Anglican Leaders in Pakistan Voice Concern Over Appointment of Archbishop of Wales
Christian news Anglican Communion 2025 – The appointment of the Rt Rev Cherry Vann, an openly homosexual cleric, as the new Archbishop of Wales has sparked growing concern among global Anglican leaders, with the Church of Pakistan becoming the latest to issue a formal response.
In an open letter addressed to the Rt Rev Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the bishops of the Church of Pakistan, led by the Most Rev Dr Azad Marshall, expressed their “deep concern and grief” over the decision. The letter was made public on Anglican Ink and was signed by bishops and senior officers of the church.
While affirming their respect for Vann personally and acknowledging the right of each province to make decisions, the Pakistani bishops warned that such actions carry serious consequences for global fellowship.
“Our partnership as global Anglicans is built on shared beliefs; when those foundations shift, our fellowship is shaken,” they wrote.
The letter stressed that the appointment directly contradicts biblical teaching on marriage, thereby undermining the unity of the worldwide Anglican family. In the Pakistani context—where homosexuality is illegal and Christians are a vulnerable minority—the bishops said the decision could “feed hostile narratives” and make life even more difficult for believers.
Concluding on a note of prayer and hope, the bishops called for repentance and humility, writing:
“We write not from a place of condemnation, but with grief, humility, and earnest love—grief over a once-cherished communion strained by theological compromise; humility as fellow sinners in need of grace; and love for the Church of Wales, with its historic contribution to global mission and Christian witness. Even now, we do not lose hope.”
Concerns have also been echoed by other Anglican leaders worldwide. The Most Rev Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, described the election of Vann as an “act of apostasy” and a “failure in leadership.” Similarly, the Most Rev Dr Justin Badi Arama, Primate of South Sudan and Chair of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, lamented what he called a “divisive rejection of the historic biblical and Anglican teaching on marriage and human sexuality.”
The controversy highlights the growing tension within the Anglican Communion as churches wrestle with questions of biblical authority, cultural pressures, and the call to remain faithful witnesses in challenging contexts.
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