Abp. Cherry Vann Acknowledges Departures After Appointment
Archbishop Cherry Vann says her historic appointment as the first openly homosexual Anglican archbishop prompted some parishioners to leave, underscoring deep divisions within the Church over LGBT inclusion.
WALES — The election of Cherry Vann as Abp. of Wales has led some parishioners to leave the Anglican Church, according to the archbishop herself. In an interview with the BBC, Vann acknowledged that her appointment as the first openly homosexual archbishop in Wales—and in the wider Anglican Communion—had been difficult for some believers and resulted in departures from church life. She said she takes these reactions “very seriously” and recognizes that not all parishioners are able to accept the Church’s efforts to be fully welcoming to LGBT+ people.
Vann emphasized that while the Anglican Church seeks to affirm inclusion, tensions remain within its congregations. Her appointment has drawn strong criticism from traditionalist groups, including the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which described the decision as “another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican Orthodoxy.” The development highlights ongoing divisions within global Anglicanism over theology, authority, and questions of sexuality.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the largest Anglican province broke with the Church of England over the election of a female archbishop.
