Archbishop Welby ‘taken aback’ by Las Vegas prayer criticism

By Gavin Drake
Posted Oct 3, 2017

[Anglican Communion News Service] Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said that he is “taken aback” by criticism of the decision to ask the Presiding Bishop of the U.S.-based Episcopal Church to pray for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. Curry prayed for the victims at the start of Evensong in Canterbury Cathedral, England, on Oct. 3, the first day of the Primates Meeting.

The Rev. Canon Andrew Gross, canon for communications and media relations for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), speaking on behalf of GAFCON, said that the decision to invite Curry to lead the congregation in prayer at the Evensong service “put the GAFCON primates in a difficult spot.” He said that they were “forced to look like they are walking together when they are not walking together.”

Editor’s note: The term GAFCON, which stems from the Global Anglican Future Conference held in Jerusalem in 2008, brings together a group of disaffected Anglicans and former Episcopalians who cannot accept the decisions by some provinces to accept fully LGBTQI people in the life of the church.

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Comments (40)

  1. Joe Parrish says:

    In general we stand or kneel or sit together in prayer.
    Maybe we should consider walking together and praying also.
    Or we could even pray and then walk together.
    May that be our goal.

    1. Willo Fuhr says:

      Amen! All this bickering is not what Our Lord asks of us. What he requires of us is “to act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6-8). We repeat this every Sunday before communion at our church.

  2. Grace Cangialosi says:

    I am appalled by this response from Gafcon, though maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. I assume this means they are never willing to pray alongside anyone with whom they aren’t in communion…the Pope? The Metropolitan? Any other Protestant denominations? What incredible hubris!!!

  3. Owen Hoskin says:

    I agree with Archbishop Justin. Rev’d Cn Gross comment was most unfortunate and it reflects badly and unnecessarily on the ANCA and GAFCON. Surely at times like this, we come together, despite of our other divisive arguments.

    1. Wm Thomas Martin says:

      Galton, since 2003, has sought to unseat the Episcopal Church from the table of the Anglican Communion; and now they are offended that the PB was asked to lead the communion in prayer for the people of Las Vegas! How hollow can ACNA be! Instead of adding to the pain of schism, it is time now for reconciliation.

    2. Wm Thomas Martin says:

      Galton, since 2003, has sought to unseat the Episcopal Church from the table of the Anglican Communion; and now they are offended that the PB was asked to lead the communion in prayer for the people of Las Vegas! How hollow can ACNA be! Instead of adding to the pain of schism, it is time now for reconciliation.

  4. Peggy Goldsmith says:

    I think Presiding Bishop Curry and all of us should pray for GAFCON.

  5. Kevin Gore says:

    I think the schismatic “ACNA” folks should be grateful to be allowed in the same room as someone whose episcopal boundary they violate. If they are so concerned about the teachings of the church, they need to start with ecclesiology.

    1. Mary Frances Schjonberg says:

      For the record, no ACNA representatives are attending the Primates Meeting.

    2. Allan Pearson says:

      Kevin. It is not the ACNA folks that are the schismatic ones in this situation. ACNA is firmly remaining Faithful to God and committed to following the Word of God as revealed by God through His Holy Bible. It is the Episcopal Church USA along with the Anglican Church of Canada that have knowingly and deliberately gone against the Way of God, as well as having completely disregarded the Lambeth 1998 resolution 1.10, making it perfectly clear to anyone willing to open their eyes and see with objectivity that it is the ECUSA and ACoC that are the schismatic ones here.

      1. Ann Culp says:

        Jesus Love’s everyone. He does not deny his love to anyone who loves him.

        1. Allan Pearson says:

          And if you honestly love God you will accept His Holy Word, including all those passages of the Holy Bible that clearly state that homosexual behavior is sin and that marriage is an Act of God in which God joins a man to his wife (therefore there is no such thing as a “gay marriage”).

          1. Allan Pearson says:

            I understand and Faithfully accept what God has said about Marriage, that being:
            Mark 10
            “6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 10And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. “

        2. Deborah Matherne says:

          can you wrap your mind around the concept of “marriage” in a western cultural way is not the norm in much of the world? Can you separate what is a marriage, a domestic partnership and a wedding? Can you truly believe that our Lord did not come to save us all or that our God did not make us all perfect in His eyes?

          You need to get down on your knees.

          1. Allan Pearson says:

            I understand and Faithfully accept what God has said about Marriage, that being:
            Mark 10
            “6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 10And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. “

          2. Allan Pearson says:

            Jesus came into this world to save those that were lost. But this does not mean that the very behavior that caused these souls to be lost somehow became acceptable to God. Fact is Jesus calls sinners to repent
            Luke 13
            “1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

        3. Deborah Matherne says:

          Indeed!

  6. Mary Naughton says:

    I am appalled but not surprised. ACNA and GAFCON are simply caught up in their own arrogance. I am so proud of both Justin Welty and our own Michael Curry., both of whom reflect the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this instance. I agree with Peggy Goldsmith that ACNA and GAFCON are I need of our prayers.

