Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has totally condemned the recent election of an openly confessed lesbian cleric, Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as new Archbishop of Wales.
NATIONAL POST reports that Rt. Rev. Wales is an openly confessed lesbian, and has now emerged the head of the Communion in Wales.
However, the Church Nigeria, a key member of the Global Anglican Future Conference, GAFCON, has risen in express rejection of her election.
The Church stated that the development is a “serious departure from the biblical teaching” and a threat to the unity of the global Anglican Communion.
While condemning Vann's election in a statement issued by its Primate, the Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the Church cited "2Timothy 4:3–4".
“The election of Bishop Vann is a clear revelation that many who claim to be members of the body of Christ can't endure sound doctrine".
It accused Bishop Vann of being complicit in ongoing same-sex marriage crisis in the Anglican Church.
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will not recognize the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales.
"We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ will build His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," it declared.
Archbishop Vann narrated how she had struggled for years having to live with the secret of being a lesbian.
She told UK Guardian that a strong belief that God called her into the ministry kept her going.
Vann is one of the first set of ordained female priests in England. She was ordained in 1994 and has now risen to the position of Archbishop.
There has been a sharp division among the various Communions in the Anglican Church over the same-sex marriage controversy, leading to the formation of the GAFCON, made up of those against what is considered un-scriptural.