South Sudan rejects appointment of Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury

JUBA – The head of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, has expressed dismay over the appointment of the Rt. Rev’d Dame Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, citing her support for same-sex blessings as “unbiblical and unorthodox.”

Mullally, who will be installed on January 28, 2026, becomes the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman in history to hold the position, succeeding Justin Welby. Her appointment was formally announced in London on Friday.

In a statement released on October 4, Archbishop Badi, who also chairs the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, said Mullally’s record on same-sex relationships places her at odds with traditional Anglican teaching.

“It is sad that this newly appointed Archbishop is a supporter of same-sex marriage. In their Synod of February 2023, she described the decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples as a moment of hope for the Church,” Badi said.

“In my capacity as the Chair of Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, we issued a letter reaffirming our position of not recognizing unbiblical and unorthodox leadership,” he added.

Badi reiterated that the Episcopal Church of South Sudan will remain aligned with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches and the Gafcon renewal movement, which have consistently rejected controversial reforms on sexuality within the Anglican Communion.

“Our position as the Episcopal Church of South Sudan is to uphold the traditional Christian teaching on marriage and to proclaim the biblical Anglican faith,” he added. “We continue to uphold the Church of England in prayers as we also pray for ourselves.”

Despite the criticism, Mullally struck a reflective tone in her first remarks following the announcement. “I remain rooted in my first calling: to follow Christ, to know him – and to make him known to the world,” she said.

But Mullally’s statement is considered inconsistent with her stance on same sex union, which has sparked sustained criticism among conservative catholic, especially in the Global South.

A brief about Mullally

Mullally, 63, brings an unusual background to the Anglican primacy. Before her ordination, she built a career in nursing, serving as England’s Chief Nursing Officer from 1999 to 2004.

She was ordained in 2006 and rose steadily through the ranks of the Church of England, becoming Bishop of Crediton in 2015 and later Bishop of London in 2018, the third-most senior position in the church.

Her controversial stance on same-sex relationships, particularly her support for blessings for same-sex couples—sanctioned by the Church of England’s 2023 Synod—has positioned her as a divisive figure within the global Anglican family. Critics in the conservative-leaning provinces argue her leadership risks deepening existing fractures, while her supporters view her as a symbol of hope and inclusivity.

Why is the Global South concerned?

Mullally’s appointment is significant for the Global South, where Anglican provinces have consistently resisted liberal reforms on sexuality. Leaders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America — who form the bulk of the Communion’s membership — see Canterbury’s shift toward same-sex blessings as undermining biblical authority.

For South Sudan in particular, the issue carries weight beyond theology. The country’s conservative cultural and legal stance on same-sex relationships places its national church in sharp contrast with the new Archbishop’s controversial position.