Headlines
Conservative anglicans to pick rival leader, widening church rifts
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
Conservative GAFCON leaders are meeting in Abuja from March 3–6, 2026, aiming to elect a primus inter pares to rival the Archbishop of Canterbury and deepen the theological divide within the Anglican Communion.
Conservative Anglicans in Nigeria to Elect Rival Leader Amid Church Rifts
GAFCON's Challenge to Anglican Communion Leadership
By Ben Ezeamalu
Background and Context
LAGOS, March 3 (Reuters) - A grouping of conservative Anglican churches will meet in Nigeria this week to elect a leader to rival the Archbishop of Canterbury, an unprecedented step that is likely to deepen a widening theological split within the Anglican Communion.
The Role of GAFCON
The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) – which brings together conservative churches mainly in Africa and Asia – opposes liberal shifts in parts of the Communion, including the ordination of women and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ members.
Recent Protests and Developments
The group protested the Church of England’s appointment last October of its first woman Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally.
Leadership Election and Its Implications
In a statement, GAFCON said its Global Primates Council would elect a chairman, to be announced on Thursday, "to serve as primus inter pares (first among equals) to replace the role traditionally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury".
GAFCON, formed in 2008, says it now represents a majority of the world's practising Anglicans. The Communion is made up of 46 autonomous churches, with the Church of England historically regarded as the "mother church".
Perspectives from Nigerian Clergy
Francis Aduroja, a priest from southwest Nigeria, told Reuters he expected bishops meeting in Abuja "not to compromise the scripture" as they consider the future of global Anglican leadership.
"We want them to defend the faith of our fathers... to come back with words to encourage priests and parishioners that we are still upholding the gospel with no backing out and no compromise," he said.
GAFCON's Position within the Anglican Communion
GAFCON says it has not left the Anglican Communion but is asserting itself as its authentic orthodox core.
(Reporting by Ben EzeamaluEditing by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •GAFCON’s G26 gathering in Abuja is framed as a pivotal moment—the first official Global Anglican Communion assembly—as it seeks to replace Canterbury’s traditional leadership role with its own chairman as primus inter pares. (apnews.com)
- •GAFCON claims to represent up to 85% of the world’s practising Anglicans, especially strong in Africa and Asia, though academic studies suggest the true figure may be closer to 45%–55%. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •The move was triggered by the appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury and her support for liberal policies, intensifying existing fault lines over sexuality and scripture within the Communion. (thetimes.co.uk)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Conservative Anglicans to pick rival leader, widening Church rifts
1Why are conservative Anglicans electing a rival leader?
They oppose liberal shifts in the Anglican Communion, particularly regarding the ordination of women and LGBTQ+ inclusion, and seek alternative leadership.
2What is GAFCON and what role does it play?
GAFCON is a group of conservative Anglican churches, mainly from Africa and Asia, representing a majority of practicing Anglicans and challenging the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
3Does GAFCON intend to leave the Anglican Communion?
GAFCON states it has not left the Communion but is asserting itself as the authentic orthodox core.
4Where and when will GAFCON elect its new leader?
GAFCON will hold the election in Nigeria this week, with the chairman to be announced on Thursday.