(MENAFN) The Anglican Church of Nigeria has officially denounced the appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, calling it incompatible with biblical teachings and Anglican tradition.

Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, condemned Mullally’s election as “a double jeopardy” — criticizing both the imposition of female leadership on churches that reject it and her perceived support for same-sex marriage.

In a statement shared on social media Monday, Ndukuba questioned how Mullally “hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion” amid ongoing divisions over same-sex relationships. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment, as part of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON), to uphold “the authority of the Scriptures” and reject what he described as “the revisionist agenda” within certain branches of the Communion.

“This election is a further confirmation that the global Anglican world could no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England and that of the Archbishop of Canterbury,” he said.
GAFCON also voiced its “sorrow” at Mullally’s appointment, claiming that the Church of England had “abandoned global Anglicans” and forfeited its moral authority. The Church of England has not yet issued a response to the Nigerian statement.

Mullally, aged 63, was appointed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury after her nomination received approval from King Charles III. She is expected to formally assume the role in January following final confirmation by Church of England authorities, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

In much of sub-Saharan Africa, Anglican and other Christian denominations retain conservative views on gender and sexuality. The Church of Nigeria, one of the world’s largest Anglican provinces, defines marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman and does not ordain women as priests or bishops.

Similar positions are upheld across most of East and West Africa. In Kenya, for example, Bishop Rose Okeno’s consecration was seen as a milestone for women’s leadership, yet female bishops remain rare, and same-sex unions are rejected. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa remains an exception, allowing women bishops but continuing to affirm traditional teachings on marriage.

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