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The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially ended its relationship with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly gay cleric, as the new Archbishop of Wales.
The announcement was made 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, August 5. This year’s conference, themed “Called as a Watchman,” focused on doctrinal integrity and church governance.
In a strongly worded address, Ndukuba described Vann’s election as “an abomination” and a departure from biblical teachings. He criticized what he called a growing “revisionist agenda” within parts of the global Anglican Communion, particularly in Western churches.
“A few days ago, the media was awash with the news of the actions of revisionists in the Western Church, specifically the Church in Wales,” he said. “These individuals have not relented in their agenda; rather, they have intensified it. What they call wisdom and culture is an abomination to God.”
The Primate expressed particular concern over Bishop Vann’s rise through the Church, noting that she had been part of the clergy for years before publicly identifying as a lesbian. According to Ndukuba, this was unacceptable to the Church of Nigeria, which remains firmly committed to traditional Christian teachings on sexuality.
“We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” Ndukuba declared. “Just as we took action following the election of Gene Robinson in the United States in 2003, we are now severing all ties with the Church of Wales.”
Gene Robinson was the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church (USA), whose consecration led to a significant fracture within the global Anglican community. Ndukuba drew a direct comparison between the two events, reiterating the Church of Nigeria’s uncompromising position.
While announcing the severance of ties, Ndukuba also expressed solidarity with conservative Anglicans in Wales. He pledged the Church of Nigeria’s continued support for orthodox believers through global networks such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a coalition of traditionalist Anglican churches.
The decision underscores ongoing tensions within the global Anglican Communion, as differing views on sexuality and doctrine continue to divide churches across regions.
