By Ignatius Ssuuna
Kigali, Rwanda — Conservative Anglicans meeting in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Thursday, March 5, established what will be known as the Global Anglican Council, a direct challenge to the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. The move comes as deepening rifts over same-sex unions and theological matters continue to divide the worldwide Anglican Church.
The group, known as Gafcon (Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans), said it will now recognize a new leadership council headed by Rwanda’s Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, rather than the Archbishop of Canterbury, whom they accuse of supporting same-sex marriage — a departure from what they consider true biblical teaching.
Currently, there are an estimated 95 million Anglicans worldwide, with the Archbishop of Canterbury traditionally serving as their spiritual figurehead.
The appointment of Mullally last year provoked divided opinion, particularly among conservative Christians in Africa and Asia, many of whom believe that only men should be consecrated as bishops. Archbishop Mullally is scheduled to be formally installed in Canterbury later in March 2026.
Conservative opposition and doctrinal concerns
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Gafcon has consistently opposed LGBTQ+ inclusion within the church, demanding “repentance” by liberal congregations that have adopted inclusive policies. Mbanda told Amjambo Africa that support for same-sex marriage violates biblical teachings.
“The Bible teaches us that it should be man and wife; anything else is a sin,” Archbishop Mbanda said. He emphasized that Gafcon’s concerns are doctrinal, not related to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s gender.
Mullally inherits a church grappling with multiple challenges, including declining attendance, internal conflicts between conservative and liberal factions, racism, and disagreements over same-sex marriage. Widely viewed as a theological liberal, she is expected to play a global role in guiding and uniting Anglicans.
“Addressing theological divisions and issues around blessing same-sex marriages and the ordination of women will be a daunting task for the 63-year-old,” Gafcon members noted.
Mullally’s leadership and vision
Mullally was ordained a priest in 2006 and became the first female Bishop of London in 2018, making her the third most senior member of clergy in the Church of England. She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 over mishandling a child abuse scandal within the church.
In her acceptance speech, Mullally described herself as a “person of hope” and vowed to work with bishops, priests, and congregations across the Anglican community to foster unity. She has received warm messages of support from many quarters of the worldwide Anglican Church.
Gafcon’s stance and global outreach
“We want to reorder the Anglican communion along the scriptures and right doctrine,” said Archbishop Mbanda.
Gafcon members said they will not participate in meetings called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, nor will they contribute to or receive funds from the traditional Anglican Communion or its networks.
Founded in 2008, Gafcon arose in response to theological differences within the Anglican Church, particularly concerning same-sex unions. The organization claims to represent the largest segment of the global Anglican network, though this figure is not independently verified.
Over 1,300 bishops, clergy, and laypeople attended a 2023 Gafcon conference in Kigali, Rwanda. In October 2025, Gafcon declared itself the Global Anglican Communion, establishing a new structure based on biblical authority and effectively separating from traditional Anglican instruments, including the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Mbanda concluded, “Gafcon can no longer walk with churches that have abandoned the inerrant word of God as the final authority.”
