The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly rejected the recent election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, was appointed as the new Archbishop of Wales.

In a statement issued by church leadership, the Nigerian Anglican body described the move as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a threat to the unity of the global Anglican family.

The statement emphasized the Church of Nigeria’s commitment to upholding what it describes as traditional Christian values and scriptural authority, particularly concerning issues of sexuality and leadership in the church.

“This development is not just a deviation from scripture but also undermines the unity and shared beliefs that have held the global Anglican Communion together,” the statement read.

Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, who is known for her progressive stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion, has previously served as Bishop of Monmouth and is now set to assume leadership of the Church in Wales — a move welcomed by many within that national church but viewed as controversial in more conservative regions, particularly in Africa.

The Church of Nigeria has been vocal in its opposition to the liberal theological shifts occurring in parts of the Anglican Communion, especially regarding same-sex unions and LGBTQ+ clergy. It has, in the past, distanced itself from global Anglican bodies that embrace such changes.

As debates over doctrine and inclusion continue to stir divisions within the worldwide Anglican community, this latest development adds to the ongoing tension between the more progressive churches in the West and the conservative blocs in Africa and other regions.