Global Anglicans Defy Canterbury, Form New Leadership Council
6th March 2026
A gathering of conservative Anglican leaders in Nigeria has taken another step toward reorganising the global church—although it stopped short of directly replacing the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Meeting in Abuja this week, the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) abandoned earlier expectations that it would appoint a rival “first among equals” to challenge Canterbury’s traditional role as symbolic head of the worldwide communion.
Instead, the movement announced the creation of a new governing body, the Global Anglican Council, chaired by Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.
The move is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute within the Anglican world. For many conservative Anglicans, the dispute began with the Church of England’s progressive turn on issues such as same-sex blessings and the ordination of women. Tensions intensified further with the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury—the first woman to hold the post and a vocal supporter of same-sex blessings.
Leaders within GAFCON say Canterbury has abandoned biblical teaching and can no longer claim spiritual authority over the global communion.
Tru dat.