Sarah Mullally Named First Female Archbishop of Canterbury Amid Criticism

Historic Appointment Sparks Controversy in the Anglican Communion

The Church of England has made history by appointing its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally. While many celebrate this groundbreaking move, the decision has been met with significant criticism, particularly from Gafcon, a global Anglican movement.

Gafcon has openly criticized Mullally’s appointment, accusing the Church of England of straying from biblical teachings. This criticism stems from her support for blessing same-sex unions, which Gafcon claims undermines traditional consecration vows.

Laurent Mbanda, chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, expressed disappointment, stating that Mullally’s appointment would exacerbate existing divisions within the Anglican Communion, which boasts a membership of 85 million worldwide. He articulated, “The Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.”

Mbanda further highlighted that the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, historically a unifying spiritual and moral authority, can no longer fulfill this role effectively. He mentioned that recent archbishops have failed to safeguard the faith, leading to Gafcon’s decision not to recognize the Archbishop as an Instrument of Communion.

In a statement, Mbanda lamented, “Sadly, they have not done so. While some might welcome Mullally’s appointment as the first woman to hold the office, most Anglicans still believe episcopal leadership should be male only.” This belief, he argued, diminishes the role of Canterbury as a unifying force.

Another major concern for Gafcon is Mullally’s perceived failure to adhere to her vows made during her consecration in 2015. Mbanda recalled, “When she was consecrated, she took an oath to ‘banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to God’s Word.’” He argued that Mullally had not upheld this oath, pointing to her 2023 remark that some same-sex relationships might be blessed.

Gafcon maintains that the Church’s authority is derived from adherence to scripture, as outlined in Article XX. Mbanda emphasized that the Church cannot endorse practices that contradict God’s Word, referencing Numbers 23:8 and 24:13.

As a response to these developments, Gafcon is organizing a significant gathering of orthodox Anglicans in Abuja, Nigeria, for the G26 Bishops Assembly in March 2026. This meeting aims to address these issues and is expected to be the largest of its kind since their first meeting in 2008, which sought to return the Communion to its biblical foundations.

Despite the criticisms, Mbanda pledged to pray for Mullally, citing Psalm 95 in his message. He expressed a hope that Mullally might work with Gafcon to heal divisions within the Anglican Communion, emphasizing the need for obedience to scripture and a concerted gospel mission.