The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly opposed the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullaly as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, describing the development as a major setback for the global Anglican family.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, said Mullaly’s elevation to the highest office in the Anglican Communion represents a “double jeopardy” for the faith, citing her gender and her progressive stance on same-sex marriage as key points of contention.
“This appointment confirms that the Anglican world can no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England and that of the Archbishop of Canterbury,” Ndukuba declared. “It is a double jeopardy—first, because it disregards the convictions of the overwhelming majority of Anglicans who do not support female leadership in the episcopate.”
The Nigerian primate expressed concern that Mullaly’s well-known support for same-sex marriage deepens divisions within the Communion. He referenced her remarks after the Church of England voted in 2023 to bless same-sex unions, when she described the decision as “a moment of hope for the Church.”
“It remains to be seen how the same person who celebrated that decision intends to repair the already fragile unity of the Communion,” Ndukuba said, noting that debates over sexuality have plagued the Anglican family for more than two decades.
He further called on Anglicans worldwide to stand against what he described as “ungodly teachings,” urging believers in England and beyond to remain steadfast in defending biblical principles.
“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters who have consistently rejected this aberration to continue contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,” he added, quoting Jude 1:3.
Reaffirming the Church of Nigeria’s alignment with the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), Ndukuba restated the church’s commitment to the authority of Scripture, historic creeds, evangelism, and holy living.
Sarah Mullaly, 63, who has served as the Bishop of London since 2018, was announced on Friday as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury following the abrupt resignation of Justin Welby last November. A former cancer nurse and an outspoken advocate for women’s leadership in the church, Mullaly will be the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion’s estimated 85 million members worldwide.