The Future Has Arrived” — GAFCON Declares the Birth of the Global Anglican Communion
GAFCON Declares Formation of the Global Anglican Communion
October 16, 2025 — Kigali, Rwanda.
In a historic move, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) has formally announced the formation of the Global Anglican Communion, marking a decisive realignment within worldwide Anglicanism.
The communiqué, released under the title “The Future Has Arrived,” declares that the Anglican Communion will henceforth be reordered on the sole foundation of Holy Scripture, in its “plain and canonical sense.” This decision follows years of growing theological tension over the authority of Scripture and moral teachings within the broader Anglican Communion.
GAFCON, founded in Jerusalem in 2008, was born out of concern over what it described as “the abandonment of the Scriptures by some of the most senior leaders of the Communion.” Today’s declaration signifies that what began as a reform movement has now matured into a distinct global structure for faithful Anglicans.
Rejection of Canterbury’s Instruments of Communion
The communiqué announces that GAFCON no longer recognizes the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), or the Primates’ Meeting as legitimate Instruments of Communion.
According to the statement, these bodies have “failed to uphold the doctrine and discipline of the Anglican faith.”
All GAFCON provinces are therefore instructed to withdraw from participation in meetings or financial relationships connected to Canterbury and the ACC. The statement also urges provinces to amend their constitutions to remove any reference to being “in communion with the See of Canterbury.”
A New Leadership Structure
The communiqué outlines the creation of a Council of Primates comprising leaders of all GAFCON-aligned provinces. This Council will elect a Chairman, or primus inter pares (first among equals), to provide global leadership and coordination for the new Communion.
Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda, current GAFCON Chairman, reaffirmed the movement’s identity and mission, stating:
“We have not left the Anglican Communion; we are the Anglican Communion. The reset of our beloved Communion is now in the hands of GAFCON, and we are ready to lead.”
Looking Forward: Abuja 2026
The communiqué also announced the upcoming G26 Bishops Conference, scheduled for March 3–6, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria. The event will serve as the first official gathering of bishops under the newly named Global Anglican Communion, where leaders will celebrate and consolidate the restructured movement.
The statement concludes with a call to prayer and unity among faithful Anglicans worldwide:
“May we lead our Communion in prayerful submission to the Holy Spirit, as we hear the voice of Jesus in His wondrous Scriptures, to the glory of God.”
For further information:
📩 GAFCON Communications Office
📧 info@gafcon.org
🌐 www.gafcon.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Date: October 16, 2025
From: The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) Secretariat
Title: “The Future Has Arrived” — GAFCON Declares the Birth of the Global Anglican Communion
In a landmark announcement released today, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) formally declared the reordering of the Anglican Communion, marking a new chapter in global Anglican history.
The communiqué, issued on the Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, proclaims that the long-anticipated “reset” of the Anglican Communion has now taken effect.
GAFCON, first convened in Jerusalem in 2008, was established to uphold the authority of Scripture in response to what it described as “the abandonment of the Scriptures by some of the most senior leaders of the Anglican Communion.”
In its latest statement, GAFCON leaders assert that the movement has now become the legitimate continuation of authentic Anglicanism, under the new name: The Global Anglican Communion.
Key Resolutions:
- The Anglican Communion will be reordered around the authority of Scripture alone, in accordance with Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.
- GAFCON rejects the four traditional Instruments of Communion — the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and the Primates’ Meeting — citing their failure to uphold biblical doctrine and moral teaching.
- Member provinces are instructed to cease participation in Canterbury-led meetings and end all financial contributions to the ACC and its networks.
- Provinces are encouraged to remove all constitutional references to being in communion with the See of Canterbury.
- A new Council of Primates will be formed to guide the Global Anglican Communion, with a primus inter pares (first among equals) elected to preside over the body.
Leadership Statement:
In the communiqué, The Most Rev. Dr. Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Chairman of the GAFCON Primates’ Council, declared:
“The reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of GAFCON, and we are ready to take the lead. Today, GAFCON is leading the Global Anglican Communion.”
