The Anglican Communion faces a historic realignment as conservative leaders worldwide formally announce the creation of the Global Anglican Communion, marking a clear departure from the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the UK-based “Instruments of Communion.”
The move, announced at the conclusion of the Global Anglican Council meeting in Abuja from March 3–6, crystallises long-standing tensions within the Communion over doctrinal issues, particularly same-sex relationships and the ordination of women. It reflects a broader effort by churches across Africa, Asia, and South America to reclaim what they describe as the original theological and organisational foundations of Anglicanism.
The council, comprising 347 bishops and 121 lay and clerical leaders from 27 provinces, declared itself a confessional body independent of Canterbury’s institutional structures. Under the leadership of newly elected Chair Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, the council criticised the Church of England’s leadership for “cultural capitulation” and the normalisation of teachings it views as inconsistent with Scripture.
The statement specifically questioned the moral and spiritual authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, asserting that the Lambeth Conference and other instruments of communion can no longer serve as global spiritual anchors.
Analysts suggest this move signals a formalisation of trends that have been developing for decades. The Global Anglican Council’s resolutions prohibit its leaders from attending future UK-led Primates’ Meetings, the Lambeth Conference, or the Anglican Consultative Council, and direct member provinces to cease financial contributions to these institutions. Provinces are also encouraged to amend constitutions to remove references to communion with Canterbury, further entrenching the separation.
Significantly, the council affirmed the Jerusalem Declaration as the sole confession of faith required for membership, effectively redefining Anglican identity along confessional rather than institutional lines. The newly constituted Global Anglican Council replaces the Gafcon Primates Council as the central authority overseeing theological integrity and the recognition of new provinces. Archbishop Mbanda chairs the executive team, supported by Deputy Chair Archbishop Miguel Uchôa and General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison.
Despite the pronounced break with historic structures, the council positioned itself not as a “breakaway” faction but as a “historic Anglican Communion reordered from within,” appealing to faithful Anglicans worldwide to prioritise doctrinal truth over institutional unity.
The Church of Nigeria, under Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, has already formally severed ties with the Church of England, framing the UK leadership’s direction as “insensitive and devastating” to orthodox faith. This move underscores the widening geographical and theological fault lines within global Anglicanism, raising questions about the future cohesion of a Communion historically defined by its interconnected provincial structures.