Nigerian Anglican Church Opposes Appointment of Lesbian Archbishop in Wales

…Says move contradicts biblical doctrine, warns of deepening spiritual crisis

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has issued a stern rebuke against the recent appointment of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, a declared lesbian, as the new Archbishop of Wales. The Nigerian Anglican leadership labeled the development as a “major deviation from scriptural truth” and expressed grave concerns about the unity and doctrinal integrity of the global Anglican Church.

In a formal statement released by the Primate, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the Church described the election as a symbol of “spiritual corruption” and a departure from “the faith handed down to the saints.”

This strong stance further highlights the widening rift within the Anglican Communion regarding theological beliefs, authority of scripture, and matters related to human sexuality.

Archbishop Ndukuba cautioned that the appointment of Bishop Vann threatens the credibility and missionary effectiveness of the Anglican Church across the world. He drew a comparison to the earlier tenure of Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, the former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. (2006–2015), who also drew sharp criticism from conservative circles due to her progressive stances.

According to Ndukuba, Bishop Vann is now an active participant in the “crisis of doctrine” plaguing the Anglican Church regarding same-sex relationships. He cited 2 Timothy 4:3–4 to support his warning, saying the development reveals that “many self-identified Christians can no longer endure sound teachings.”

He emphasized that if the Church in Wales fails to repent and realign itself with biblical truth, it faces the risk of becoming spiritually irrelevant.

The statement urged believers across the Anglican world to dissociate from what the Nigerian Church referred to as “apostates and spiritual rebels” and to stand firm with conservative Anglican groups such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which uphold traditional scriptural authority.

“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) categorically rejects and refuses to acknowledge the appointment of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” Ndukuba asserted.

He concluded by reaffirming faith in the authority of Christ over His Church: “We believe our Lord Jesus Christ will build His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We must keep these erring churches in our prayers, reminding them that genuine repentance and holiness are the only hope. Without this, the Church in Wales will lose all spiritual relevance, and compromised leaders will not escape divine judgment.”