“We Are Not Fighting Anybody; This Is Not About Gender or Female Leadership”- Archbishop Mbanda
The Global Anglican Conference has announced a historic restructuring of its leadership framework with the creation of the Global Anglican Council, a new governing body designed to provide broader representation and shared leadership across the Global Anglican Communion.
In a significant step that underscores a commitment to collaborative leadership, the GAFCON Primates have dissolved the GAFCON Primates Council, which has faithfully led and served the movement since its establishment in 2008.
The newly constituted Global Anglican Council will now serve as the principal leadership body of the Communion. Unlike the previous structure, the Council comprises primates, advisors, and guarantors, including bishops, clergy, and lay members, all of whom have full voting rights.
This expanded leadership structure reflects the willingness of the primates to share authority and stewardship with a wider body of Global Anglican leaders across the world. The Chairman of the Council will be a Primate; however, the position will not function as primus inter pares (first among equals), signaling a transition toward a more conciliar and collaborative model of governance for the Global Anglican Communion.
The Council explained that this development arises from the conviction that the existing instruments of communion no longer adequately serve the needs of the majority of Anglicans worldwide. Consequently, the Global Anglican Communion will now be guided by this broader conciliar structure. In moving forward, the Council has also discerned that certain titles associated with previous structures will be set aside.
At its inaugural meeting, the Global Anglican Council unanimously elected the following leaders:
- The Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda – Chairman
- The Most Rev. Miguel Uchoa – Vice Chairman
- The Rt. Rev. Paul Donison – General Secretary
Their terms of office will run until the conclusion of GAFCON V, scheduled to be held in Athens in 2028.
The Council also resolved that Primates who retire from their Provincial office between GAFCON Assemblies may continue to serve on the Council until the conclusion of the next Assembly, ensuring continuity in leadership and governance.
Speaking in his first interview following the announcement on ACNN (Advent Cable Network Nigeria), the newly elected Chairman, The Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda, clarified that the establishment of the Global Anglican Council is not intended to rival the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury is in Canterbury, while I serve as Chairman of the Global Anglican Communion,” he said.
Archbishop Mbanda emphasized that the development marks a significant turning point for the worldwide Anglican family. According to him, “the future has arrived,” and the time has come to move forward with renewed commitment to evangelism and to placing the Bible at the center of the Church’s life and mission.
He further stressed that the initiative is not driven by hostility or rivalry.
“We are not fighting anybody,” he said, explaining that the focus of the movement is faithfulness to the teaching of Scripture. This is not about gender, and it is not about female leadership,” he said. “It is about the teaching of the Word of God. The key question is: What does the Scripture teach?”
He noted that many of the current instruments of communion have not effectively served the wider Anglican family and called on faithful Anglicans to move forward in unity around the authority of Scripture.
Archbishop Mbanda also extended an open invitation to Anglicans across the world who remain committed to biblical orthodoxy to join in the effort to renew and strengthen the Anglican witness.
The development marks a significant milestone in the life of the Global Anglican Communion and signals a renewed commitment to shared leadership, biblical faithfulness, and mission across the worldwide Anglican family.
Ven. Raphael Adedoyin Aderinwale
