foreseeable future.  The ACNA has no prestige with which to compete with Canterbury and very little cash.  If the African bishops are looking for either of those commodities they have sadly miscalculated in their decision to go forward in the direction of orthodoxy.

The churches of the global south are massive compared to the churches of the US, Canada, and England, and stronger.  The African churches in particular are tested regularly by chronic poverty and increasing persecution.  Their vitality and durability dwarfs anything we see even in the impressive ministry of Holy Trinity Brompton and the Alpha course in England, or for that matter the fledgling efforts of the ACNA to plant 1000 churches.

The theme of “Making Disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ” suggests that GAFCON is moving forward in mission, rather than looking backward at the apostasy of TEC and the dithering of the C of E.  There is nothing like the Great Commission to put things into perspective.  Once you truly decide to follow Jesus Christ as Lord it is amazing how many seemingly complex problems simply evaporate, leaving you free to run the race unencumbered, see Hebrews 12.

I am eager to be there and to feel what is happening.  Please pray that the conference will be truly Spirit-led, and whatever unworthy motives may be present they will be purged away.

On a personal note, the conference will be held in All Saints Cathedral, where I was ordained.

Here are a few pix from the conference.  This is a remarkable gathering of the presidents and deans of major seminaries from all over Asia. I cannot imagine a comparable gathering of Christian leaders representing a broader network of ministry activity.

Greetings, dear saints.  I have not been able to post anything until now due to spotty Internet service.  Please pardon my silence.  Thanks so much for your prayers.  The trip has been remarkably smooth in every way.  I have been able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I continue to be amazed at all that God is doing in Asia, but the needs are still overwhelming.  Jakarta has a population of 10 million plus.  The vast majority are nominally Muslim, but secular materialism is rising.  The “Christian” west has been much more effective in planting malls full of designer shops than planting churches.  The conference wraps up tomorrow.  I am staying on for a post-conference workshop on discipleship, then flying out Saturday evening – Saturday morning for you all.  The first leg of the trip will be 12 hours to Istanbul.  Then after a 7-hour layover another 11 hour flight to Chicago.  Lord willing, I should touch down in Lexington about 11 AM on Monday. Thank you again for your prayers.  See you soon.

The audio version of John Stott’s classic book is available this month for free download from Christian Audio.  Here is the link.  Once you have signed up with Christian Audio you get an offer of a free book about once a month.  Some of these are quite good.  I’m a bit of an audiobook junkie, myself.  See what you think.

Fr. Weller sent me the link to this video last week.  I only got a chance to look at it this AM.  It powerfully touches on some of the themes from Sunday’s Gospel lesson from Luke 12.  It is the testimony of Rachel Barkey 4 months before her death at age 38.  I strongly encourage all of you to spend 11 minutes watching this edited version.  Here is the link to the full message.

Some have been asking where they can get their own personal copies of the Book of Common Prayer.  Here is the link to the publishing office of the Reformed Episcopal Church.  You will need to place your order by telephone or by email. The offer hard bound and leather editions in several colors. See below:

REC Book of Common Prayer – (2006 Printing)

Hardbound Edition: Item# 2099-06 Price: $17.00
Altar Edition: Item #2099-06 ALT Price: $75.00
Red Leather: Item #2099-06 LR Price: $45.00
White Leather: Item #2099-06 LW Price: $45.00
Black Leather: Item #2099-06 LB Price: $45.00

You will also find some other valuable resources on the website.

Here is the address, phone and email:

The Venerable Jon Abboud
Episcopal Recorder, Inc.
826 Second Ave.
Blue Bell, PA 19422

(610) 292-9852

episcopalrecorder@gmail.com

Here are some photos from Daniel’s and Helene’s Confirmation at St. Francis Church in Kenya.

Presiding was the Very Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi, Bishop of the Diocese of All Saints Cathedral and also Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, a courageous evangelical leader, now retired but very active.  I was ordained under his hands in 2004.

St Francis Church was the place I became an Anglican.

Last week in Adult Ed we briefly noted the Athanasian Creed, which was taken out of the American Prayer Book.  Here is a very helpful article providing an annotated version of the Creed as well as some helpful background information.

Here is a link to some information about a great App for the Daily Offices.

We recently received the following email from the office of the Anglican Diocese of the South.  It contains links to a new manual for those serving on Altar Guilds — the faithful folk who prepare the Altar Table for Communion every Sunday.  In addition to the details of the Communion set-up there is also a wealth of information about vestments, colors, and Anglican worship terminology.

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Attached you will find a fresh copy of the ADOTS Altar Guild Manual.  I hope you will take it, adapt it for your needs, and train some folks (if you have not already) to serve on your Altar Guild.  I cannot tell you how much having a good Altar Guild has blessed me over the years in setting up and cleaning up after Sunday services, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other special events.  Since we have various customs and Church manners throughout the diocese, this is written to be flexible to your situation. 
 
Click  HERE to print out a copy. Or you can go and have your people go to the  THE ADOTS WEBSITE   for a very user-friendly version.
 
Thank you to Susan Burkart, Gail Kelly, and Janet Smiley for their work on this, and the persistent efforts of the Lay Advisory Board of the American Anglican Council under the leadership of Bill Bugg for getting this done.