The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion has said divisions "which strain and wound the Communion" require "urgent attention and repair".
Rt Rev Anthony Poggo was responding after GAFCON, the movement of conservative orthodox bishops announced it was breaking away from the Communion as it can no longer recognise the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In a statement to Premier, Bishop Poggo said that “in a diverse, global Communion, there is a wide range of theological and doctrinal perspectives. There are also deeply held differences, disagreements, and divisions, which strain and wound the Communion.”
He appealed to Anglicans to “face these divisions directly” and “make room for one another”, adding “Jesus prayed that ‘they may all be one’ (John 17.11). To persist in – imperfect, impaired – communion is to commit to work at this task together, and not apart.”
In a pastoral letter to all Anglicans published on the Anglican Communion website, Bishop Poggo said that since the GAFCON statement, he had received many messages from across the world showing concern for “our beloved Anglican Communion family.”
He acknowledged that divisions among Anglicans “are sadly well known, as we see in the Scriptures (1 Cor 11:17). These divisions require urgent attention and repair, by means of every instrument available to us.”
He acknowledged that “no institution, meeting, network or association of Christians is static” and that the Instruments of Communion “rightly evolve over time”.
In an appeal for unity Bishop Poggo said: “I share the hope of the commission that all Anglicans, and the whole Church of God, may still seek and find agreement in the Faith. I also agree that we must summon up patience and love when members of the Body need to walk at a distance from one another in order better to seek and serve the truth and unity of our shared vocation (1 Cor 11:19). Theological uniformity cannot be demanded or expected without the hard work of discernment over time.”
Concluding that they couldn't “neglect to meet together”, the Secretary General is urging GAFCON representatives to attend next year's meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) in Belfast, because “Those who are present are the ones who shape the outcomes and resolutions of meetings.”