Nigeria’s Akinola is driving force in Anglican world
With 17.5 million members, Nigeria is the second-largest Anglican province after the Church of England with 26 million — but its number of regular churchgoers is far higher and growing.
Behind it come Uganda (8 million), Sudan (5 million), Kenya (2.5 million) and Tanzania (2 million), giving weight to an African wing in the Communion that grows steadily in influence.
The Episcopal Church, by contrast, numbers only 2.4 million.
Philip Jenkins, an expert on Global South Christianity, said northern liberals often see Akinola’s drive as “a quirk by one person” rather than a view with wide support. “If Akinola walked in front of a bus tomorrow, there would be 20 other primates who would follow exactly the same course,” the Pennsylvania State University historian told Reuters.
Fraser said African Anglicanism was not a monolith and some bishops chafed under his leadership, but agreed he was the clearly the driving force among them. “The leader of the last generation of African bishops was Desmond Tutu,” he said, referring to the former head of the South African church, a liberal exception among the Africans. “Akinola is the leader of the new generation.”
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