Conservative Anglicans meeting in Nigeria this week denied they are causing a schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Global Anglican Future Conference, known as GAFCON, instead claims it seeks continuity through Biblical authority. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria gathering brings together churches mainly from Africa and Asia that oppose liberal shifts in parts of the Communion. These shifts include the ordination of women and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ members. The three-day meeting in Abuja began Wednesday.
GAFCON spokesman Justin Murff told reporters the grouping wants to “reorganise and realign” the Communion around Biblical authority. “This is not a schism. It is actually a claim to continuity,” Murff said. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria meeting follows last year’s appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury. She now serves as the titular head of 85 million Anglicans across 165 countries. That decision particularly upset GAFCON members, who plan to elect a rival leader this week.
Demographic Shifts Underlie Tensions
GAFCON formed in 2008 and now represents the majority of practising Anglicans worldwide, according to the group. Murff emphasized this demographic reality during the conservative Anglicans Nigeria conference. “Logically, it doesn’t make sense that 20 people in the UK with very little input from the Global South could actually decide who the global leader of the Anglican Church is,” he said. Most practising members now live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The Church of England emerged nearly 500 years ago when King Henry VIII broke from Rome. For centuries, the Archbishop of Canterbury served as titular head based on the British Empire’s missionary reach to former colonies. That authority has faced increasing strain in recent decades. Splits over women’s ordination and same-sex rights have pushed the Communion toward breaking point. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria meeting highlights growing tensions between England’s progressive church and traditional churches in Africa and Asia.
Authority and Communion Questions
Murff argued that churches authorizing same-sex blessings or expanded marriage rights have “broken communion.” He insisted those defending traditional doctrine maintain continuity with historic Anglicanism. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria gathering will address how to move forward amid these disputes. Participants plan to discuss reorganizing the Communion’s leadership structure to better reflect Global South perspectives.
The meeting comes at a critical moment for worldwide Anglicanism. Demographic shifts have transformed the Communion’s center of gravity. African and Asian churches now account for the largest share of practising members. Yet leadership structures still reflect historical patterns dating to the colonial era. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria conference seeks to address this disconnect.
Global South Leadership Emerges
The conservative Anglicans Nigeria meeting reflects broader shifts in global Christianity. The center of Christian population has moved southward over recent decades. African and Asian churches now drive growth while European and North American denominations decline. This demographic transformation has profound implications for church governance and authority.
GAFCON’s expansion demonstrates these changing dynamics. The fellowship now claims to represent the majority of practising Anglicans worldwide. Its leaders argue that Global South perspectives should carry greater weight in Communion decisions. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria gathering provides a platform for advancing this vision. Participants will discuss how to restructure relationships among provinces while maintaining Anglican identity.
Historical Context
Anglicanism spread through British colonialism and missionary activity. Local churches established in Africa, Asia, and Latin America maintained ties to Canterbury. These relationships persisted after former colonies gained independence. For decades, the Archbishop of Canterbury served as a unifying figure across diverse cultural contexts.
The ordination of women created the first major cracks in this unity. Some provinces embraced women’s ordination while others rejected it. Same-sex blessings and marriage equality produced even deeper divisions. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria meeting represents the latest chapter in these ongoing debates. GAFCON emerged specifically to provide fellowship for provinces maintaining traditional positions.
Future Implications
The outcome of this week’s meeting could reshape global Anglicanism. If GAFCON proceeds with electing a rival to Archbishop Mullally, the Communion may face unprecedented structural change. Murff’s emphasis on continuity rather than schism suggests the group wants to remain within Anglican structures while challenging current leadership.
How Canterbury and other progressive provinces respond remains unclear. Previous efforts to maintain unity through “walking together” despite differences have proven difficult. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria gathering may force clarity about whether such coexistence remains possible. For millions of Anglicans worldwide, these decisions carry profound spiritual and institutional significance.
The three-day meeting continues through Friday. Participants will issue statements outlining their vision for Anglicanism’s future. They may also announce specific actions regarding leadership and relationships with Canterbury. The conservative Anglicans Nigeria conference thus represents a pivotal moment for one of Christianity’s largest communions. Its outcomes will reverberate across the global church for years to come.
