GAFCON is a movement that began at the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem in 2008. Its aim is to preserve biblically orthodox Anglicanism worldwide. Currently Provinces representing over 50 million Anglicans worldwide are members, representing different cultures, different churchmanships and worship styles. Following the Jerusalem conference Fellowships of Confessing Anglicans were set up in various countries. The FCE joined the UK branch (now GAFCON UK) at its inauguration in 2009. In October 2010 the Northern Diocesan Synod affirmed the Jerusalem Declaration. Bishop John is a GAFCON bishop, having attended both GAFCON 2 in Nairobi (2013) and GAFCON 3 in Jerusalem (2018). Both he and Bishop Paul Hunt are members of the GAFCON UK Bishops’ Forum.
Circles of Three
This is an initiative of the REC Board of Foreign Missions to link Reformed Episcopal parishes around the world and to encourage activities such as: Parish Pen Pals, Parish Picture Exchange, Holiday Visits, regular Pulpit Exchange, REC100 Best Ideas, Veritas Success Stories, Prayer List Exchange, Youth Visits, etc. Several Northern churches are partnering within the programme.
SAMS is a missionary sending organisation whose mission is to raise up, send, and support Anglican missionaries to be witnesses and make disciples for Jesus Christ in fellowship with the global Anglican Church. We are excited that they are sending a missionary to serve in our Diocese in 2020. Cathy Jacobs will be based at St David’s, Preston. Her particular gifting and ministry lie in helping older generations transmit the Christian faith to the next generations.
We are also exploring with SAMS taking ordinands and theological students on short-term placements in our parishes.
We are also exploring with SAMS taking ordinands and theological students on short-term placements in our parishes.
Building on the work of the late Billy Graham, one area of the Association’s work today is online evangelism. Some of our Northern churches are church partners with the Association so that online seekers local to our churches can be directed to them.
Sports Fan Outreach International participates in the Great Commission by mobilising, equipping and discipling teams of preachers and evangelists to proclaim Christ to fans at major sporting events. Originally founded in the USA, it is now seeking to establish a presence in the UK and has asked to partner with the Free Church of England. Plans are afoot for some of SFOI’s operations (including the George Whitefield Evangelism training programme) to be based at Emmanuel Church, Morecambe.