One of the refreshing things at GAFCON, according to those who have been to Lambeth, is that clergy and lay, not just bishops were invited. So the talk was not all high-powered theology but also grass roots encouragement.

Take the case of Minke Newman, a young woman from Jamaica. Sydney delegate the Rev Tara Thornley met Minke on the first day and they formed a bond.

Minke says her personal experience in an anglican church has been ‘quite challenging’.

“Jamaica is a male dominated society” she says “but women do everything. There are very few men in the church and very few persons my age.”

For Tara, who ministers at Unichurch, University of NSW at Kensington, it was an eye-opener.

“I didn’t know anything about Jamaica, except maybe the music. We’ve talked about family life and women having multiple dads to their children and what the impact is on a whole society. Just to meet someone for whom it is hard to be a christian in that country….it’s encouraging to see her here.”

Minke says she found it difficult to attend, as the only person from her country, but “all of the Australian people ....have been very kind to me and included me in the activities…”

For Minke, church growth is a passion. She’s desperate to see more young people in her church, but is aware, as Bishop Michael Nazir Ali told the conference, that the church needs to regain its nerve. 

“The church in Jamaica doesn’t always give definite answers to young people’s questions about a lot of the issues that GAFCON is looking at, like Family and marriage and sexuality I don’t think the church in Jamaica teaches on that a lot and I would like them to do so.”

For Tara, she’ll keep in touch with Minke but she feels humbled by the whole experience. “I’m only just now learning about the extent of the problem and the complexities of what to do about it. But there’s an electricity of ‘we want change’, and we need to make a stand. We need to support our brothers and sisters in places where it is hard to be anglican and christian.”

That’s Minke’s experience too. She feels for those parishes or provinces who are making such a stand.

“As a young Christian, GAFCON has helped me to know that its possible for you to hold on to your Christian integrity in spite of worldwide influence and change.”