Gafcon Bypasses Canterbury Rivalry, Elevates Mbanda as Global Anglican Leader
Conservative Anglicans in Abuja pulled back from electing a rival primus inter pares to the Archbishop of Canterbury and instead unveiled a new leadership council led by Rwanda’s Laurent Mbanda, while affirming Sarah Mullally as Canterbury. They frame their stance as doctrinal, not about gender or sexuality, criticizing Mullally’s support for same-sex unions. The move widens the split with the Church of England and creates a parallel leadership; Gafcon will not attend a forthcoming Anglican Communion conference in Belfast, and relations with the Church of England remain unclear, with some dialogue possible with the GSFA.