1. Constructing the boundaries of Anglican orthodoxy: An analysis of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON)
- Author
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Sadgrove, Joanna, Vanderbeck, Robert M., Ward, Kevin, Valentine, Gill, and Andersson, Johan
- Subjects
Homosexuality -- Conferences, meetings and seminars ,Philosophy and religion - Abstract
To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.religion.2010.02.006 Byline: Joanna Sadgrove (a), Robert M. Vanderbeck (a), Kevin Ward (b), Gill Valentine (a), Johan Andersson (a) Abstract: This article examines the evolution of the transnational orthodox Anglican movement through the lens of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) -- the movement's most significant public expression to date. GAFCON represented the first large-scale event at which a sizable number of Anglicans (ordained and lay) from both the global North and global South gathered to galvanise an 'orthodox' response to the current 'crisis' in the Anglican Communion (a crisis precipitated by debates over the status of homosexuality). The analysis is based upon fieldwork conducted at GAFCON, a review of a range of documentary sources, and retrospective interviews with several attendees. The article argues that GAFCON constituted a key moment for the attempted framing of movement objectives for participants, other Anglicans, and outside observers, fixing a standard of orthodoxy in the final Jerusalem Declaration. While attempting to project an image of orthodox unity to outsiders, GAFCON leaders also made the negotiation of certain aspects of cultural difference central to the event's purpose. Detailed examinations are provided of two topics (homosexuality and female ordination) that exemplify the ongoing negotiation of the boundaries of orthodoxy within the movement. The article concludes with reflections on the significance and further development of the movement. Author Affiliation: (a) School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK (b) Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Published
- 2010