The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly opposed the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
In a statement issued Monday and signed by Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, Archbishop, Metropolitan, and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the decision was described as “devastating” and misaligned with the pressing challenges facing the global Anglican Communion.
Sarah Mullally, 63, became the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday. She is the first woman to hold the position since the office’s establishment in the late sixth century, leading both the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican community.
She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned earlier this year amid an abuse scandal.
However, the Church of Nigeria criticized Mullally’s elevation as “double jeopardy,” highlighting her public support for same-sex marriage and the perceived disregard for many Anglicans who oppose female leadership within the episcopate.
The statement read:
“This appointment disregards the convictions of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate. More troubling is Bishop Mullally’s strong endorsement of same-sex marriage, as evidenced in her 2023 speech celebrating the approval of blessings for homosexual unions as a ‘moment of hope for the Church.’”
The Church of Nigeria expressed doubt about Mullally’s ability to heal the divisions caused by the contentious issue of same-sex marriage, which has fractured the Anglican Communion for over two decades.
The statement further noted:
“This election confirms the growing disconnection between the global Anglican community and the leadership of the Church of England, particularly the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
As a member of the GAFCON network, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to upholding scriptural authority, historic creeds, evangelism, and holy living in the face of what it terms a “revisionist agenda.”
The church encouraged its faithful within the Church of England to continue resisting same-sex marriage and other teachings they consider unbiblical, calling them to “contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
Sarah Mullally, a former nurse, acknowledged the “huge responsibility” of her new role last week, expressing a sense of “peace and trust in God to carry me.”
The Church of England counts approximately 20 million baptized members, though regular attendance is estimated at under one million as of 2022.
Mullally’s appointment followed a rigorous selection process overseen by a former MI5 head and was confirmed by King Charles III.
The Anglican Church was established as the state church after King Henry VIII’s split from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s.
Mullally was ordained a priest in 2002 and made history in 2018 as the first female Bishop of London.
The Church of England only began consecrating women bishops in 2014, following years of internal conflict.
