Divisions within the global Anglican Communion are intensifying as conservative clergy gather in Abuja, Nigeria, to select a rival spiritual head ahead of the installation of Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
Mullally is set to be formally installed at Canterbury Cathedral later this month. However, her appointment has sparked opposition among some conservative Anglicans, particularly within Nigeria and other parts of the Global South, who argue that only men should serve as bishops.
The conservative movement GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) plans to elect its own “first among equals,” a move critics warn could formalise a major split within the Church.
The dispute follows years of theological disagreements, including debates over same-sex blessings and women in senior leadership. While some Anglican provinces, including parts of Africa, have welcomed Mullally’s appointment, others see it as a departure from traditional doctrine.
Church leaders say the development could mark one of the most serious fractures in modern Anglican history, threatening unity across its 42 provinces and nearly 95 million members worldwide.
