The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has formally declared spiritual independence from the Church of England, following the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The announcement was made in a statement released on Monday, October 6, and signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba.
The Nigerian Church expressed strong opposition to both Mullally’s elevation as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury and her support for same-sex marriage, describing the developments as signs of “moral decline” within the leadership of the global Anglican Communion.
Labeling the October 3 appointment as “devastating” and “insensitive,” the Church accused the Church of England of deepening existing divisions within the worldwide Anglican family by ignoring longstanding theological disagreements.
“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 referenced Mullally’s 2023 remarks following the Church of England’s decision to permit blessings for same-sex couples, where she described the move as “a moment of hope.” The Nigerian Church warned that her position could further strain relationships across the Anglican Communion, which has already faced two decades of internal conflict over same-sex unions and gender roles in church leadership.
“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,” the statement said.
Asserting that it no longer recognizes Canterbury as a moral or spiritual authority, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) — a conservative Anglican movement formed in response to liberal shifts in parts of 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 noted.
The Church also called on like-minded Anglicans in England and elsewhere to stand firm in defense of traditional biblical teachings, particularly in opposition to same-sex marriage.
“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,” the statement concluded, referencing Jude 1:3.
