In Abuja (Nigeria), the Anglican schism. Hundreds of bishops against Sarah Mullally, the new Primate of England, accused of progressivism and doctrinal deviation.

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Global Anglicanism is becoming increasingly divided.

As we had already anticipated, from March 3 to 6, 2026 an important conference took place in Abuja (Nigeria).

Hundreds of bishops and representatives of clergy and laity belonging to GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference), a major group within the Anglican Communion, gathered together, representing a significant portion of global Anglicanism.

GAFCON is especially present in regions where Christianity continues to grow, the so-called Global South.

 

Distancing from progressive Anglicanism

Bishops and leaders, mainly from Africa, Asia and Latin America, decided to distance themselves from the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the progressive archbishop Sarah Mullally, the first woman to become Primate of England.

She has been accused of abandoning traditional biblical teaching.

Western Anglican provinces, in general, have fully embraced the false myths of progress, completely departing from fundamental moral issues such as marriage and sexual ethics.

One of the central issues of the summit was the possibility of appointing an alternative leader to the Archbishop of Canterbury, historically regarded as the symbol of Anglican unity. In the end, however, participants chose a different path: not a new “head,” but a structure of collegial governance.

Elected to lead it was the Archbishop of Rwanda, Laurent Mbanda, assisted by the Brazilian Archbishop Miguel Uchôa as vice-chair and by Bishop Paul Donison as general secretary.

The final document of the conference openly speaks of a “disengagement” from the institutions led by Canterbury. In practical terms, many churches affiliated with GAFCON will stop participating in the official meetings of the Anglican Communion and will reduce cooperation with its central structures.

 

The de facto Anglican schism

In the final document, Archbishop Mbanda specified that “those who seek to lead the Church astray must not be tolerated, and Christians must refuse to remain in communion with those who promote false teachings.”

The leaders of the movement insist that this is not a schism, but an attempt to preserve historic Anglicanism.

However, for many observers the reality is already clear: it is a de facto schism, in which Anglicanism is experiencing a deep fracture between an increasingly theologically progressive component and a Global South that claims fidelity to Scripture.

And it was precisely from Abuja that the clearest signal emerged: the center of gravity of Anglicanism is no longer in Canterbury.

 

A warning for the Catholic Church

It will be interesting to observe how the leadership of the Catholic Church will respond to this fracture.

In recent decades, ecumenical dialogue with Anglicanism has often been presented as a path toward greater unity among Christian Churches, but this division inevitably raises new questions about the future.

What happened in Abuja also represents a warning.

The recent history of Anglicanism clearly shows how deep doctrinal and moral divergences can quickly lead to structural divisions.

For the Catholic Church, the events of these days are an eloquent reminder: when faith and morality become the subject of cultural negotiation in order to chase the fashions of the world, ecclesial communion risks turning into a fragile coalition destined sooner or later to shatter.