Abuja | The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially ended its relationship with the Church in Wales, and the reason is linked to a major disagreement over Christian leadership and sexuality.
In a statement released on August 3, signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, the Nigerian church said it was cutting ties because of the election of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the new Archbishop of Wales.
“We do not recognise the so-called Archbishop of Wales and cannot share communion with a church that has departed from the teachings of the Bible,” the statement read.
Why Is This a Big Deal?
The Church of Nigeria believes that Christian leaders must follow what it sees as clear teachings from the Bible—especially regarding sexuality. So, by electing someone in a same-sex relationship to such a high position, the Church in Wales, according to Nigeria’s Anglican Church, has gone against biblical values.
“The election of a practising lesbian as an archbishop is not only a departure from the faith once delivered to the saints, but a defiance of God’s order,” said Primate Ndukuba.
What Does “Breaking Ties” Mean?
The Church of Nigeria says it has now placed the Church in Wales in a “state of impaired communion.” This means:
- No shared worship
- No ministry cooperation
- No official relationship between the churches
Members of the Nigerian Anglican Church are also being warned not to participate in any services or events connected to the Church in Wales.
Similar Actions in the Past
This isn’t the first time the Church of Nigeria has made such a move. In the past, it also broke ties with:
- The U.S. Episcopal Church
- The Anglican Church of Canada
In both cases, the reason was the same—those churches had accepted same-sex relationships among their leaders or allowed same-sex marriages.
“The Church in Wales has chosen to walk in the path of spiritual ruin,” said Ndukuba. “Such choices undermine the witness and mission of the Church.”
What the Nigerian Church Believes
The Nigerian Anglican Church says it will continue to support GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference)—a group of churches that believe in traditional Christian values, especially the authority of the Bible.
“We stand firm in our call to uphold biblical faith, and we will not compromise with churches that embrace unbiblical innovations,” the statement said.
As debates continue around faith, sexuality, and leadership, this situation shows how religious beliefs and modern values can sometimes clash on a global scale.
