Conservative Anglicans pull back from electing rival to Archbishop of Canterbury
Conservative Anglican leaders meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, have abandoned plans to elect a rival “first among equals” to challenge the authority of Sarah Mullally, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury.
Conservative Anglican leaders meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, have stepped back from plans to elect a rival “first among equals” to challenge Sarah Mullally, who is set to become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
The conservative grouping Gafcon had previously considered appointing its own global Anglican figurehead, which would have directly rivalled the role traditionally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican Communion, a global fellowship of about 95 million Anglicans.
Instead, Gafcon announced a new leadership structure — the Global Anglican Council — headed by Laurent Mbanda, the Archbishop of Rwanda. The group said it was moving away from historic titles and structures, although some observers say the move still represents a challenge to the authority of the Church of England.
Gafcon leaders insist their disagreement with the Church of England is primarily doctrinal. They argue that issues such as same-sex blessings and women’s leadership reflect a broader debate about whether church doctrine should be guided by biblical teachings or modern cultural views. While they say the dispute is not solely about gender, many conservatives still maintain that the Bible supports male-only bishops and oppose same-sex unions.
The development reflects long-running divisions within the Anglican Communion, which intensified during the tenure of former Archbishop Justin Welby over issues including LGBTQ clergy and same-sex relationships.
Gafcon, formed in 2008, claims support from many churches in Africa, Asia and other parts of the Global South, where a large proportion of Anglicans live. However, opinion within these regions is not uniform.
The Anglican Communion is expected to discuss proposals on its future structure and unity at a meeting in Belfast later this year, although Gafcon has said it will not attend because it no longer recognises the global body. The decision underlines the continuing tensions and deepening divisions within the worldwide Anglican Church.
