Mullally, 63, who was confirmed Oct. 3 as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, is the first woman ever to hold the post. Formerly the Bishop of London and before that Chief Nursing Officer for England, she now succeeds Archbishop Justin Welby as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, which represents some 85 million members worldwide.
“The election is a double jeopardy,” Ndukuba said. “First, it disregards the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate; and second, it is more disturbing that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.”
“It remains to be seen how the same person hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion by the contentious same-sex marriage, which has caused enormous crisis across the Communion for over two decades,” the Church of Nigeria statement said.
The statement continued: “This election is a further confirmation that the global Anglican world could no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England and that of the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
The Church of Nigeria Breaks from Canterbury: A Bold Stand for God’s Word
— The Canberra Declaration (@TheCanDec) October 9, 2025
The Church of Nigeria, the largest Anglican province in the world, has officially declared spiritual independence from the Church of England. This historic move comes after the appointment of Bishop Sarah… pic.twitter.com/aYfgWubXpI