He emphasized that GAFCON has not left the Anglican Communion, but rather continues as “the authentic Anglican Communion, faithful to the Scriptures and historic formularies.”
Looking Ahead:
GAFCON announced that it will host the G26 Bishops Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, from March 3–6, 2026, to celebrate and consolidate the newly established Global Anglican Communion.
The statement concludes with a call to prayer:
“Please pray that we will lead our Communion in prayerful submission to the Holy Spirit as we hear the voice of Jesus in His wondrous Scriptures, to the glory of God.”
Media Contact:
GAFCON Communications Office
📧 info@gafcon.org
🌐 www.gafcon.org
This communiqué from GAFCON (Global Anglicans) marks one of the most significant turning points in modern Anglican history — a formal declaration of ecclesiastical reordering and doctrinal separation from the traditional structures of the Anglican Communion centered in Canterbury.
Here’s a detailed reaction and analysis:
🔥 1. A Defining Moment: “The Future Has Arrived”
This marks the culmination of a process that began with the 2008 Jerusalem Conference, where GAFCON was born as a response to theological liberalism and moral revisionism within the Anglican Communion.
By declaring “the future has arrived”, GAFCON signals that what was once a reform movement has now become a distinct, governing global body — the Global Anglican Communion.
📜 2. Scriptural Authority as the Sole Foundation
The communique reaffirms the Bible — “read, preached, taught, and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense” — as the only foundation of communion.
This is a direct response to decades of perceived doctrinal drift in parts of the Communion, particularly regarding:
- The authority of Scripture,
- Human sexuality, and
- The reinterpretation of moral and theological norms.
This move intentionally mirrors Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles, grounding the new structure firmly in Reformation orthodoxy.
🕊️ 3. Rejection of Canterbury’s Instruments of Communion
GAFCON explicitly rejects the four Instruments of Communion — the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Conference, Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and the Primates’ Meeting.
This is unprecedented in Anglican history and effectively ends Canterbury’s symbolic role as the center of unity.
By severing ties — even financially — GAFCON asserts independence and autonomy, forming an alternative structure based on shared faith rather than historical ties.
🌍 4. The Birth of the “Global Anglican Communion”
The statement, “we are now the Global Anglican Communion,” is both theological and political.
GAFCON now positions itself not as a splinter group but as the rightful continuation of authentic Anglicanism — returning to the 1867 model, where provinces were united around shared doctrine, not centralized hierarchy.
This shift reframes the identity of Anglicanism as a movement of faithfulness to Scripture rather than institutional loyalty.
⚖️ 5. Implications for Provinces and Dioceses
The call for provinces to amend their constitutions and remove references to Canterbury represents a formal realignment.
This will likely create new boundaries within global Anglicanism:
- Some dioceses may join the new Global Anglican Communion,
- Others may remain loyal to Canterbury,
- Some may seek dual affiliation for now.
🕊️ 6. Biblical Resonance and Symbolic Timing
It’s notable that this declaration was made on the commemoration of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Reformers who died for their stand on Scripture.
That timing underlines GAFCON’s claim to spiritual continuity with the Reformation, presenting this as a moment of conviction rather than rebellion.
📅 7. Looking Ahead – G26 Bishops Conference (Abuja, 2026)
The upcoming G26 gathering in Abuja will likely serve as the inaugural council of the new Global Anglican Communion, where:
- A Council of Primates will be formally constituted,
- A Chairman (primus inter pares) will be elected,
- And doctrinal unity and governance structures will be codified.
Nigeria hosting this event further reflects Africa’s central role in the future of global Anglicanism.
✝️ 8. In Summary
This communique is not just administrative — it’s a theological declaration and a spiritual manifesto. It signals:
- A reformation within Anglicanism,
- A redistribution of moral and theological authority,
- And a global South-led renewal rooted in fidelity to Scripture.
🕯️ Final Reflection
In essence, this moment may be remembered as the second Reformation of Anglicanism — where conviction overcame compromise, and a movement for truth took form as a new Communion.
It calls all Anglicans to choose between historic orthodoxy and institutional continuity.
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