The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly condemned the election of the Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales, describing it as a departure from biblical principles and an endorsement of unbiblical practices.
Vann, 66, was elected on July 30, 2025, becoming the first woman and openly lesbian cleric to lead the Church in Wales. She has served as Bishop of Monmouth since 2020 and was among the first women ordained in the Church of England in 1994. Her civil partnership with Wendy Diamond has sparked controversy among conservative Anglican communities worldwide.
In a statement, Archbishop Henry C. Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, declared that the Nigerian church would not recognise Vann’s election, citing scriptural opposition to same-sex unions. Quoting 2 Timothy 4:3–4, Ndukuba described the decision as “a rejection of sound doctrine in favour of a postmodern agenda,” comparing it to past disputes in the Anglican Communion, including the consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003 and the leadership of former U.S. Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori.
While liberal Anglicans have hailed Vann’s election as a historic step for gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion, conservative Anglican networks such as GAFCON and the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches have denounced the move, warning that it undermines the credibility of the church’s mission.
The Church in Wales permits clergy to enter same-sex civil partnerships but not marriages—a stance that remains a source of contention. Vann’s election follows the resignation of Archbishop Andrew John earlier this year over governance concerns.
As preparations for her enthronement continue, the Anglican Communion faces renewed divisions over the interpretation of scripture and the place of LGBTQ+ clergy in church leadership.
