The Anglican Future conference has opened in Melbourne with a call for faithfulness and clarity in proclaiming the Gospel in Australasia.

More than 400 delegates have gathered in Melbourne, from all over Australia and New Zealand. 

Several invited guests from overseas were introduced at the opening session including the Chairman of the GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) Primates Council, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala.

An Australian branch of the GAFCON-backed Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans will be launched at the conference tomorrow, under the chairmanship of the Archdeacon of Melbourne, Richard Condie.

Archdeacon Condie welcomed delegates and introduced the Primate and Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Philip Freier, who gave an address.

“At this very moment we have relentless agression taking place against christians” Dr Freier said, referring to the persecution of Christians in middle eastern countries.

“Either the world has a future in Christ or it does not” Dr Freier said, calling for clarity in Gospel proclamation.

“The cross carries a message signed with blood that frees all who accept it” he said. “We must have the clear focus of calling people to life in Christ"

In the first Bible study, Perth minister Kanishka Raffel  said delegates may feel overwhelmed in the face of opposition or indifference to the Christian message,

"Do not doubt for one moment that in the face of secularism, hedonism consumerism and pluralism, his divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life in Christ jesus."

“All we have to offer the world is Jesus - but Jesus is the answer to all the world’s longing..:"