The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially ended its relationship with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the 15th Archbishop of Wales. The announcement was made by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, during the opening of the 14th Church of Nigeria Conference of Chancellors, Registrars, and Legal Officers held at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Primate Ndukuba described the development as “an abomination” and “a serious departure from biblical truth,” stating, “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”
Themed “Called as a Watchman,” the legal conference brought together legal professionals across the Church to address matters of doctrine, justice, and institutional integrity. In his keynote address titled “The Decade of the Reign of God: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects,” Ndukuba reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to biblical orthodoxy. He compared the current situation to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson, an openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church (USA), which similarly led to the Church of 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.
The Primate expressed concern over what he described as the growing influence of revisionist theology in parts 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 stated.
Despite the split, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its support for conservative Anglicans in Wales through its affiliation with 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 announced plans to expand the Church of Nigeria’s global mission by registering new branches in countries including Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. “We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he said.
He also revealed that the Church had recently contributed \$2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was in the process of establishing a Nigerian GAFCON Endowment worth \$2.3 million to support conservative Anglican missions.
In his closing remarks, Primate Ndukuba charged the Church’s legal officers to remain vigilant in defending its values and constitutional framework. “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 urged, calling for internal reforms and support for a new national constitution in Nigeria.
Source : https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/
