By Efosa Idehen
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has formally severed ties with the Church in Wales following the latter’s appointment of a lesbian bishop, citing doctrinal incompatibility and a breach of biblical teachings on sexuality and leadership.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, the Church condemned what it described as “a grave departure from the historic faith and moral standards of the Anglican Communion.” The decision comes after the Church in Wales consecrated the Right Reverend Cherry Vann—who is in a same-sex civil partnership—as Archbishop of Llandaff, sparking widespread theological and ecclesiastical concern within conservative Anglican circles, particularly across Africa.
The Nigerian Church stated that the consecration of a bishop in an openly same-sex relationship constitutes an unbiblical endorsement of lifestyles contrary to scriptural teachings. “The Church of Nigeria can no longer be in communion with a body that promotes practices we believe to be incompatible with the Word of God,” the statement read.
This move marks yet another fracture in the global Anglican Communion, which has been increasingly divided over issues of same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ clergy, and biblical interpretation. The Church of Nigeria, one of the largest and most influential provinces in the Anglican world, has consistently taken a conservative stance on matters of doctrine and morality, aligning itself with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), a network of traditionalist Anglican bodies.
Church officials emphasized that the decision to break communion with the Church in Wales is not an act of hatred or exclusion but a defense of scriptural authority and the integrity of the Christian faith. “We love all people, but we must obey God rather than man,” the statement added.
The Church in Wales has not issued a formal response to Nigeria’s withdrawal, but it has previously defended its actions as consistent with a theology of inclusion, justice, and equality.
As Anglican divisions continue to widen, many observers worry that the global communion may be heading toward a formal schism. For now, the Church of Nigeria’s break with the Church in Wales underscores the deep and unresolved tensions between tradition and modernity within one of the world’s oldest Christian denominations.
