Nigerian Anglican Church Cuts Ties with Wales Over Lesbian Archbishop Appointment

Abuja, August 2025 – The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially broken relations with the Church in Wales following the controversial election of openly gay bishop Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales, declaring the move an “unbiblical defiance of God’s order.”

“We cannot share communion with apostasy”
Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, announced the decisive split during Tuesday’s Anglican legal officers’ conference in Abuja, condemning Vann’s appointment as “an abomination before God.”

“This represents a complete departure from the faith delivered to the saints,” Ndukuba stated, echoing the Church’s August 3 declaration that placed Wales in a “state of impaired communion” – effectively suspending all worship partnerships and ministerial ties.

Doctrinal Battle Lines Drawn
The Nigerian church, representing over 18 million Anglicans, framed this as the latest frontline in a global struggle:

• Historic Precedent: Follows previous breaks with US and Canadian Anglican churches over LGBTQ+ inclusivity

• GAFCON Alliance: Reaffirmed loyalty to the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference

• Global Rift: Widens fractures in the 85-million-strong Anglican Communion

“Spiritual Ruin” Warning
Ndukuba issued stark warnings to Nigerian congregations:

• No joint worship with Welsh Anglicans

• Ban on liturgical collaborations

• Directive to avoid “unbiblical innovations”

The Primate vowed to maintain “historic Christian orthodoxy,” positioning Nigeria as a bulwark against progressive theological shifts in the Communion. This rupture leaves the Church in Wales isolated from one of Anglicanism’s fastest-growing provinces, with reconciliation appearing unlikely amid escalating doctrinal wars.

Additional reporting by News Agency of Nigeria