Church of Nigeria Declares Spiritual Independence Over Appointment of Pro-Gay Female Archbishop of Canterbury

Church of Nigeria Declares Spiritual Independence Over Appointment of Pro-Gay Female Archbishop of Canterbury

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has declared its spiritual independence from the Church of England following the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

In a statement issued by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church described the appointment, announced on Friday, October 3, 2025, as “devastating” and “insensitive.”

According to the statement, the development represents a “double jeopardy” for the global Anglican faith.

“First, it disregards the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate; and second, it is deeply troubling that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-s+x marriage,” the statement read.

The Church referenced Mullally’s 2023 comments following the Church of England’s approval of blessings for same-s+x couples, where she called the move “a moment of hope.” Nigerian Anglicans said such views undermine efforts to preserve unity and moral integrity within the global Anglican Communion.

“It remains unclear how someone who upholds same-s+x marriage can hope to heal the already fractured fabric of the Communion,” the Church stated, arguing that Anglicanism can no longer rely on the moral and spiritual leadership of the Church of England.

Reaffirming its alignment with the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), the Church of Nigeria said it would continue to uphold “biblical authority, the historic creeds, evangelism, and holy living—irrespective of the ongoing revisionist agenda.”

The statement concluded with a rallying call for conservative Anglicans across England and beyond:

“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have resisted the aberration called same-s+x marriage to continue contending for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).”

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