At the end of February, GAFCON held a conference hosted by Bishop Michael Nazir Ali and Bishop Azad Marshall of Pakistan which, though much smaller than last year’s Jerusalem Conference, will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on all those who attended and on the wider Anglican Communion.
From 25 February to 1 March, 138 delegates, including four Primates and 31 bishops and archbishops, gathered in Dubai for ‘G19’. The conference was designed for those who had been unable to attend GAFCON 2018 in Jerusalem for political reasons and many came from contexts where there are severe restrictions on Christian witness.
The wonder of the gospel
In his opening address, GAFCON Chairman Archbishop Okoh of Nigeria set the tone of the conference, reminding delegates of the wonder of the gospel and that their gathering was in no way inferior to the Jerusalem Conference because what matters is the blessing of the Lord when his people come together in true unity, expressed so beautifully in the images of outpoured oil for anointing and the refreshment of mountain dew in Psalm 133.
