The Church of Nigeria has threatened to break away from the Church of England after its General Synod voted to approve same-sex marriage, sparking a rift in the global Anglican Communion.
The Nigerian church, which is one of the largest in the communion, condemned the decision as a violation of biblical teaching and announced it would no longer recognize the authority of the Church of England if it proceeds with the move.
The Church of England’s General Synod voted narrowly in favor of same-sex marriage, with 95 votes for and 91 against in the House of Laity, and 99 votes for and 88 against in the House of Clergy.
The decision has been hailed as a victory by LGBTQ+ advocates but has sparked outrage among conservative Anglicans.
The Church of Nigeria’s Primate, Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, in a statement titled, ‘Church Of Nigeria Response To The Approval of The Living In Love And Faith Liturgy By The Church of England’, said the decision was a crucial and critical point in the life of the communion.
He warned that it would lead to a broken sacramental communion between the two churches.
Ndukuba said, “Should the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church of England proceed to give effect to the Approval of the Living in Love and Faith Liturgy and allow their Clergy to engage in same-sex marriage, the Church of England risks the danger of a Broken Sacramental Communion with the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and other Faithful Anglican Provinces.
“This move would mark a critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion, where the future of the Communion itself would be put in jeopardy, as we previously concluded that:
“If his Consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the Future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy.
“In light of this, we commend the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity who have opted to stand for the Scripture as the authority and guide of the Church in Doctrine, Worship, and Living. Their courage and conviction are a testament to the enduring power of Scripture.
“To support these faithful Anglicans, we shall continue to interact with them through various bodies, including GAFCON, GSFA, CEEC, the Alliance, and other organizations with similar vision, to keep alive the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
“Ultimately, the Church of Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to abide by the Truth, as stated in John 8:32, standing in solidarity with those courageous and faithful Anglicans who have challenged this evil during the debates and discussions at the Synod.
“Through this stance, we affirm our dedication to upholding the biblical teachings that have guided the Church for centuries, even in the face of adversity.”
The Nigerian church has been a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage and has previously threatened to break away from the communion over the issue. The latest move is seen as a significant escalation of the rift between conservative and liberal factions within the communion.
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