Church of Ireland Affirms Commitment to Anglican Communion After GAFCON Split

Dublin, Ireland - The Church of Ireland's senior leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to the traditional Anglican Communion structure following the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) movement's October 16, 2025 declaration that it represents the "authentic" Anglican Communion.

In a joint statement released on Monday, October 21, 2025, the Most Rev John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and the Most Rev Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, sought to "clarify some matters of fact" in response to GAFCON's communiqué titled "The Future Has Arrived."

The archbishops explained that the Anglican Communion consists of autonomous provinces, including the Church of Ireland, that voluntarily unite through four main instruments: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates' Meeting, and the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).

"Our bishops receive invitations to and usually attend the Lambeth Conference," the statement said. "The Archbishop of Armagh attends the Primates' Meetings and the General Synod appoints representatives to the ACC."

The archbishops emphasized that while debate and diversity have always characterized Anglican life, "the Church of Ireland recognises no body other than the one described" as the legitimate Anglican Communion.

"There are many organisations and movements within the Anglican Communion who wish to reform aspects of the Communion and how it works," they stated. "The Communion has always welcomed and accommodated debate and diversity of this nature. However, the Church of Ireland recognises no body other than the one described in the preceding paragraphs as the Anglican Communion."

The leaders acknowledged imperfections within the Communion structure: "We do not suggest that the Anglican Communion as it has existed in history and continues to exist today is a perfect organisation. It is inevitable that those who hold to the Anglican theological method involving Scripture, Tradition and Reason, and working out our discipleship in autonomous but interdependent Provinces will not agree on everything."

They concluded: "However, praying always for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are committed to studying the Scriptures and learning from the insights of the past together with our fellow Anglicans, in communion, around the world."

The Church of Ireland is scheduled to host the next Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Belfast in summer 2026.

The statement followed GAFCON's October 16 declaration in which GAFCON Chairman Archbishop Laurent Mbanda announced that GAFCON primates had "resolved to reorder the Anglican Communion" and rejected the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the ACC, and the Primates' Meeting, which they said "have failed to uphold the doctrine and discipline of the Anglican Communion."

GAFCON was formed in 2008 in response to theological disputes over human sexuality and biblical authority within the Anglican Communion, particularly following the consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church USA in 2003. GAFCON claims to represent the majority of practicing Anglicans globally, particularly from provinces in Africa, Asia, and South America.

The timing of GAFCON's declaration came two weeks after the Church of England announced that Bishop Sarah Mullally would become the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, a decision that drew criticism from conservative Anglican leaders who do not recognize women's ordination to the episcopate.

The Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion and a bishop from South Sudan, said in a statement that divisions "which strain and wound the Communion" require "urgent attention and repair." He emphasized that the Anglican Communion "is ordered by historic bonds, voluntary association" and that any changes "should be made through existing structures."

GAFCON has an active branch in Ireland, GAFCON Ireland, which operates as a network within the Church of Ireland for clergy and laypeople who align with the Jerusalem Declaration, GAFCON's doctrinal statement emphasizing biblical authority and traditional Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality.