The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly condemned the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales, describing the move as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a threat to the unity and doctrinal integrity of the global Anglican Communion.
In a statement signed by its Primate, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the Nigerian Church said the decision reflects “spiritual decadence” and marks “an outright abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints.”
“The recent election of Bishop Vann is a clear revelation that many who claim to be members of the body of Christ cannot endure sound doctrine,” Ndukuba said, citing 2 Timothy 4:3–4. He warned that the development could severely undermine the credibility and mission of the Anglican Church, not just in Wales but across the entire Communion.
Archbishop Ndukuba compared the situation to the tenure of the 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 views.
He further accused Bishop Vann of being complicit in the “ongoing crisis” surrounding same-sex issues in the Anglican Church and warned that unless the Church in Wales returns to what he termed “biblical teachings,” it risks becoming spiritually irrelevant.
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) condemns, unequivocally rejects, and will not recognize the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” the statement read.
Ndukuba also called on Anglicans worldwide to stand firm with orthodox bodies such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which upholds traditional interpretations of scripture. He labeled proponents of same-sex clergy within the Church as “rebels” and “apostates.”
“We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ will build His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We should hold them in our prayers with a clear message that hope lies only in true repentance and godliness,” the Primate stated. “Otherwise, this Church will lose complete relevance in the divine scheme for the people of Wales, and the leaders in compromise shall not be spared in the time of judgment.”
The Church of Nigeria remains one of the largest and most vocal conservative provinces within the global Anglican Communion.