GAFCON Urges Anglicans to Prioritize Scriptural Fidelity Over Institutional Compromise at G26

The G26 conference, held in Abuja, Nigeria, marked a pivotal moment for the Anglican Communion as leaders were urged to prioritize scriptural fidelity over institutional compromise. On March 5, 2026, the Rt. Rev. Paul Donison, GAFCON’s General Secretary, opened the two-day event with a speech titled “The Future Has Arrived: The Beatitudes and the Kingdom of God.” His address emphasized the Beatitudes as a blueprint for God’s kingdom, challenging attendees to embrace a radical reversal of worldly values.

Donison highlighted how Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5 bless the poor in spirit, the grieving, the meek, those hungering for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and the persecuted. He argued that persecution for the gospel is a sign of genuine spiritual blessing. The speech also linked this to Jesus’ call to be “salt and light,” framing GAFCON as a movement dedicated to upholding Scripture at the heart of Anglicanism.

Reflecting on the 2013 GAFCON conference in Nairobi, Donison recalled the global church’s power and a personal moment of healing through prayer. He noted GAFCON’s growth since then, including increased missions, evangelism, and church planting. The conference aimed to address the Anglican Communion’s need for reordering, following the 2023 Kigali meeting’s urgent call and the Macquarie Statement, also known as the Martyr’s Day Statement of October 16, 2025. This document calls for the church to gather and listen to God.

Donison addressed concerns that the Macquarie Statement creates a new or rival Communion, clarifying that it seeks to reorder the existing fellowship around biblical truth. He rejected accusations of schism, attributing the failure to uphold Lambeth Resolution 1.10—passed in 1998—to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Conference, Anglican Consultative Council, and Primates’ Meetings. These bodies were meant to enforce the resolution’s definition of marriage as one man and one woman for life, which they did not do, leaving GAFCON to step in.

The general secretary also clarified that constitutional changes, such as removing references to Canterbury, are encouraged but not required. Provinces or dioceses unable to amend their structures immediately are urged to work toward that goal. The G26 conference thus serves as a call to action, urging Anglicans to align with scriptural truth amid ongoing debates within the Communion.

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