A tangled web of deceit

I hate to admit it, but I love a good GAFCON story and they are in “it” again. In June, the Most Rev’d. Peter Akinola stated that he was detained at the Jordanian border so long that he gave up trying to get into the country and left for Jerusalem to prepare for the pilgrimage. The archbishop said

No matter the humiliation I suffered, I took it as a body lotion, rubbed it all over by body so that I can shine for Christ.

As you recall, because Akinola decided to go directly to Jerusalem, and because he was the linchpin of the conference, the GAFCON decided to move the conference to Jerusalem. They also said that part of the reason was because a Sudanese delegation was not able to get into Jordan, either.

Well, the things that we read put out by GAFCON aren’t necessarily so. According to a story on Thinking Anglicans, Evangelicals Now (August edition) reporter Chris Sugden Akinola was most assuredly denied entrance to Jordan. I tried to locate a copy of the EN August edition but I could not do so. Given TA’s accuracy, I’ll take their word for it.

According to Sugden:

A preparatory Conference for 140 was held in Jordan from June 17. However, on June 18 the Jordanian authorities announced that sufficient high-level permission had not been granted for the conference to take place. The conference hall was shut and no meeting allowed. At the same time Archbishop Akinola, travelling on his diplomatic passport was denied entry. So on June 19, the 140 people relocated early to Jerusalem. The hotels concerned, in the chain, transferred the costs. [Emphasis added.]

Now let’s consider the GAFCON press release

The pre-GAFCON preparatory consultation in Jordan wound up early, and the participants moved to Jerusalem on Thursday, 19th June. Hotel and meeting rooms previously unavailable in Jerusalem became available at the same time GAFCON leaders learned that previously granted permission for the Jordan consultation was deemed insufficient. [Emphasis added.]

Obviously, someone is lying. The question becomes, then, who has the most to gain by manipulating the facts?

I think I’ll let Jesus have the last words of this post:

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44 (English Standard Version)