It should not surprise many in the Church of England that William Taylor, Rector of CON/EVO Parish of St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate in the C. of E’s Diocese of London, has made the announcement (shown below) of his and his parish’s break with the Bishops of the Church of England. Nor should it surprise Anglicans around the world that among the prelates who have pledged their support to Taylor’s announcement should include people from other Churches that have declared their own disaffection from the historic Church of England and the Anglican Communion; on the important issues of sexism and homophobia. Among these prelates are: –
1: Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney; whose immediate predecessor has now been elected to head the breakaway Diocese of the Southern Cross in Australia, which has been set up by the GAFCON movement. (Raffell heads a diocese that once spent one million dollars (part of Sydney’s extensive ‘Mission Reserve’) in an unsuccessful effort to prevent the Australian Government from legalising Same-Sex Marriage in that country). The Anglican Diocese of Sydney declares itself ‘In Communion with GAFCON and the Diocese of the Southern Cross, while yet claiming membership of the ACA.
2: Foley Beach, Primate of the schismatic ACNA and current GAFCON Primates Council Chairman (ACNA is NOT a member of the Anglican Communion)
3: Jay Behan, Bishop of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand; (GAFCON NZ), who was recently ordained the 1st bishop of CCAANZ, in Christchurch, New Zealand, by Foley Beach (CCAANZ is NOT a member of the Anglican Communion)
4: Glenn Lyons, Presiding Bishop of REACH South Africa. (When I looked him up on Google, the first entry was for ‘Reach Cosmetics’) However, it seems that Lyons has broken away from the Anglican Church in South Africa, in order to lead a new quasi-Anglican(?) Church ‘REACH SOUTH AFRICA’, that might well have direct links – like the other 3 prelates here – with GAFCON. (REACH SA is NOT a member of the Anglican Communion),
One thing that surprised me, was that Lyons was a one-time admirer of ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, whose support for the LGBTQI Community in the Church was legendary, helping the Anglican Church in South Africa to avoid the sexism and homophobia of most other African and Gobal South Provinces.
Obviously, from Lyons’ alliance here with GAFCON-related prelates; his former regard for Archbishop Desmond Tutu has not prevented him from supporting the homophobia and sexism of William Taylor – together with the GSFA/GAFCON Movement that seeks to remove itself from what it sees as the ‘contamination’ of the Mother Church of England and the Anglican Communion Provincial Churches loyal to Canterbury and Lambeth.
One is left to wonder; what is keeping the Parish of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate out of GAFCON/U.K.? – A mere matter of church property, perhaps, which cannot be alienated from the Church of England?
Father Ron Smith, Christchurch, New Zealand
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William Taylor: The Bishops have chosen to walk apart – but others stand with us
Posted on February 27, 2023
Filed under Church of England, Culture wars, GAFCON, Sydney Diocese
William Taylor, Rector of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, has made an important announcement – and he speaks with the support of Anglican bishops worldwide including
Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney;
Foley Beach, Primate of North America and GAFCON Primates Council Chairman;
Jay Behan, Bishop of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand;
Glenn Lyons, Presiding Bishop of REACH South Africa.
– See William Taylor’s announcement and the messages of support from these Anglican leaders.
William Taylor: The Bishops have chosen to walk apart – but others stand with us
Posted on February 27, 2023
Filed under Church of England, Culture wars, GAFCON, Sydney Diocese
William Taylor, Rector of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, has made an important announcement – and he speaks with the support of Anglican bishops worldwide including
Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney;
Foley Beach, Primate of North America and GAFCON Primates Council Chairman;
Jay Behan, Bishop of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand;
Glenn Lyons, Presiding Bishop of REACH South Africa.
– See William Taylor’s announcement and the messages of support from these Anglican leaders.
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