Conservative Anglican Leaders Restructure Global Religious Body

In March 2026, conservative Anglican leaders convened in Abuja, Nigeria, to announce a significant restructuring of their organization, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). This move signals a departure from the traditional Anglican Communion, which has existed for over 400 years. During the meeting, GAFCON dissolved its Primates Council and established the Global Anglican Council, which will include primates, advisers, and lay members, all with full voting rights. The Right Reverend Paul Donison, GAFCON's general secretary, stated that the new structure aims to better meet the needs of the majority of Anglicans worldwide, emphasizing a shift towards a conciliar leadership model.

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Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda was unanimously elected as the chair of the new Global Anglican Council. He has been a vocal critic of the current leadership structure, which includes the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, the first woman to hold this position. Mbanda and other GAFCON leaders have expressed their opposition to liberal trends within the Anglican Communion, such as the acceptance of same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly LGBTQ+ clergy, particularly in the churches of Europe and North America.

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In a further escalation of tensions, GAFCON leaders urged their members to boycott meetings convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury and to cease financial contributions to the current leadership. This call for a "principled disengagement" from the Church of England's structures reflects the deepening rift within the Anglican Communion over theological and social issues. The statement issued by Mbanda emphasized that leaders should not attend future Primates' meetings or the Lambeth Conference, nor should they approve financial contributions to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).

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While GAFCON leaders assert that their actions are not a schism but rather a reorganization aimed at maintaining biblical integrity, critics argue that the division represents a significant rupture within the church. Diarmaid MacCulloch, an emeritus professor of church history at the University of Oxford, characterized the situation as a schism, although he noted that such divisions can eventually heal when the underlying issues lose their significance.

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The Anglican Communion Office has expressed concern over GAFCON's decision to pursue alternative leadership structures, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and unity within the church. Archbishop Anthony Poggo acknowledged the pain and division present in the church and invited GAFCON to engage with proposals aimed at reconciliation. The ongoing developments within GAFCON and the Anglican Communion raise questions about the future of Anglicanism and the potential for further fragmentation or reconciliation.

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• “Believing that the current Instruments of Communion no longer meet the needs of the majority of Anglicans around the world, the Global Anglican Communion is to be led by a conciliar structure.” — The Right Reverend Paul Donison, GAFCON General Secretary

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• “This is not a schism. It is actually a claim to continuity,” — Justin Murff, GAFCON Spokesman

GAFCON denies Anglican Communion schism, insisting on biblical 'continuity'

• “Christ calls his Church to be one,” — Archbishop Anthony Poggo, Anglican Communion Secretary General

GAFCON denies Anglican Communion schism, insisting on biblical 'continuity'

The restructuring of GAFCON and the call for disengagement from the Anglican Communion highlight the ongoing theological and social conflicts within the church, with significant implications for its future unity and governance.

GAFCON denies Anglican Communion schism, insisting on biblical 'continuity'