The Anglican Church around the world (known as the "Anglican Communion") has had its crisis points over the centuries and come out the other side changed each time. In this season, we're experiencing some deeper differences on issues as fundamental as reading and applying the bible, and that is what makes the stakes higher.
Wellspring was recently praying for the annual Bishops' meeting held in Hobart. Two documents below show some of the fruit of that meeting. It is good for us to be aware of what our leaders are grappling with, because undershepherds of our Chief Shepherd are called to be exemplary in character (see 1 Peter 5:1-4).
Soon after the Bishops' meeting, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) was held in Rwanda, the Australian chapter of which our Bishop Richard Condie chaired, until recently. These leaders from around the world expressed pain and an inability to keep fellowship with many in the Anglican Communion, including the Archbishop of Canterbury. Richard wrote to us all about this, and the letter is below also.
Please keep interceding for the Anglican Church in Australia and worldwide, for our life with Jesus to be close, faithful, and unified. The below is a prayer commissioned by our Synod last year:
Almighty God, by your Son Jesus Christ
you gave many excellent gifts to your apostles,
and commanded them to feed your flock.
Bless the bishops and other leaders of our Anglican Church of Australia.
So fill them with your truth, and clothe them with holiness,
that as pastors of your Church they may diligently preach your word,
setting aside all teaching that is contrary to the mind of Christ,
and urging all your people to live according to Gods Word.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.