The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has formally severed ties with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales.
The decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, during the opening of the 14th Conference of Chancellors, Registrars, and Legal Officers, held Tuesday at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Describing the appointment as “an abomination” and a “departure from biblical truth,” Ndukuba declared: “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales. Just as we acted following the election of Gene Robinson in the United States in 2003, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church in Wales.”
The Primate decried what he called the growing spread of “revisionist teachings” in parts of the Western Church, warning that “what they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God.”
Despite the split, Ndukuba reaffirmed the Church of Nigeria’s commitment to orthodox Anglican faithful in Wales through continued partnership with the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). “We pray the Church of God in Wales will rise up, and that the faithful among them will stand strong. We, the Church of Nigeria, alongside GAFCON, will stand with them,” he said.
He also revealed plans to expand the Church’s global missionary presence with new registrations underway in Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. “We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he added.
As part of its ongoing support for the GAFCON movement, Ndukuba disclosed that the Church had contributed $2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was planning an additional $2.3 million local endowment to strengthen orthodox Anglican missions.
Addressing legal and doctrinal matters under the conference theme “Called as a Watchman”, the Primate urged Church legal professionals to defend doctrinal integrity and support internal reforms and national constitutional advocacy. “You defend the Church against all forms of aggression. As modern-day watchmen, we must listen to God, then speak His truth in love,” he charged.
