Church of Nigeria Cuts Ties With Church in Wales Over Appointment of Lesbian Archbishop

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has cut all ties with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly gay cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales.

The decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, during the opening session of the Church Conference of Chancellors, Registrars, and Legal Officers in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ndukuba condemned the appointment, calling it a “blatant departure from biblical truth” and part of what he described as a growing trend of doctrinal compromise among Western churches. “A few days ago, the media was awash with reports of revisionist actions in the Western Church… These individuals have not backed down from their agenda; in fact, they’ve intensified it,” he said.

He described Archbishop Vann’s elevation as “an abomination,” arguing that it contradicts the foundational teachings of the Anglican faith.

“She began her journey in ministry as an acolyte and rose through the ranks to deaconess and bishop. It was only after becoming a bishop that she publicly came out, and she has since continued to defend that position,” Ndukuba stated.

He added, “We firmly reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales. As we did after the consecration of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are now formally severing all ties and relations with the Church in Wales.”

The decision highlights the deepening rift between conservative Anglican churches in the Global South and more liberal branches in the West over issues of sexuality and doctrine.