The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially cut all ties with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) cleric, as the 15th Archbishop of Wales.
The decision was announced during the opening session of the 14th Church of Nigeria Conference of Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers, held on Tuesday at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, who described the development as ‘an abomination’ and a serious departure from biblical truth.
With the theme ‘Called as a Watchman,’ the event brought together legal minds from across the Church to discuss matters of doctrinal integrity, justice, and governance.
Primate Ndukuba, who delivered the keynote address titled ‘The Decade of the Reign of God: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects,’ while reacting to the Church in Wales’ elevation of a lesbian Bishop, the Primate said: “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”
He compared it to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church (USA), which had also led to Nigeria severing ties with that province.
“Just as the Church of Nigeria took steps after the election of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church of Wales,” he said.
Primate Ndukuba also criticised what he described as the growing influence of revisionist teachings within sections of the Western Church.
“These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God,” he declared.
Despite cutting formal ties with the Church in Wales, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its support for orthodox Anglicans in the region through platforms such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).
“We pray that 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,” Ndukuba assured.
Looking ahead, the Primate said the Church of Nigeria plans to expand its global mission, with new registrations underway in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
“We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he said.
The Primate also used the opportunity to highlight the Church’s ongoing contributions to the GAFCON movement.
He revealed that the Church of Nigeria had recently contributed $2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was planning a local Nigerian GAFCON Endowment worth $2.3 million to support orthodox Anglican work and mission.
On constitutional and legal matters, Ndukuba urged legal officers to strengthen the Church’s internal reforms and national engagement.
“You are to understand yourselves to be watchmen for the Church. You defend the Church against all forms of aggression. As modern-day watchmen, we must first listen to God, then speak His truth in love, knowing our duty lies in obedience,” he said, calling on legal professionals to support the Church’s constitutional review and advocate for a new Nigerian constitution.
