Global Anglicans tell Church in Wales leaders to 'turn back from their error'

Leaders of the Church in Wales "have shown their determination to continue to wander from the truth of God's Word" says the Global Anglican Council.

In a statement issued on the 17th of April, Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Global Anglican Council - formerly known as the Gafcon Primates Council - called on Church in Wales leaders "to turn back from their error and 'to choose this day' whom they will serve", citing Joshua 24v15.

The statement followed the news that the Governing Body of the Church in Wales has approved a bill to make a blessing of same-sex marriages permanent. In 2021, the Church in Wales approved the trial usage of a liturgical rite of blessing for same-sex marriages; now, such rites will become a permanent addition to the Church's Book of Common Prayer.

Lay members of the Governing Body voted by 48 to eight in favour with two abstentions, with clergy voting 32 to seven with five abstentions, before bishops confirmed the passing of the bill with no objections.

"It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today," Mbanda begins. The statement goes on to cite James 5v19-20: "Scripture tells us that ‘if anyone among you wanders from the truth,’ then we must endeavour to bring them back from their error and in so doing save their souls from death".

"We offer prayers for the faithful in Wales and we invite them and all Biblically faithful Christians throughout the Anglican world to sign the Jerusalem Declaration and to join with us, in the Global Anglican Communion, as we seek to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations," the statement concludes.

On its website, the Church in Wales writes that it "does still not have provision to marry same-sex couples. However, in November 2025, after several months of careful listening exercises, the Bishops of the Church issued a pastoral letter noting that the process had shown a majority 'in favour of the view that the time is right to offer equal marriage.'"

It adds: "Further proposals will duly be brought forward in April 2027 to allow the law of the state and of the Church to be changed to permit equal marriage in the Church in Wales."