A significant crisis in the Anglican Church worldwide has escalated as conservative leaders declared the establishment of the Global Anglican Council in Abuja, thereby superseding the GAFCON Primates Council.
This decision was unveiled during the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), taking place from March 3 to 6, which saw participation from over 500 church leaders, including 347 archbishops and 121 lay as well as clerical leaders from 27 nations.
The conference, bearing the theme “Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve…”, facilitated discussions among Anglican leaders who align with the church's conservative faction.
Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda, the Anglican Archbishop of Rwanda and now Chairman of the Global Anglican Council, made the announcement while presenting a six- page document titled “The Abuja Affirmation.”
He indicated that conservative Anglican officials had advocated for a return to traditional doctrines that have been challenged for over 20 years within the Anglican Communion.
Mbanda noted that recent actions by traditional Anglican leadership have compromised fundamental Anglican beliefs and biblical foundations.
“Reforming the Anglican Communion is essential now because many provinces claiming Anglicanism have strayed from Scriptural authority and not followed Christ as they should,” he stated.
He emphasized that disputes regarding topics such as human sexuality illustrate deeper theological conflicts within the church.
According to him, established leadership structures typically associated with the Anglican Communion—such as the Archbishop of Canterbury and various councils—have failed to uphold doctrinal integrity and biblical teachings.
Consequently, conservative Anglican leaders are rejecting what they refer to as the “Instruments of Communion,” accusing them of undermining scriptural authority and embracing varied interpretations of doctrine.
He criticized recent Archbishops of Canterbury for allegedly permitting or endorsing changes within the Church of England regarding the blessing of same- sex unions.
In his view, these actions directly contradict the Anglican Communion’s traditional stance as outlined in Resolution I.10 from the Lambeth Conference of 1998, which declared that homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture.
Despite this established position, opposing views have steadily gained traction in various Anglican provinces.
He also expressed discontent with the discussions held during the 2022 Lambeth Conference, where divergent views were framed as acceptable within fellowship.
With the new structure set up during the Abuja meeting, the GAFCON Primates Council will be replaced by the Global Anglican Council, which is intended to serve as the main leadership body for conservative Anglican churches associated with this movement.
Mbanda called for leaders within the Global Anglican Communion to distance themselves from traditional Anglican establishments, including abstaining from participation in future Primates’ Meetings, Lambeth Conferences, and Anglican Consultative Council gatherings.
He highlighted that the creation of this new council reflects the urgent necessity to maintain doctrinal integrity within the church.
This development signifies a notable escalation in the prolonged tensions surrounding theology, authority, and the church's future direction within the global Anglican community.
Observers suggest that this action may further alter relationships among Anglican provinces as existing divides deepen.
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