️ Conservative Anglicans meeting in Nigeria's capital Abuja have pulled back from plans to elect a rival with the title "primus inter pares"—a Latin term meaning "first among equals" that describes the Archbishop of Canterbury's position within the worldwide church. This move could have been seen as an open challenge to the leadership of Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, just weeks before she formally begins her role.

️ Instead, the group, known as Gafcon, announced it is leaving behind old structures and titles and is unveiling a new leadership council headed by Rwanda's Archbishop Laurent Mbanda. Reporters reacted with puzzlement to the appointments, with some suggesting it still amounts to an act of defiance. When asked repeatedly whether Gafcon members recognize the supreme authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, spokesman Venerable Canon Justin Murff stated, "The Global Anglican Council recognises Archbishop Laurent Mbanda as its leader."

️ Canon Murff also said Archbishop Mullally had "repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality" due to her support for same-sex unions, a position Gafcon views as "contrary to Holy Scripture." He added that regarding female leadership, "the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopalism." Gafcon claims to speak for the majority of the Global South, though this is contested, and two-thirds of the world's Anglicans are in Africa, where opinions are not monolithic.

️ A spokesperson for the Anglican Communion Office in London expressed disappointment that Gafcon had bypassed "the formal and encouraging years-long process of global consultation and discernment about Anglican identity, structures and leadership." The Anglican Communion will discuss proposals on how to address their differences at a conference in Belfast in June, but Gafcon will not attend, as it no longer recognizes the body.

️ While Gafcon did not elect a leader to replace the role traditionally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury, this still represents a parallel leadership structure and a deepening of the rift with the Church of England. This move culminates decades of divisions over theological differences on issues such as LGBTQ clergy and same-sex blessings, which led to Gafcon's break with previous Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

️ The group, formed in 2008, accuses the Church of England of abandoning biblical teachings in favor of modern culture and imposing its views globally. In contrast, others argue the church has not done enough to reflect contemporary times. The future relationship between Gafcon and the Church of England remains unclear, highlighting ongoing tensions within the global Anglican community of approximately 95 million members.

Source: www.bbc.com