The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has announced the complete severance of all ties with the Church of Wales following the recent election of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly gay cleric, as the new Archbishop of Wales.
The dramatic decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, during the opening session of the Church Conference of Chancellors, Registrars, and Legal Officers held in Abuja on Tuesday. The conference, themed “Called as a Watchman,” brought together key legal figures from across the Nigerian Anglican Church to address issues of doctrinal fidelity and governance.
In his address, Ndukuba delivered a scathing condemnation of Vann’s election, describing it as an “abomination” that directly contradicts biblical teachings. He accused Western Anglican churches of pursuing what he termed an “evil agenda” that has intensified over recent years.
“A few days ago, the media went awash with the news of the action of the revisionists in the Western Church in the United Kingdom, specifically in the Church of Wales. These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it. As the scripture says, evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God,” Ndukuba stated.
The Nigerian Anglican leader expressed particular concern about Vann’s journey within the church hierarchy, noting that she had progressed from an acolyte to deaconess before becoming a bishop and eventually openly declaring her sexual orientation. He emphasized that the Church of Nigeria categorically rejects her election to the archbishopric.
“The election of a lesbian woman does not originate as a mission. She was nurtured from an acolyte to a deaconess. It was only upon becoming a bishop that she came out openly and has persisted in defending her position. We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales,” he declared.
Ndukuba drew historical parallels to the Church of Nigeria’s previous response to similar controversies within the global Anglican Communion. He specifically referenced the church’s reaction to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church of the United States, which also resulted in severed relationships.
“Just as the Church of Nigeria took steps after the election of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church of Wales,” Ndukuba announced, emphasizing that the Nigerian church does not recognize Vann’s election as legitimate.
Despite cutting ties with the Church of Wales as an institution, Ndukuba expressed continued solidarity with orthodox Anglicans within Wales who oppose the recent developments. He pledged ongoing support for conservative Anglican factions through the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and other traditional Anglican organizations.
This latest development highlights the deepening divisions within the global Anglican Communion over issues of sexuality and biblical interpretation. The Church of Nigeria, representing one of the largest Anglican provinces worldwide, has consistently taken conservative positions on these matters, often placing it at odds with more liberal Western Anglican churches.
The severance of relationships with the Church of Wales represents a significant escalation in the ongoing theological and cultural tensions that have characterized the Anglican Communion for more than two decades, particularly since the Robinson controversy began reshaping denominational alliances in 2003.
