A coalition of conservative Anglican churches from Africa and Asia has established a new leadership council to challenge the Canterbury.
The move comes as the Church of England prepares to install its first female Archbishop of Canterbury. In a statement, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) announced that it is creating the Global Anglican Council, which will include bishops, clergy, and lay members- all with voting privileges.
“In a world where most organizations and individuals are concerned about keeping power and authority, the Gafcon Primates Council has made an unprecedented decision to share its stewardship of the Global Anglican Communion by creating the Global Anglican Council which includes primates, advisors, and guarantors, which will include bishops, clergy, and lay members each with full voting privileges,” read the statement
GAFCON, which consists of conservative churches, mainly from Africa and Asia, opposes the shifts in parts of the Communion, including the ordination of women and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ members.
GAFCON Meeting in Nigeria
On March 5, 2026, GAFCON convened in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss what it describes as a realigned future for Anglicanism.
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GAFCON earlier opposed the decision by the Church of England to appoint the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, in October 2025.
In a statement, GAFCON announced that its Global Primates Council would elect a chairman, to be announced on Thursday, to serve as primus inter pares (first among equals), replacing the role traditionally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
At the conference in Nigeria, delegates from conservative Anglican provinces announced the creation of a Global Anglican Council, a leadership body they say will better reflect the views of the majority of Anglicans worldwide.
The council includes bishops, clergy, and lay members, each with voting privileges, and is chaired by Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.
However, GAFCON said Mbanda would not be “primus inter pares” (first among equals) in the traditional sense but would share authority within the council structure.
Bishop Paul Donison, secretary‑general of the new council, said the formation of the body was driven by a belief that the current instruments of communion, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, “no longer meet the needs of the majority of Anglicans around the world”.
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Implications and Rival Leadership in Anglican Church
The rival leadership structure emerged in the context of enduring disputes over theological and social issues that have strained the unity of the Anglican Communion.
Conservative leaders within GAFCON strongly oppose the ordination of women to senior roles, particularly the appointment of women as bishops and the recent selection of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
GAFCON also rejects progressive attitudes towards LGBTQ+ inclusion, stating that such developments depart from what it regards as the biblical teaching that should guide the church.
These stances contrast with more liberal provinces, especially in parts of the Western Anglican tradition, that have embraced inclusion of reforms on sexuality and gender roles.
Growing Rift in the Anglican Communion
The new development follows GAFCON’s announcement of plans for a Global Bishops’ Assembly (G26), scheduled for March 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, to strengthen orthodox Anglican unity.
The group reaffirmed its 2023 Kigali Commitment, which declared that the Archbishop of Canterbury could no longer be recognized as an “Instrument of Communion.”
The controversy surrounding Bishop Mullally’s appointment has reignited long-standing tensions between liberal and conservative Anglican provinces, particularly over issues of marriage and sexuality.
“The leadership of the Anglican Communion will pass to those who uphold the truth of the gospel and the authority of Scripture in all areas of life,” stated GAFCON.
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