- We, Primates of the Global South, met in Victoria, Mahe, the Seychelles, from 14-17 January 2026 for our first in person meeting since the inauguration of the GSFA’s Covenant Structure at our First Assembly (9th Trumpet) in Egypt in June 2024. As we met to pray, worship and take counsel together, the Seychelles national motto ‘Finis coronat opus’ (the end crowns the work) reminded us of the biblical truth that we should be steadfast in those things which are of eternal worth and not be driven off course by passing cultural fashions, so that what we build may be sound and stand the test of time.
- We are deeply grateful to the Bishop of the Seychelles, the Rt Rev Danny Elizabeth, and His Grace Archbishop Gilbert Rateloson, Primate of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean, for their generous welcome and the wonderful support we received from St Paul’s Cathedral, Victoria.
- Preaching on John 6:66-69 at our opening service, Archbishop Titre Ande reminded us that we should not be surprised if there are those who abandon Jesus and his teaching. After many left him, Jesus says to the twelve ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ and Peter replies ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’. This question comes to the Church today; are we leaving or are we staying? GSFA is staying within the Anglican Communion, but more importantly, we are staying with Jesus to bear witness that we must choose life rather than death and light rather than darkness.
- Some of the nations we represent are experiencing war, insecurity or political tensions that threaten to spill over into violence. We grieve for the continuing violence in Sudan, South Sudan, Myanmar and DR Congo. We also prayed for Uganda as national elections took place as we met and for Madagascar as a new government is formed. We also humbly acknowledge the prophetic courage of the suffering church around the world. The tragic events unfolding in Iran were very much in our minds and we also stand in solidarity with the faithful in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and northern Nigeria.
- We are grateful to God for the growth of the GSFA since the First Assembly (9th Trumpet) which is increasingly becoming a spiritual home, not just an ecclesial structure, modelling covenanted relationships to defend orthodoxy, promote mission, deepen discipleship and enable economic wellbeing.
- We lamented the departure from historic Anglican teaching which is now becoming entrenched in the senior leadership of the Church of England. However, we recognise that there are many in the Church of England, united in ‘The Alliance’, who have remained faithful and are offering an increasingly effective resistance to the revisionist agenda. It was a privilege for some of us to be present with over three hundred orthodox leaders in July last year and we assure them of our continued solidarity as they contend for the faith.
- As GSFA we are working to be truly a home for all orthodox Anglicans in which relationship based mission, mutual service, discipleship and practical action to care for one another are the flesh on the bones of our ecclesial structure. GSFA will also continue to engage for the time being with the IASCUFO Nairobi-Cairo proposals.
- Two sessions of our meeting were given to considering a comprehensive Strategic Plan which will enable GSFA to be an increasingly effective instrument for the reform of the Communion. We have in the past written about the need for a ‘reset’ of the Communion and it was achieved in principle by the introduction of the Cairo Covenant in 2019. This created a framework for a process of reformation which is the work to which we are now committed.
- Major landmarks in the growth of GSFA have been the development of the three activity Tracks; Leadership and Ministerial Formation, Economic Empowerment and Mission Partnerships, with a total of six in-person conferences since the First Assembly.
- Our Second Assembly will be held in April 2027 and we deeply appreciate the offer of Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba and the Church of Uganda to host us.
- We concluded our time together with encouragement by Archbishop Titus Chung from John 1:9-14 to be resolute in bearing witness to Jesus Christ as the light of the world. When we mirror the culture of our society, as has happened too often in the modern West, the light fades and is lost, but our great calling, as the GSFA, is to a life of faithfulness which mirrors the glory of the incarnate Word, full of grace and truth.
The Most Rev Justin Badi Arama
Chairman of GSFA and Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan
The Most Rev Samy Shehata
Deputy Chairman, GSFA and Primate of the Province of Alexandria
The Most Rev Dr Titus Chung
Hon Secretary, GSFA and Primate of the Church of the Province of South East Asia
The Most Rev Gilbert Rateloson
Primate of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
The Most Rev Ande Titre
Primate of the Province of the Anglican Church of Congo
The Most Rev Miguel Uchoa
Primate of the Anglican Church in Brazil
The Most Rev Ezekiel Kondo
Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan*
The Most Rev Stephen Than
Primate of the Church of the Province of the Myanmar*
The Most Rev Stephen Kaziimba
Primate of the Church of the Province of Uganda*
*Unable to be present but subsequently endorsed the communique
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