GAFCON: Jerusalem 23^rd June 2008-06-25

A momentous day in the life of the Anglican Church in Europe

For the first time in history, three senior church leaders agreed to give official oversight to an Anglican church on Europe. In a radical break with tradition, these leaders, The Most Rev. Emmanuel Mbona Kolini, Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Bishop of Kigali, The Most Rev’d Dr. Justice Ofei Akrofi, Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Accra and The Rt. Rev. Frank Retief, Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa came together today at the GAFCON conference in Jerusalem and signed the Concordat, the document of acceptance which brings All Saints Anglican Church Algarve, Portugal into their care. This is a truly global, cross border commitment to ensure that Anglicans everywhere can look forward with confidence.

All Saints Anglican Church is the first Anglican Church in Europe to receive Episcopal oversight in this way. A spokesman for All Saints said “we are so grateful to our Bishops that they heard the cry of our congregations and stepped out in faith to care for us in this way. We believe that this is just the start of the winds of change blowing through the Anglican Church.”

They went on to add that other Anglicans throughout Europe are looking with interest at how this initiative will develop and we are already in discussions with some of them.

Earlier this month, Archbishop Kolini ordained Jackie Nevill into the priesthood in a ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda. Jackie will become the assistant Priest of All Saints which currently has two congregations on the Algarve and is actively planning to plant more churches in the very near future. During the ceremony, Archbishop Kolini entreated the Rev’d Nevill “Go forth and make disciples, and take the Word of God to the people”.

In November 2009 Rev'd Paul Luckman was ordained in Portugal by Bishop Martin Morrison

PHOTO: Left to right:

Revd Dr Kevin Donlan Canonical Advisor to Rwanda

Canon Ellis Brust President of  AMiA

Bishop Martin Morrison of the Church of England in South Africa

The Rt Rev. Frank Retief, Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa

The Most Rev. Emmanuel Mbona Kolini, Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Bishop of Kigali.

The Most Rev’d Dr. Justice Ofei Akrofi, Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Accra

Terry Blackman Lay Chairman of All Saints Anglican Church Algarve

Jo Blackman Children’s Minister All Saints Anglican Church Algarve