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Conservative Anglicans convene in Abuja amid leadership dispute
A faction of the Anglican Church is meeting this week in Nigeria's capital to select an alternative spiritual leader, challenging the upcoming installation of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally.
Divisions over gender and authority
Mullally, the UK's current Bishop of London, is set to be formally installed as the 133rd Archbishop of Canterbury later this month. Her appointment has sparked controversy among conservative Anglicans, particularly in Nigeria, who argue that only men should hold the highest clerical offices.
At a recent service in Lagos' Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, congregants expressed mixed reactions. Some, like Bunmi Odukoya, supported Mullally's appointment, stating, "The work of God is an individual calling-whether man or woman, you must fulfill it." Others, including Uche Nweke, disagreed, citing biblical precedent: "There were no women among the apostles, so a woman leading the Anglican Church in England won't end well."
Gafcon's push for a rival leadership
The Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), a conservative movement formed in 2008, is holding a four-day meeting in Abuja to elect its own "first among equals" leader. The move comes just weeks before Mullally's installation and risks deepening the Anglican Communion's fractures.
Gafcon, which claims to represent "authentic Anglicans," has long opposed the Church of England's progressive stances, including its 2023 decision to bless same-sex unions. The group rejected the leadership of Mullally's predecessor, Justin Welby, and now seeks to establish a parallel hierarchy.
"This is a schism, even if they won't admit it. A group of male leaders is asserting an identity that no longer aligns with many Anglican churches-an all-male episcopate calling the shots."
Diarmaid MacCulloch, Emeritus Professor of Church History, University of Oxford
Global reactions and potential schism
While Gafcon draws significant support from African provinces, views on the continent are not uniform. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa and Kenya's first female bishop, Emily Onyango, have welcomed Mullally's appointment. Gafcon's influence extends beyond Africa, with organizers based in the Americas and Australia.
In October 2025, Gafcon declared its intent to "reorder the Anglican Communion," refusing to participate in meetings led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and urging members to sever ties with the Church of England. The group insists it remains the "true" Anglican Communion, a claim contested by mainstream leaders.
Implications for the Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion, comprising 42 provinces across 165 countries, operates as a "family of autonomous yet interdependent churches," according to Bishop Anthony Poggo, its secretary general. While there is no formal constitution, the communion is held together by four "Instruments of Communion," with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its symbolic head.
Proposals to reform the communion's leadership structure will be discussed at the Anglican Consultative Council in June, but Gafcon's boycott means its members will not participate. Bishop Poggo emphasized that any province seeking to leave should follow established processes, though he acknowledged the limitations: "There is not much you can do" if a faction refuses to comply.
Voices of reconciliation
Despite the tensions, some Nigerian Anglicans, like youth pastor Alexander Olasinde, advocate for unity. "Our goal as Christians is heaven. We must find common ground," the 34-year-old told the BBC. "If we continue this trend of division, how will we achieve that?"
