Church of Nigeria Rejects Election of Lesbian Archbishop of Wales

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has firmly rejected the recent election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales. In a strongly worded statement signed by its Primate, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the Nigerian Church described the appointment as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a grave threat to the unity of the global Anglican Communion.

Condemning the election as evidence of “spiritual decadence” and “an outright abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints,” Archbishop Ndukuba warned that such developments risk undermining the credibility and mission of the Church—not only in Wales but across the worldwide Anglican body. Quoting from 2 Timothy 4:3–4, he said the situation reflects a time “when many who claim to be members of the body of Christ cannot endure sound doctrine.”

Ndukuba drew parallels with the leadership of Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, who led the Episcopal Church in the United States from 2006 to 2015 and faced similar criticism from conservative Anglicans for her progressive theology. He argued that Bishop Vann’s elevation further deepens the crisis surrounding same-sex issues within Anglicanism and warned that unless the Church in Wales returns to what he called “biblical teachings,” it risks losing its spiritual relevance.

The Church of Nigeria stated it will not recognize Vann’s appointment and called on Anglicans worldwide to stand firm in defending traditional Christian doctrine. Ndukuba encouraged alignment with conservative Anglican movements such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), known for upholding traditional scriptural positions.

In his concluding remarks, Ndukuba affirmed the Church’s commitment to prayer while urging repentance among those he described as straying from the gospel. “We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ will build His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” he said. “Hope lies only in true repentance and godliness. Otherwise, this Church will lose complete relevance in the divine scheme for the people of Wales.”