Clergy from a conservative grouping within the Anglican tradition are gathering in Abuja this week for a meeting that could deepen divisions within the global church.

The conference, organised by the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), is expected to choose its own senior leader in what many observers see as a challenge to the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The development comes as Sarah Mullally prepares to be formally installed later this month as the Archbishop of Canterbury — the most senior cleric in the Church of England and traditionally regarded as the spiritual figurehead of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Her appointment has drawn mixed reactions across different parts of the global church. Supporters argue that leadership in Christian ministry should be determined by calling rather than gender. Critics, particularly among conservative Anglican groups, maintain that church leadership roles such as bishops and archbishops should be reserved for men based on their interpretation of scripture.

These differences were reflected during a recent Sunday service at the Vining Memorial Church Cathedral in Lagos, where congregants expressed varying opinions on the issue.

Bunmi Odukoya, one of the worshippers present, said he believed God’s calling was not limited by gender. In his view, anyone — male or female — who is called to ministry should be free to serve.

Others disagreed. Uche Nweke argued that female leadership at the highest level of the Anglican Church did not align with what he believed to be the biblical example of the apostles, who were men.

The Archbishop of Canterbury traditionally holds a unique role within the global Anglican Communion, serving as what is described as “primus inter pares,” or first among equals, among the primates who lead Anglican provinces worldwide.

Although each province governs itself independently, the Archbishop of Canterbury has historically acted as a symbolic unifying figure for the Communion’s roughly 95 million members.

However, the meeting in Abuja organised by Global Anglican Future Conference could shift that dynamic. The conservative coalition, formed in 2008 amid disagreements over theology and church doctrine, plans to elect its own “first among equals,” effectively creating a parallel leadership structure.

Some analysts say the move could push existing tensions toward a formal split within the Anglican family. Diarmaid MacCulloch, Emeritus Professor of Church History at University of Oxford, described the development as a de facto schism even if the word is not officially used.

Gafcon emerged largely in response to disagreements over issues such as same-sex relationships within the Anglican Communion.

In 2023, the group rejected the leadership of Justin Welby after proposals in the Church of England to bless same-sex couples. The organisation has continued to criticise what it sees as theological departures from traditional Christian teachings.

The group maintains that it represents a majority of Anglicans globally, particularly in parts of Africa. However, views across the continent are far from uniform. Some Anglican churches in Africa, including the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, have welcomed female leadership in the church. Emily Onyango, Kenya’s first female Anglican bishop, publicly celebrated Mullally’s appointment.

Critics of Gafcon also note that the movement’s leadership and organisational presence extend beyond Africa to parts of the Americas and Australia.

The Anglican Communion itself is made up of 42 autonomous provinces spread across 165 countries. While each church manages its own internal governance, they remain linked through shared history, liturgy, and structures known as the “Instruments of Communion,” historically centred around the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, told the BBC that these relationships have historically enabled churches to support each other spiritually and materially through partnerships and shared initiatives.

Despite the growing tensions, he emphasised that provinces wishing to leave the Communion should follow established constitutional processes rather than acting outside them.

Yet if some members choose to behave as though they have already separated, Poggo acknowledged that there is little institutional power to prevent it. The situation, he said, is deeply saddening for those who still value the unity of the Anglican family.

Even among those who disagree with the Church of England’s more liberal theological direction, some believers still see value in maintaining ties with Canterbury. Nigerian youth pastor Alexander Olasinde said he hopes the global church can find common ground despite the disagreements.

For him, the ultimate goal of Christians remains the same. If divisions continue to grow, he warned, unresolved conflicts could overshadow the shared faith that unites the global Anglican community.