Conservative Anglicans pick rival leaders to Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally
A new council has been formed by a group of conservative Anglicans in Nigeria, directly challenging the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury and aiming to lead the Global Anglican Communion.
The newly created body is called the Global Anglican Council and was announced on Thursday.
This board will consist of bishops, clergy, and lay members, all of whom will have the privilege of voting.
Rwandan archbishop Laurent Mbanda was unanimously elected president of the council, but it was emphasized that he would not serve as “primus inter pares” (primus inter pares) but would instead share power.
The group has previously said the president “will replace the role traditionally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury”.
Speaking at the conference, Bishop Paul Donison said: “Convinced that current means of communion no longer meet the needs of the majority of Anglicans worldwide, the global Anglican Communion will be governed by a conciliatory structure.”
He added: “I am also pleased to announce that Archbishop Laurent Mbanda has been unanimously elected as president of the Global Anglican Council.”
The initiative stems from the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which unites conservative churches primarily in Africa and Asia.
The group now claims to represent the majority of Anglicans worldwide.
GAFCON strongly opposes liberal changes in parts of the Eucharist, including the communion of women and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ members.
Last October the group was particularly critical of the Church of England’s appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
