More than one thousand Anglicans from 25 nations, including 300 bishops are on their way to Jerusalem to attend the Global Anglican Future Conference.  The meeting, which will be held June 22 – 29, includes daily addresses from key Anglican pastors, teachers and leaders.

The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will formally welcome pilgrims to GAFCON on June 22.  There are over 22 million Anglicans in church every Sunday, making the Church of Nigeria the largest church of the Anglican Communion.

After a pilgrimage to the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane on Monday morning, the Most Rev. Henry Orombi, primate of the Anglican Church of the Province of Uganda, will deliver the keynote address, “Jesus Christ as Lord” on Monday afternoon.

Also on Monday, Dr. Os Guinness, a renown scholar and author of more than 25 books, will speak on “The Gospel and Secularism.”

On Tuesday afternoon, pilgrims will be invited to a discussion on addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis.  The session will be led by Mr. Daniel Muvengi, the Rev. Aaron Mwesigye, the Rev. Noel Bewarang, and the Rev. Canon Vinay Samuel.  The Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, bishop of Rochester in the United Kingdom, will be speaking on “The Nature and Future of the Anglican Communion.”

Pilgrims will have the options of participating on a walking tour of the Old City (of Jerusalem) or of the Ophel Gardens on Wednesday.  That evening, Professor Lamin Sanneh of Yale University, Dr. Salim Munayer, and Mr. Evan Thomas will lead a session on “The Gospel and Religion.”

Pilgrimages and sessions will continue throughout the remainder of the week.  On Thursday, Mr. Kim Tan, Mr. Andrew Tanswell, Mr. Jerry Marshall and Daniel Muvengi will offer a session on “Enterprise Approaches to Poverty.”  On Saturday, June 28, Archbishop Elias Chacour, Palistinian Israeli Archbishop of Galilee for the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, will give an address near the Mount of Beatitudes on the theme “Jesus the Galilean – Jesus Teaches.”

A series of small group workshops will also be available to pilgrims.  Daily workshop topics include “Gospel and Leadership,” “Evangelism & Church Planting,” “Anglican Identity in the 21st Century,” and many others.  All pilgrims will also share in discussions about the conference statement during the week.

GAFCON will draw to a close on Sunday, June 29 with a final Eucharist.  Archbishop Greg Venables, Province of the Southern Cone, will deliver the keynote address, entitled “Jesus Christ is Lord.”