The Church of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has formally severed ties with the Church in Wales following the election of openly confessed lesbian, Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, as its Archbishop.
Primate of the Church, Most Rev’d Dr. Henry Ndukuba, during his keynote address at the ongoing Anglican Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers Conference (ACRLOC), in Abuja, described the election of Archbishop Vann as a deviation from biblical orthodoxy and an abomination before God.
Ndukuba pointed out that the Church of Nigeria does not recognise Bishop Vann’s election, adding that a similar stance was taken when the Episcopal Church (USA) consecrated Gene Robinson, a gay bishop, in 2003.
The Primate emphasized that the Church of Nigeria is more resolute and committed to its stance against homosexuality and heretical teachings in the communion, adding that what they call wisdom and culture is an abomination before God.
He said, “A few days ago, the media went awash with the news of the action of the revisionists in the Western Church in the United Kingdom, specifically in the Church of Wales. These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it.
“The election of a lesbian woman does not originate as a mission. She was nurtured from an acolyte to a deaconess. It was only upon becoming a bishop that she came out openly and has persisted in defending her position.
We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”
“As the scripture says, evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God. 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.”
Ndukuba expressed the Church’s commitment to upholding traditional Christian doctrine and pledged to continue alignment with orthodox Anglican bodies such as GAFCON, as well as partners in Rwanda, Uganda, and other like-minded churches.
He stated that the Church of Nigeria will remain steadfast in its mission, evangelism, and discipleship agenda and will resist revisionist agendas within the global Anglican Communion.
“There is no turning back. We shall continue to focus on mission, evangelism, discipleship, and preparing the Church for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ndukuba urged the legal officers to uphold justice and doctrinal purity, likening their responsibilities to that of biblical watchmen.
He said, “You are to understand yourselves to be watchmen for the church. You defend the church against all forms of aggression.”
