Anglicanism at a Crossroads: The Rise of the Global Anglican Communion and the Future of Canterbury

Rwanda Archbishop Laurent Mbanda Church of England Archbishop Sarah Mullally

By Ven. Alex Uzor

GAFCON

January 28, 2026

Today, the Church of England formally confirmed its new Archbishop of Canterbury through the legal process that marks the beginning of her tenure. This confirmation gives her full authority within the Church of England, while her public enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral will take place in the coming weeks. It is an important moment for the Church, yet it sits within a much larger global conversation about the identity, mission, and direction of Anglicanism in our time.

While some may be celebrating her confirmation, we must also recognise that the worldwide Anglican family is passing through deep transitions. The landscape that surrounds the office she now occupies is no longer simple or unified. Instead, it reflects a Communion wrestling with profound theological differences and searching for clarity about its future.

The Anglican Communion is living through one of the most significant seasons in its history. Anyone paying attention knows that the shape of worldwide Anglicanism is shifting. What once looked like a single global family gathered around Canterbury now looks more like two distinct expressions of Anglican identity. One is centred in the historic institutions of the West. The other is rising from the Global South with strong conviction, missionary zeal, and a firm commitment to the Scriptures.

This development did not appear suddenly. It has been building for more than twenty years. The debates around human identity and marriage only exposed what was already weakening. At the heart of the tension is a simple question. What does it mean to be truly Anglican in the twenty first century?

The Growing Weight of the Global Anglican Communion.

There is no doubt about where the numerical and spiritual strength of Anglicanism is today. Places like Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, parts of South America, and Asia carry the vibrant life of the Communion. These churches are experiencing real growth. They remain rooted in the authority of Scripture. Their worship is alive with the joy of salvation. Their leadership is shaped by mission, evangelism, and pastoral urgency.

Many believers in these regions look at the decisions made in some Western provinces and feel confused, disappointed, or even betrayed. For them, the Anglican identity they received is clear. Anglicanism is built on the Scriptures, the historic formularies, the creeds, and the call to holy living. It is a tradition that takes the Bible seriously as the final authority for faith and conduct. When any province sets these foundations aside, something essential is lost.

This is the conviction that gave birth to GAFCON in 2008. It began as a response to theological drift but has gradually grown into a global fellowship that carries the heartbeat of orthodox and authentic Anglicanism.

The Role of GAFCON in Shaping the Future.

GAFCON is no longer a protest movement and it's never schismatic. It is a global mission movement with bishops, clergy, and laity who share the same vision of Anglican faithfulness. Its Jerusalem Declaration has become a kind of doctrinal compass for millions. It lays out what many Anglicans have always believed but had no place to articulate together.

Now the movement is preparing for the G26 mini conference in Abuja in March 2026. Many expect this gathering to set the course for a more defined structure of the Global Anglican Communion. The Global Anglicanism Communion is not about breaking away from Anglicanism. It is about keeping Anglicanism faithful to its roots. It is about preserving the teaching of Scripture and the authority of the historic formularies. And it is about supporting churches and leaders who want to remain orthodox without being pushed to the margins of global Anglican life.

If the conference gives clearer shape to this global body, it will be a major turning point. It will place the centre of Anglican gravity firmly in the hands of the provinces that have remained faithful to the Gospel.

What Does This Mean for Canterbury?

For centuries, Canterbury has served as a symbol of unity. The Archbishop of Canterbury has held a place of honour and respect. However, symbols only hold influence when they carry moral clarity. Many provinces now feel that Canterbury has struggled to speak with a clear voice on the issues that matter most. This is not about hostility. It is about conviction and truth.

The future of the Canterbury aligned Anglican Communion will depend largely on whether Canterbury recovers a strong biblical centre. If the leadership of the Church of England continues to follow cultural pressures rather than scriptural teaching, its global influence will continue to decline. Respect for history cannot sustain unity without shared doctrine. Unity that ignores truth becomes fragile and confused.

What we see today is a Communion where Canterbury still has a historical place but no longer speaks for the majority of Anglicans. Most Anglicans now belong to churches that stand with GAFCON and the Global South Fellowship. These churches have made it clear that authentic Anglican identity comes from faithfulness to Scripture, not from institutional loyalty.

A Kairos Moment for the Church.

This moment calls for courage. It calls for deep humility and firm conviction. The Global Anglican Communion must remain strong. It must stay focused on mission, discipleship, evangelism, and truth. It must resist the temptation to be reactionary or combative. Instead, it must continue to model a joyful, confident, and biblically grounded Anglicanism.

The world is watching. Many Christians outside Anglicanism see in GAFCON the clarity they long for. They see a church that is not ashamed of the Gospel. They see leaders who stand on Scripture without apology. They see a movement that is serious about holiness, mission, and pastoral care.

If this movement continues with unity, grace, and strength, Anglicanism will not only survive these global tensions. It will flourish. It will regain its missionary heart. And it will offer a credible witness to a world hungry for truth.

The Anglican Communion is changing, but God is at work. The future belongs to a church that stands on His Word with humility and boldness. The Global Anglican Communion represents that future. It is a gift to the Church and a sign that God is renewing Anglicanism for a new generation.

Ven. Alex Uzor is Digital Archdeacon for the #GlobalAnglicanCommunion #AnglicanCommunion #GAFCON