Breakaway Anglican group to pick alternative leader to Archbishop of Canterbury

"This unprecedented move is poised to exacerbate a widening theological split within the global church. The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), comprising conservative churches predominantly from Africa and Asia, staunchly opposes what it views as liberal shifts within the Communion. These include the ordination of women and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ members."

"The group announced its Global Primates Council would elect a chairman, to be revealed on Thursday, "to serve as primus inter pares (first among equals) to replace the role traditionally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury". Formed in 2008, GAFCON asserts it now represents a majority of the world's practising Anglicans."

A significant schism within the Anglican Communion is intensifying as GAFCON, a coalition of conservative churches primarily from Africa and Asia, convenes in Nigeria to elect a leader intended to rival the Archbishop of Canterbury. GAFCON opposes what it considers liberal theological shifts within the Communion, including women's ordination and LGBTQ+ inclusion. The Global Primates Council will elect a chairman to serve as "primus inter pares" (first among equals), effectively replacing the traditional role held by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Formed in 2008, GAFCON claims to represent a majority of the world's practising Anglicans. The Anglican Communion comprises 46 autonomous churches, with the Church of England historically recognized as its mother church.

Read at www.independent.co.uk