Nigeria's Anglican Church Rejects Church of England's Same-Sex Marriage Decision

Anglican Church of Nigeria Distances Itself From Decision

The Church of Nigeria, the largest Anglican province in the world, has rejected the Church of England's recent decision to allow same-sex marriage. The decision was made at a meeting of the Church of Nigeria's House of Bishops in Abuja on Thursday, January 26, 2023.

In a statement released after the meeting, the House of Bishops said that the decision was made "after careful consideration of the biblical and theological issues involved."

The Church of Nigeria's Statement

The statement said that the Church of Nigeria "reaffirms its commitment to the biblical teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman." It also said that the Church of Nigeria "will not perform or bless same-sex marriages."

The statement concluded by saying that the Church of Nigeria "will continue to pray for the Church of England and for all those who are struggling with issues of sexuality."

The Church of England's Decision

The Church of England's decision to allow same-sex marriage was made at a meeting of the General Synod in London on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. The decision was passed by a vote of 378 to 110.

The decision allows same-sex couples to be married in Anglican churches in England and Wales. However, it does not require all Anglican churches to perform same-sex marriages.

The Anglican Communion

The Anglican Communion is a worldwide fellowship of churches that share a common history and tradition. The Communion is made up of 40 independent provinces, including the Church of England and the Church of Nigeria.

The Communion does not have a central authority, and each province is free to make its own decisions on matters of doctrine and practice.

Conclusion

The Church of Nigeria's decision to reject the Church of England's decision on same-sex marriage highlights the diversity of views within the Anglican Communion. It also shows that the Anglican Communion is not a monolithic organization, and that individual provinces are free to make their own decisions on matters of doctrine and practice.