Kaziimba: Appointment of New Canterbury Archbishop Deepens Anglican Rift

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has expressed deep concern over the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Sarah Mullaly, Bishop of London, as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, citing her support for same-sex marriage as a departure from historic Anglican teaching.

In a statement to Christians on Friday, Archbishop Kaziimba said the decision by the Church of England “further deepens the tear in the fabric of the Anglican Communion that began in 2003” with the consecration of a bishop in a same-sex relationship in the Episcopal Church of the USA.

“Our sadness about this appointment is her support and advocacy for unbiblical positions on sexuality and same-sex marriage that reveal her departure from the historic Anglican positions that uphold the authority of Scripture for faith and life,” Kaziimba stated.

He added that the move signals “a grievous decision at the highest levels of the Church of England to separate itself from the vast majority of the global Anglican Communion.”

Archbishop Kaziimba reaffirmed that the Church of Uganda, through GAFCON and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, no longer recognises the Archbishop of Canterbury as a global leader of the Communion, but only as “the Primate of All England.”

Despite the controversy, Kaziimba sought to reassure Ugandan Christians of the strength of their global fellowship. “We are part of a worldwide communion of Anglicans who continue to proclaim the historic and Biblical faith of Anglicanism – faithfulness to Christ and submission to the authority of Scripture,” he said.

The Archbishop declared that the mission of the Church remains unshaken. “The future of Gospel-centred mission in our Anglican tradition is bright. The fields are ripe for harvest; we pray for labourers to go into the harvest. We will proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations,” he said.