The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has formally severed ties with the Church in Wales following the election of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales.
In a strongly worded statement dated August 3 and signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church described the development as a fundamental breach of biblical teachings on sexuality and church leadership.
“We do not recognise the so-called Archbishop of Wales and cannot share communion with a church that has departed from the teachings of the Bible,” the statement read.
Bishop Vann’s elevation, the Church stated, represents not only a deviation from scriptural doctrine but also a challenge to the traditional Anglican understanding of moral leadership.
“The election of a practising lesbian as an archbishop is not only a departure from the faith once delivered to the saints, but a defiance of God’s order,” Ndukuba declared.
As a consequence, the Church of Nigeria has placed the Church in Wales in what it described as “a state of impaired communion.”
This designation prohibits official fellowship, joint worship, and ministry collaboration between the two churches.
“In line with our commitment to the authority of Scripture and the historic Christian faith, we declare a state of impaired communion with the Church in Wales,” the statement said.
The Church of Nigeria compared the move to its earlier decisions to cut ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada over similar theological disagreements.
“The Church in Wales has chosen to walk in the path of spiritual ruin,” Primate Ndukuba said, warning that such choices “undermine the witness and mission of the Church.”
He reaffirmed the Church of Nigeria’s allegiance to GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) and its continued partnership with other orthodox Anglican provinces worldwide.
“We stand firm in our call to uphold biblical faith, and we will not compromise with churches that embrace unbiblical innovations,” he added.
The statement concluded by advising clergy and lay members to refrain from engaging in any form of liturgical or ministry cooperation with the Church in Wales or its representatives.