GAFCON Primates Council

Statement from the Most Rev’d Eliud Wabukala, Primate of the Anglican Church of
Kenya and newly elected Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council.

Praise the Lord! It is a great joy to greet all of you as we celebrate the Feast of the
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ was an event that changed
the course of history for good and as a result, my life and the lives of millions of others have
been changed for eternity.

Yesterday I was elected Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council and I am honored to
accept this call to serve the Anglican Communion in this special way. Together with 1200
bishops and leaders from around the Anglican Communion, I was privileged to spend a life-
changing week in Jerusalem in 2008 as part of the Global Anglican Future Conference.

It reminds me of my roots in the East African Revival when the renewing Spirit of God
permeated the Church leading to a confession of sins, a thirst for God’s Word filling the
converts with humility, a simple lifestyle and an unquestionable desire for evangelism. It is
these qualities that have kept the Church in our region faithful to the Gospel. It is my
conviction that this same Spirit is at work in GAFCON.

I am honored, therefore, to join my colleagues in helping lead this movement forward and am
humbled by their trust. It is a delight to welcome two new Primates to the Council, the Most
Rev’d Tito Zavala, Bishop of Chile and Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone, and also the
Most Rev’d Onesphore Rwaje, Primate of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.

GAFCON is made up of Anglican archbishops, bishops, clergy and laity from around the
world. We include Provinces that contain the majority of the active membership of the
Anglican Communion. We joyfully acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, believe in the
trustworthiness of God’s Word and the transforming power of God’s Spirit.

• At  the  heart  of  GAFCON  is  the  Jerusalem  Declaration  that  gives  a  theological  and  
historical  framework  to  our  faith  as  Anglican  Christians    
• GAFCON  is  committed  to  the  work  of  reforming,  reshaping  and  renewing  global  
Anglicanism.  
• We  are  determined  to  strengthen  and  support  orthodox  Anglican  Bishops,  
Dioceses  and  Provinces  in  their  witness  to  Jesus  Christ  and  the  transforming  
power  of  His  Spirit.  
• We  will  work  to  recognize  and  encourage  faithful  Anglicans  in  regions  of  the  
world  where  there  is  no  biblical  Anglican  voice  or  presence.  
• We  are  developing  theological  and  other  resources  to  help  grow  our  Anglican  
family  in  Biblical  faithfulness  and  practical  concern,  and    
• We  are  building  a  global  partnership  of  faithful  Anglican  churches  who  are  
committed  to  Biblical  faith  as  described  in  the  Jerusalem  Declaration.  

I recognize that we have set ourselves a truly monumental task but we serve God for whom
nothing, not even overcoming death itself, is impossible.

Pray for us. Pray that we will all be faithful to God’s Call.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

Nairobi, 28th April, 2011