Nigeria’s Anglican Church Criticizes Church of Wales Over Election of Openly Gay Archbishop

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The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has voiced strong disapproval following the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as the new Archbishop of Wales, seeing it as a clear sign that the Church in Wales is veering away from core Christian teachings and abandoning Anglican tradition.

On July 30, 2025, Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann was chosen to lead as the 15th Archbishop of Wales, securing a two-thirds majority vote during the Church’s Electoral College meeting held at St Pierre Church and Hotel in Chepstow. She takes over from Bishop Andrew John, who retired earlier this year.

The Nigerian Anglican Church has sharply criticized her appointment, particularly because of Vann’s openly gay lifestyle and civil partnership with Wendy Diamond. They argue this stance clashes with biblical principles and undermines Scriptural authority.

In a statement issued by Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Vann’s election was rejected and described as a continuation of troubling trends within some parts of the global Anglican community. The statement drew parallels with previous leadership like Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, under whose tenure many faithful Anglicans in the U.S. reportedly faced persecution.

Ndukuba expressed deep sorrow over this development, warning that it signals a wider denial of sound Christian doctrine by certain Anglican provinces, accusing them of putting forward “a postmodern agenda with no divine support.” According to him, such shifts threaten both the spiritual well-being of believers and the worldwide credibility of the Anglican Church in its mission and evangelism efforts.

He emphasized that with Bishop Vann’s election, the biblical values and distinctive identity of Anglicans worldwide are at serious risk. The Nigerian Primate urged fellow Anglicans to resist what he termed “theological rebellion” and instead affiliate with groups that uphold traditional biblical teachings, such as GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference).

The statement concluded with a call for prayers for the Church of Wales and a hope that the Church of England does not follow a similar path. Ndukuba asserted that true hope rests in repentance and godliness, warning that failure to uphold these will render the Church irrelevant in God’s plan for the Welsh people, with compromised leaders facing judgment in due time.