  7. Martha Richards says:

    Seems to be that ACNA – Gafcon should learn that we all worship the same Lord – or do they worship something else. People died, and their families and friends need the prayers – Get your head on straight – get rid of your egotistical outlook. God, Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit do not belong to just one little group. I shall pray for you that you get some humility.

    1. Michael Strong says:

      This doesn’t sound very humble to me. I would love to see both ACNA and TEC to change in many ways from what they are now. The history of Christian missions is fascinating and it is so hard to know God, preach and teach about Him. Living in the US I wish my communion with Canterbury was ‘unimpaired’.

  8. Bronson de Stadler says:

    Does GAFCON only define itself by its separateness? It is sin which divides us, and faith which unites us.

    1. Deborah Matherne says:

      I agree

  9. Anne Wynn Weissinger says:

    We can pray for each other without agreeing about everything. To fail to do so is unchristian in my opinion.

    1. Deborah Matherne says:

      and I agree with you

  10. Deborah Meister says:

    Jesus died to redeem to WORLD. The whole world, not just o e part of it. Perhaps we could try behaving in this world in such a fashion that we will not need to be embarrassed when we meet in Heaven.
    Thank you, Archbishop Welby, for your appropriate gesture of compassion.

  11. Jennifer Wagner Pavia says:

    Christians standing together in prayer for peace and against violence is scandalous? The only “difficult spot” that the GAFCON primates placed themselves is how they can justify their criticism of Presiding Bishop Curry leading a grieving congregation in prayer. The arrogance of the ACNA and the GAFCON primates — if we are not walking together in love after mass murder, what then? I continue to pray for open minds and hearts as the love of Christ leads the way.

  12. Brian MacFarland says:

    It seems to me that the ACNA is merely an Anglican wannabe; I would suggest they stay home next time and wallow in their own selfinflicted separateness.

    1. Mary Frances Schjonberg says:

      For the record, no ACNA representatives are attending the Primates Meeting.

    2. Michael Strong says:

      Actually in our area, Newport/Mesa in California, we have two TEC churches in a sad state of decline, another building that +Bruno recovered from ACNA and they are still active in another building, +Bruno installed a brilliant priest in the recovered building who quickly established a congregation exceeding 225 people, thus larger than the other two TEC churches put together; so +Bruno locked the doors of that leading to a Title IV disciplinary hearing which he lost, there is another group that uses the 1928 BCP, then we have Calvary Chapel, Saddleback, two RC churches, Vineyard, the Crossing, at least one Methodist, two Mormon Temples, various other Christian churches and at least two Synagogues. Many local people think of TEC as a self inflicted disaster especially in an area where there appears to be a huge appetite for Jesus Christ.

      1. Deborah Matherne says:

        My heart is so very heavy for our TEC churches in California. Your load is heavy and you mission urgent. I pray you can find among you who can breathe new life into our church there with new acceptance of many cultures.

  13. Giovan King says:

    Good Lord, delivery us…from our own pettiness. Unfortunate and ill-timed remarks … in the extreme!

  14. Sue Donym says:

    I’d say his remarks are “gross”

  15. Marcia Towne Devens says:

    And just what would Jesus do?

  16. Rev. Dcn. Patricia Pearson says:

    Praying for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting “put the GAFCON primates in a difficult spot.”? Surely our Lord is weeping.

  17. Marilyn Hormann says:

    Father, forgive us for we know not what we do. Amen.

  18. Ray bill says:

    No shame in praying for Las Vegas, good job bishop curry, GAFCON and ACNA, even though you don’t recognize us as being part of the body of Christ we recognize you and still love you anyways.

  19. Allan Pearson says:

    From the bottom of the article:
    “Editor’s note: The term GAFCON, which stems from the Global Anglican Future Conference held in Jerusalem in 2008, brings together a group of disaffected Anglicans and former Episcopalians who cannot accept the decisions by some provinces to accept fully LGBTQI people in the life of the church.”
    This is wrong and misleading. The GAFCON provinces do not see the issue as being one of fully accepting LGBTQI people. We see it as an issue of some provinces of the Worldwide Anglican Communion deciding to accept the fallen ways of this world even though that meant doing things that were clearly against the Word of God.

    1. Wm. Thomas Martin says:

      Allan, please show me in sacred Scripture we are told that LGBTQI people are sinful and fallen? I assure you, from what I know about the human condition, all of us are sinners and fallen and in need of God’s grace and acceptance.

      1. Allan Pearson says:

        From Romans 1
        18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
        19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
        20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
        21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
        22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
        23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
        24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
        25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
        26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
        27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
        28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
        29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
        30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
        31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
        32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

      2. Allan Pearson says:

        All of are sinners. But those that are Faithful to God confess and acknowledge our sins, ask God for forgiveness, and make an honest effort to stop sinning. Others, such as the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada are trying to pretend that their sins are not really sins.

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