ABUJA, Nigeria — The Anglican archbishop of Nigeria, who has spearheaded global opposition to the Episcopal Church, unveiled plans Oct. 5 for a parallel province to offer shelter for Nigerian Christians living in the United States.
Archbishop Peter Akinola said an estimated 10 percent of the 5 million Nigerians living in the United States are Anglicans, and said they have “drifted” out of the Episcopal Church because of its growing acceptance of homosexuality.
“We have no choice but to come out and rescue our people,” he told reporters during a visit to Truro Episcopal Church here. “A good number have already left.”
Akinola leads the world’s largest Anglican church with 17 million members, and his plan would give him a foothold in the U.S. church, which he has been quick to criticize for allowing an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire. Akinola said his plan mirrors a decades-old American diocese that is headquartered in Paris for Episcopalians living in Europe. He claimed to have the support of the archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church as its U.S. branch.
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