GAFCON Declares War on Canterbury: 400 Bishops Gather in Nigeria to Elect Rival Anglican Leader

GAFCON Elects New Anglican Leader in Nigeria as Historic Schism Over Female Archbishop Deepens

More than 400 conservative Anglican bishops, clergy, and lay leaders gathered in Abuja, Nigeria this week for the G26 conference, a four day summit organized by the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) that could formalize a historic split in one of the world's largest Christian communions.

The conference, running from March 3 to 6, aims to elect a "first among equals" spiritual leader to rival the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Sarah Mullally, who is set to be formally installed on March 25 as the first woman to hold the position.

GAFCON announced the creation of the Global Anglican Communion following Mullally's appointment last fall. The movement, which began in Jerusalem in 2008, represents mostly churches from the Global South, including some of Anglicanism's largest provinces.

Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, said:

The Church of England had chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.

The central objection from GAFCON centers on Mullally's support for same sex blessings and the Church of England's recent decisions regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion in religious ceremonies. The organization contends that successive Archbishops of Canterbury have failed to preserve traditional Anglican doctrine on marriage and sexuality.

Diarmaid MacCulloch, emeritus professor of church history at Oxford University, characterized the development as a formal schism.

This is a set of leaders, all male, going to a conference in Africa to assert identity.

The conference is hosted by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), one of the largest Anglican provinces in the world with tens of millions of members. Nigerian Archbishop Henry Ndukuba delivered the opening address, calling the gathering a historic moment for orthodox Anglicanism.

Conservative Anglicans Challenge Canterbury Over Same Sex Blessings and Biblical Authority

The election of a rival leader would represent the most significant structural break in the Anglican Communion since the English Reformation. With the Global South representing the majority of practicing Anglicans worldwide, the move carries enormous weight for the future of the denomination.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let us be clear about what is happening in Abuja. Faithful Christians who hold to Scripture are not the ones causing a schism. The Church of England abandoned its own doctrine when it embraced same sex blessings and appointed leaders who openly contradict the Bible's teaching on marriage. GAFCON is not breaking away. They are standing firm while Canterbury drifts further from the faith once delivered to the saints. The Global South carries the future of Anglicanism because that is where the fire of genuine belief still burns. If Canterbury wants unity, the path is simple: return to Scripture.

Take Action

• Pray for the GAFCON leaders meeting in Abuja this week, that God would grant them wisdom and unity as they chart the future of orthodox Anglicanism.
• Learn more about GAFCON's mission and the Global Anglican Communion at gafcon.org and consider supporting their work.
• Support persecuted Christians worldwide through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to believers facing persecution for their faith.
• Contact your local Anglican or Episcopal church leadership and ask them where they stand on biblical authority and traditional marriage teaching.
• Share this story with fellow believers. The mainstream media will frame this as a "conservative revolt." Make sure the truth gets heard.