Same-Sex Marriage: Anglican Communion Risk Disintegration, Says Nigerian Primate

The Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Dr Henry Ndukuba, has said the votes of the members of the General Synod of the Church of England in York on Monday, July 8, 2024, approving the Living in Love and Faith, in the context of a liturgy to bless same sex couples with the authorisation of clergy have finally revealed the choice of the Church of England to walk away from the cherished Biblical truth and teaching on marriage between man and woman; male and female.

He noted that Anglican Communion (worldwide) risked disintegration as a result of the development.

Ndukuba noted that though the approval process has been described as a narrow win or victory by a vote by Houses, with Bishops 22 for, 12 against; clergy 99 for, 88 against; and laity 95 for, 91 against; it nevertheless showed the true state of a church, whose bishops had abandoned the truth of God’s word and have sacrificed the authority of the scripture for a postmodern cultural trapping.

The Primate threatened that 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 Anglican provinces.

He commended the bishops, clergy and laity, who opted to stand for the scripture as the authority and guide of the Church in doctrine, worship and living and offered fellowship and support to the faithful members and parishes in the Church of England.

Ndukuba noted that the Church of Nigeria would support interaction with them through the organs of GAFCON, GSFA, CEEC, the Alliance and other bodies with similar vision to keep alive the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Ndukuba warned that the development would tear the fabric of “our Communion at its deepest level,” and may lead to further issues, adding that it is necessary that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church of England be reminded of the impact of their decision and action on Anglican Communion.

According to him, the Church of Nigeria is in solidarity with the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), GAFCON, and other faithful Anglicans all over the world in denouncing the unbiblical stance of the Church of England by adopting same-sex marriage and legitimising same for the clergy.

“This violation of Biblical teaching on marriage should be condemned by the entire body of Christ as an error of great magnitude, just as Article XIX of the Articles of Religion states that “As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome has erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith”.