Nigeria’s church refutes appointing female archbishop of Canterbury
(MENAFN) The Anglican Church of Nigeria has officially opposed the selection of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
Henry Ndukuba, the Nigerian archbishop, metropolitan, and primate, called the election of Sarah Mullally “a double jeopardy”—first, for imposing female leadership on those who do not accept it, and second, for elevating “a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.”
In a statement shared on social media on Monday, Ndukuba questioned how Mullally “hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion” amid ongoing disputes over same-sex marriage. He emphasized that Nigeria, as part of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON), “reaffirms [its] earlier stance to uphold the authority of the Scriptures” and rejects what he described as “the revisionist agenda” present in some parts of the Communion.
“This election is a further confirmation that the global Anglican world could no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England and that of the Archbishop of Canterbury,” Ndukuba added.
GAFCON also expressed “sorrow” over Mullally’s appointment, asserting that the Church of England had “abandoned global Anglicans” and lost its moral authority. The Church of England has not yet issued a response to the Nigerian position, as stated by reports.
Mullally, 63, became the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury last Friday after her nomination was approved by King Charles III. She is scheduled to assume office in January following final confirmation by Church of England leaders, making her the first woman to hold the role.
In much of sub-Saharan Africa, Anglican and other Christian denominations continue to hold traditional views on marriage and gender roles. The Church of Nigeria, one of the largest Anglican provinces, defines marriage strictly as a union between a man and a woman and does not ordain women as priests or bishops.
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