Conservative Anglican leaders from the Gafcon (Global Anglican Future Conference) movement are currently meeting in Abuja, Nigeria (March 3–6, 2026), marking a historic and potentially final break from the Church of England.
​The primary catalyst for this deepened rivalry is the appointment and upcoming installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
While Gafcon has long been at odds with the “mother church” in England over LGBTQ+ issues—specifically the blessing of same-sex unions—the elevation of a woman to the See of Canterbury has created a “red line” for many conservative provinces.
Many Gafcon provinces, including the host Church of Nigeria, hold a “male-only” view of the episcopacy (the office of bishop). They argue that the Bible restricts such roles to men.
Gafcon leaders have stated that they no longer recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as the “focus of unity” or the “first among equals” (primus inter pares) for the global Anglican Communion.
In Abuja this week, Gafcon primates are expected to discuss electing their own “first among equals” to serve as a spiritual head for the “orthodox” global majority, effectively creating a parallel Anglican leadership structure.
