Are the Leaders of Africa’s Anglican Churches “Despotic”?

He confessed that he took the job because he felt called to do something to address the “disagreement and even hatred” between fellow Anglicans. He said much of the hatred came from the Southern hemisphere. Asked what he thought of Australian Archbishop Peter Jensen, who is playing a leadership role in GAFCON, Fearon said, “unfortunately for me I know all these characters… we were good friends. He invited me to Sydney. He asked me what I thought of GAFCON and I said I am sorry but it is not a movement of the Holy Spirit because it is divisive.”

While the Anglican leader said his commitment to reconciliation remained firm, he conceded that on the root of the disagreements, human sexuality, he said there was “no way” of finding agreement. “It’s not possible,” he said. The alternative to finding a way to live together was to allow separate “splinter groups”.

The former Nigerian archbishop criticized the leadership of Anglican churches in Africa, calling them “ineffective.” He said he was speaking from experience, and described them as “despotic”.

“Church leaders in Africa generally do not see themselves as leading the way Christ leads his Church. Rather, the African Church leader sees himself – mainly ‘himself’ – in the light of the traditional rulers, those with absolute authority.”

Fearon said that not all African Christians were against same sex. “We need to hear from those who subscribe to same sex and those who don’t. Not everybody is against same sex.”

Fearon said he had come across “hatred, vilification and character assassination”.

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Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon — Church of Ireland Gazette