Global Anglicanism has undergone a major split, formalized in October 2025, dividing the worldwide Anglican family into two rival structures. One is the traditional Anglican Communion (centered on the Archbishop of Canterbury), and the other is the newly declared “Global Anglican Communion” led by GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference). This is the most significant fracture in Anglican history since the Reformation, driven by deep theological divides.06
Quick Background
The Anglican Communion—historically a loose fellowship of about 42 autonomous provinces (national or regional churches) linked by shared history, the Book of Common Prayer, the 39 Articles, and the Archbishop of Canterbury as “first among equals”—has been fracturing for decades. Key flashpoints include:
- The 2003 ordination of an openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church (USA).
- Moves toward same-sex blessings or marriages in Western provinces (e.g., Church of England in 2023, Episcopal Church earlier).
- Broader debates over biblical authority, women’s ordination, and “revisionist” theology vs. traditional/conservative interpretations.
Conservative leaders, especially from the rapidly growing churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (the “Global South”), formed GAFCON in 2008 in Jerusalem to uphold what they see as historic Anglican faith, centered on the Bible as the ultimate authority.9
What Happened in October 2025?
On October 16, 2025—timed symbolically on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Reformation-era bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley—GAFCON’s Primates’ Council issued a bombshell communiqué titled “The Future Has Arrived.” Led by Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda (GAFCON chairman), it declared:
- The Anglican Communion is being reordered with the Bible as its “only foundation of communion.”
- Rejection of the traditional “Instruments of Communion”: the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Conference, Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and Primates’ Meeting, which they say failed to uphold doctrine.
- Breaking communion with provinces that support “revisionist” agendas (e.g., on sexuality, overturning 1998 Lambeth Resolution I.10).
- GAFCON provinces now form the Global Anglican Communion, a fellowship of autonomous provinces bound by Reformation formularies and the 2008 Jerusalem Declaration.
- They will no longer attend Canterbury-led meetings, contribute to or receive funds from the ACC, and are encouraged to remove references to Canterbury from their constitutions.
- A new Council of Primates will elect a “primus inter pares” (first among equals) as their leader.356
GAFCON insists: “We have not left the Anglican Communion; we are the Anglican Communion.” They frame this as a restoration, not a schism, with the West having departed from orthodoxy.2
The trigger was the Church of England’s appointment of Sarah Mullally (Bishop of London) as the next Archbishop of Canterbury—the first woman in the role—which many conservatives saw as compounding divisions over sexuality and now gender in leadership.47
The Two Sides Today (as of February 2026)
| Aspect | Traditional Anglican Communion (Canterbury-led) | Global Anglican Communion (GAFCON-led) |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | Archbishop of Canterbury (Sarah Mullally, starting ~2026) | Council of Primates; new “primus inter pares” to be elected |
| Core Provinces | Church of England, Episcopal Church (USA), Anglican Church of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. (mostly declining in the West) | Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, South America (e.g., Brazil breakaways), ACNA (North America), and others in Asia/Pacific |
| Estimated Size | Minority by active membership; historically the “official” body | Majority (claimed 75–85% of global Anglicans by attendance; ~70–85 million)14 |
| Theology | More diverse/liberal on sexuality, women’s roles; emphasizes unity and inclusion | Conservative/evangelical; Bible as supreme authority; opposes same-sex marriage/blessings and (for many) women’s episcopate |
| Status | Continues as the historic institution but isolated from much of the Global South | Claims to be the authentic, reformed Anglicanism; holds conferences (next: G26 in Abuja, Nigeria, March 3–6, 2026) |
Note on GSFA (Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches): This overlapping conservative network (12–25 provinces) has similar concerns but is more cautious. Some GSFA leaders have questioned a full break from Canterbury and reaffirmed staying within the broader Communion (though with “impaired” ties). Not all conservatives are fully aligned with GAFCON’s move.3744
What’s Next?
- The March 2026 Abuja conference will likely elect leadership and solidify structures for the Global Anglican Communion.
- Legal, financial, and property disputes may arise (similar to past U.S./Canadian splits).
- Many provinces are in “impaired communion” already; full realignment could take years.
- The split reflects a broader global shift: vibrant, Bible-focused Christianity in the South vs. secularizing trends in the West.
This isn’t the end of Anglicanism—it’s a realignment. The “Global” part now truly belongs to the Global South. For the latest, check official sites like gafcon.org or the Anglican Communion Office. If you want details on a specific province, bishop, or issue, let me know!
