Anglican Communion Network

News Summary of Global South Presentations to the ACC

Source: The American Anglican Council June 25, 2005

At the Anglican Consultative Council in Nottingham, following the presentations by the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) and the Anglican Church of Canada, some of the provinces from the Global South were invited to make their own presentations on human sexuality.

The primate and bishops of South East Asia said that the Anglican Church in the nine nations of their province was subjected to embarrassment and ridicule, and was being degraded and discredited by what is being shamelessly practiced in the North American provinces.

From the Southern Cone of Latin America, a statement read by Bishop William Godfrey of Peru said that, on a popular level, relations with other churches in Peru were the worst he had ever known and the global Anglican Church was in disorder and disarray. “For a missionary diocese like ours, it has been a body blow,” the statement said.

Bishop Samson Mwaluda from the Anglican Church of Kenya said that they had done their homework and had listened to ECUSA and Canada but did not feel that ECUSA had listened to them: “We have repeatedly requested for biblical explanations of their actions” so “we can relate it to our tradition,” he said. “Instead of helping us in this we are crowded with political, sociological and historical reasons.” The debate at hand touches on Christian witness, morals, understanding of marriage, God’s creation of man and woman, the fall of man, and message of transformation.

Bishop Gerard Mpango from Tanzania noted that there was little or no recognition that a significant part of the Episcopal Church rejects the viewpoint presented at the ACC and stands firmly with the rest of the Communion. The only mention of those who have experienced transformation in their sexual lives was offered in a dismissive manner, he noted. “In the province of Tanzania we have seen many men and women undergo profound transformation in every aspect of their lives,” he said. “It is the heart of the message that we preach and it is why we continue to experience God’s blessing on our life and ministry.”

Full texts of their presentations can be found on www.titusonenine.classicalanglican.net and www.anglican-mainstream.net, in addition to the AAC website and blog.