Gafcon Established New Headquarters in Abuja
The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans moved its official base to Nigeria following a major leadership restructuring.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Christianity
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In August 2026, the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon) designated Abuja, Nigeria, as its permanent headquarters. This organizational shift follows the replacement of its former Primates' Council with a new Global Anglican Council.
Why it matters
Gafcon leaders assert that existing Anglican structures have failed to represent the majority of practicing Anglicans globally. The group cites fundamental theological disagreements regarding the authority of scripture over contemporary cultural shifts as the primary catalyst for these structural changes.
The G26 gathering in Abuja brought together 347 bishops and 121 leaders representing 27 provinces. These figures draw from a total worldwide population of 95 million Anglicans.
The players
Gafcon
The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans is a movement of conservative Anglican leaders established to promote the authority of scripture.
Archbishop Laurent Mbanda
He currently serves as the chair of the Global Anglican Council.
Bishop Paul Donison
He acts as the secretary general for Gafcon.
Bishop Anthony Poggo
He serves as the secretary general of the Anglican Communion.
The details
Gafcon, which was originally formed in 2008, reordered its internal governance to centralize operations in Abuja. This transition includes the development of the new headquarters into a dedicated site for training and equipping future church leaders.
Timeline
Gafcon was originally formed in 2008.
The G26 gathering was held in Abuja from March 3-6, 2026.
Gafcon and Anglican Communion leaders met in August 2026.
Abuja was officially announced as the new headquarters on August 22, 2026.
Roadmap
This transition marks a formal maturation of the movement established by the 2008 formation of Gafcon. The move to Abuja signals a shift from a decentralized fellowship toward a permanent, centralized institutional structure.
The new headquarters in Abuja is expected to become a central hub for training clergy and equipping leaders. Local participants may see an increase in international theological summits and educational programming hosted at the site.
The takeaway
Gafcon's move to establish a permanent base in Nigeria demonstrates a growing shift toward non-Western leadership in global religious movements. Readers interested in church organization should monitor these structural updates as the new council begins its official operations.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving landscape of Christianity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tablet.
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