The leader of Nigeria’s Anglican Church has expressed concerns regarding the recent appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the first female archbishop of Canterbury, which makes her a significant figure in the global Anglican Communion.
Mullally, a 63-year-old former nurse, received this distinction last week, an event that may further polarize more conservative churches in Asia and Africa from Canterbury. This follow-up comes nearly a year after former Archbishop Justin Welby faced scrutiny for not reporting instances of sexual abuse at summer camps.
Critics of Mullally argue that she isn’t sufficiently distanced from Welby’s controversies, and they voice concerns about her politics and the traditionalist resistance to a female archbishop. Having served as a priest in the Church of England for about three decades, she was part of the church when female bishops were still a contentious issue in the 1990s, and she has had some level of agreement with the previous Archbishop of Canterbury on various matters.
The Anglican Church of Nigeria swiftly condemned her appointment, labeling it “catastrophic” and stating that it doesn’t align with the beliefs of many Anglican churches that are resistant to female leadership. The criticism highlights that Mullally is known to support same-sex marriage, which was evident in her speech earlier this year expressing hope for the church following a vote to bless same-sex couples.
The statement issued reflects, “It is hard to believe that the same individual has created such a significant crisis within the Church of England for over two decades, unravelling the fabric of the Anglican communion.”
Furthermore, it was declared that this election signifies the inability of the global Anglican community to continue accepting the leadership from the Church of England and its Archbishop.
Archbishop Ndukba remarked that the Nigerian Church holds firm to its belief that “our Lord Jesus Christ will build his church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it,” emphasizing the importance of biblical teachings, historical customs, and the sanctity of Christian life amidst what they see as a revisionist agenda.
In conclusion, the Church of Nigeria urged “all faithful believers in the Church of England who have consistently opposed the anomalies of same-sex marriage and other controversial teachings” to remain steadfast in their convictions.
