Contact: Nathaniel Torrey, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, ntorrey@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Institute on Religion and Democracy will be sending a team to the 2013 Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) meeting in Nairobi, Kenya this October.

The Anglican Communion is the third largest body of Christians in the world, with almost 80 million members, most located in Sub-Saharan Africa. GAFCON, which first met in Jerusalem in 2008, launched a renewal movement, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. The conference will draw an expected 300 bishops representing some of the most vibrant churches in the Anglican Communion.

Anglican churches are increasingly divided over scriptural authority and the uniqueness of salvation through Jesus Christ, with Global South church leaders being more theologically traditionalist than their northern counterparts. IRD supports a traditional perspective that affirms traditional church teachings.

GAFCON 2013 will address topics such as Gospel proclamation and culture, theological education, economic empowerment and the church, marriage, family and sexuality, and engaging with Islam.

What: Global Anglican Future Conference 2013

Who: Over 1,200 Bishops, Clergy and Lay Leaders from across the Worldwide Anglican Communion

Where: All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, Kenya

When: Monday, October 21 through Saturday, October 26

Available for Interviews:

Jeff Walton -- Anglican Program Director for the Institute on Religion & Democracy. Jeff writes on the subject of how the Anglican Church interacts with public life. His articles have appeared in Touchstone, Forward in Christ, Inside Catholic, The American Spectator and Human Events.

Faith J.H. McDonnell -- Director of Religious Liberty Programs at the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Faith writes and speaks on the subject of the persecuted church. She has drafted legislation on religious persecution for the Episcopal Church and for the United States Congress. In June 2007, her book, Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children, was published by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is a faith-based alliance of Christians who monitor, comment, and report on issues affecting the Church. We seek to reform the Church's role in public life, protect religious freedom, and support democracy at home and abroad.