Abuja, Nigeria – The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has announced a definitive break in relations with the Church in Wales, following the latter's historic appointment of the Rt Revd Cherry Vann as the 15th Archbishop of Wales. The move is a significant escalation of a long-simmering theological and doctrinal dispute within the global Anglican Communion regarding the acceptance of same-sex relationships and the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy.

The decision was made public in a statement from the Church of Nigeria, one of the largest provinces in the Anglican Communion, which cited Archbishop Vann's identity as an openly lesbian cleric as the primary reason for the schism. The Nigerian church, known for its conservative stance on issues of sexuality and marriage, views the appointment as a direct violation of biblical teachings and traditional Anglican doctrine.

Archbishop Cherry Vann's election marks a pivotal moment for the Church in Wales, which has increasingly adopted a more inclusive posture. Originally from Leicestershire, Archbishop Vann has a distinguished career in the church. She was consecrated as Bishop of Monmouth in 2020 and has been a trailblazer for women in the clergy since her ordination as a deacon in 1989. She was among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994 and later served as Archdeacon of Rochdale for 11 years.

The Church of Nigeria's decision to sever ties is not an isolated event but rather the latest chapter in a wider ideological conflict that has been reshaping the Anglican Communion for decades. The Nigerian church has been a vocal leader of the Global South Anglican movement, a coalition of conservative provinces in Africa, Asia, and Latin America that have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the liberal theological trends of their counterparts in the West, particularly in North America and the United Kingdom.

This development follows previous instances of strained relations and broken communion within the global Anglican body. The Church of Nigeria, for example, has long been in a state of impaired communion with the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada over similar issues.

The Church in Wales, in its announcement of Archbishop Vann's election, celebrated her extensive experience and commitment to ministry. Supporters of the appointment argue that it reflects the church's commitment to inclusivity and its evolving understanding of Christian witness in the 21st century.

However, for the Church of Nigeria, the appointment represents a step too far. In its official statement, the Nigerian church reiterated its adherence to a traditional, complementarian view of marriage and sexuality, stating that it "cannot be in fellowship with a church that has abandoned the clear teaching of Holy Scripture."

The rift between these two provinces of the Anglican Communion highlights the deep and perhaps irreconcilable differences that continue to challenge the unity of the global church. The full implications of this latest schism for the future of the Anglican Communion remain to be seen, but it is clear that the divide between conservative and liberal provinces is widening, with profound consequences for the identity and mission of the church worldwide.