Church of Nigeria Cuts Ties with Church of England Over Appointment of Archbishop Sarah Mullally

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has formally severed ties with the Church of England following the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, citing her support for same-sex marriage and her position as the first woman to assume the historic role.

In a statement issued by the Primate, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, the Church described the appointment, announced on Friday, October 3, as “devastating” and “insensitive,” warning that it further deepens longstanding divisions within the global Anglican Communion.

“This election is a double jeopardy,” the statement read. “First, it disregards the conviction of the majority of Anglicans, who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate; and second, it is more disturbing that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.”

The Church of Nigeria referenced Mullally’s 2023 comments in which she described the Church of England’s vote to approve blessings for same-sex couples as “a moment of hope.” Nigerian leaders argue that such views are incompatible with biblical teachings and exacerbate the theological and moral rift that has plagued the Communion for over two decades.

“It remains to be seen how the same person hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion by the contentious same-sex marriage, which has caused an enormous crisis across the Communion,” the statement added.

By rejecting the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, traditionally regarded as the symbolic head of the global Anglican Communion, the Church of Nigeria affirmed its alignment with the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a conservative Anglican movement formed in response to liberal shifts within the Communion.

“On our part, as a member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria affirms the GAFCON position unreservedly, and reaffirms our earlier stance to uphold the authority of the Scriptures, our historic creeds, evangelism and holy Christian living, irrespective of the ongoing revisionist agenda,” the statement continued.

The Church also issued a call to conservative Anglicans in England and elsewhere to resist what it termed “ungodly teachings” and to stand firm in defence of traditional Christian doctrine.

“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have consistently rejected the aberration called same-sex marriage and other ungodly teachings, by contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3),” the Church urged.