Church of Nigeria:

THE YEAR 2006 IN REVIEW

CONN/01007

Peter Onwubuariri, Abuja

The killing of an Anglican Priest in Bida, the arson and mayhem of the Danish carton riots, the 2-day sit-at-home strike in honour of the victims of the religious crisis, the bill to ban homosexuality, the consecration of an American to head a Nigeria mission initiative to the U.S and several U.S churches voting to leave ECUSA and align with the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) - 2006 was a year the Anglican Church was not bereft of making the headlines around local and international media.

With 95 dioceses and a non-geographic nomadic mission in Nigeria and two missions abroad- Mission to Congo and the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, the Church of Nigeria has the largest concentration of Anglicans in the world, with a strong commitment to missions and evangelism. As Archbishop Peter Akinola would say the news about the Nigerian church is not all about the fight about homosexuality. It is about the concerns for eternal destiny and the need of every person to know the saving love of God.

January

11-18---- The annual Bishops’ Conference took place, at the pristine Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbhara-Otor, Delta State. The former Archbishop of Kenya, Most Rev David Gitari was the guest speaker. His messages centered on the theme of the meeting ‘The Good Shepherd’. The Bishops’ issued a 12-point communiqué addressing pertinent issues in the country including census, Oyo and Anambra states crisis, post JAMB examination, anti-corruption crusade, among others.

A letter arising from the Bishops’ retreat established a new code of language for public worship for Anglican churches in the country. In the South-east- Ibo and English, South-west- Yoruba and English, North- Hausa and English, Minority areas- English and the local language.

18- Bishop Laudamus Ereaku of Bauchi Diocese was buried in his hometown, All Saints Cathedral Egbu. Anglican Bishops, who ended their annual retreat same day moved in a convoy from Agbhara-Otor in Delta State to Egbu, Imo State, some 3-hour drive, to honour their late colleague. Bishop Nathaniel Nyom preached at the service while the Primate made a heart moving eulogy at the graveside of Bishop Ereaku.

24- Venerable Elijah Yisa of the Diocese of Bida was killed by two assailants who made their way into the vicarage of St Johns Cathedral Church Bida, Niger State.

31- Venerable Yisa laid to rest in Bida. Bishop Jonah Kolo of the Diocese of Bida pronounced him a ‘martyr’ during a church service that was attended by passionate sympathizers from all parts of the country.

February

17- A gang of robbers attacked the residence of the Bishop of Jos, the Rt. Rev Benjamin Kwashi. Gloria, wife of the Bishop sustained serious injuries. The bishop was away from the country.

17- 23- Starting from February 17 through 23, several cities in Nigeria were engulfed in riots, arson, mayhem which left more than 200 persons dead, some 50 churches and mosques burnt, as well as hundreds of shops and residences destroyed and looted. The riots were provoked by the Danish Mohammed cartoons. Unfortunately, more people died in Nigeria than any other place where demonstrations against the cartoons took place.

21- Archbishop Peter Akinola in his capacity as the President of CAN issued a strong-worded statement condemning the resurgent of religious fanaticism in the country. His statement was largely misconstrued by a section of the foreign media to mean a declaration of ‘war’ against elements responsible for the killing of Christians.

22- The Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria opened in Ibadan with the theme Stewardship of Time and Money.

25- Standing Committee ended in Ibadan. An 11-point communiqué issued addressed many issues including the bill against sem sex relationships Government tabled before the House of Representatives.

March

3- Anglican women in Nigeria joined their counterparts worldwide to observe 2006 World Day of Prayer. The theme of this years celebration Signs of the Times (Matt 6:1-6). Reports monitored from the dioceses of Lokoja, Onitsha and Abuja indicated active participation from the women.

13- The Christian Association of Nigeria directed all Christians to stay at home on March 27 and 28 in honour of the victims of the recent religious crisis which claimed several lives.

April

10- Church of Nigeria condoles with the Church of Kenya and her Archbishop, the Most Rev Benjamin Nzimbi over the death in a plane accident of the Rt. Rev William Waqo.

May

7- Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Western Izon ordained 50 persons including 27 deacons and 23 missionaries.

12- The Primate made public during the synod of the diocese of Abuja that the headquarters of the newly created Nomadic missionary diocese will be based in Jos, Plateau State.

June

18- The outcome of the Episcopal Church 2006 Convention which elected Katherine Jefferts Schori, the first woman presiding bishop, who supported the consecration of Gene Robinson, sparked reactions around the globe. The Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa said they are understudying the situation. Several Anglican Provinces including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Congo, are out-of communion with the Epsicopal Church.

28- Episcopal Synod of the Church of Nigeria, which met at All Saints Wuse Abuja, elected new Bishops for Warri- Christian Ide, Bauchi- Musa Tula, Lagos Mainland- Adebayo Akinde and Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA)- Martyn Minns. Also the House of Bishops approved the election of Bishop Simon Mutum, formerly of the diocese of Jalingo as the new Bishop for the Nomadic Mission.

Also as the Episcopal Church riled the global Anglican Communion over its support for homosexuality, Nigeria Bishops called for the excision of ‘those who have chosen to walk apart.’ This call was contained in their response to Archbishop of Canterbury’s (ABC) proposal for a two-tier Anglican Communion as contained in his essay ‘The Challenge and Hope of being Anglican Today’. (Nigeria Bishops: “A cancerous lump in the body should be excised if it has defied every known cure. To attempt to condition the whole body to accommodate it will lead to the avoidable death of the patient. We encourage the Archbishop of Canterbury to persuade those who have chosen to “walk apart” to return to the path chosen by successive generations of our forbears. We continue to hold our Communion before God in earnest prayer.”)

29-31 Anglicans discussed the role of the church in nation building in a prolific 2-day conference held in Abuja. The conference brought political and religious leaders to the roundtable seeking the way-forward for the oil-rich and ‘impoverished’ Nigeria.

July

Mission to China: The surge of Christianity to China continued with the visit of Archbishops Peter Akinola and Jospeh Akinfenwa. Director of Communication, Church of Nigeria, The Rev’d Akintunde Popoola described the visit as ‘exploratory’ which ‘opens up a vast field of hundreds of millions of people who can now hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.’

August

20- The consecration of three new Bishops took place on August 20, at the National Christian Centre, Abuja. Bishops for CANA (Martyn Minns), Lagos Mainland (Adebayo Akinde), Bauchi (Amos Tula) and Warri (Christian Ide) were consecrated in an historic event witnessed by a lively cream of worshippers.

September

12- The Primate commissioned CSS Bookshops Ltd and Omega Savings Loans ultra modern housing estate in Port Harcourt.

13- House of Bishops held a political awareness seminar at the Cathedral of St Paul Diobu Port Harcourt. A major thrust of the seminar was how to ensure free and fair elections next year. Inspector General of Police (Sunday Ehindero), Chairman INEC (Maurice Iwu) DG NOA (Idi Farouk) and Deputy Speaker (Austin Opara-represented) made paper presentations.

15- The Standing Committee meeting of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) ended in Port Harcourt. Major highlights and resolutions as reflected in the message to the nation include: Human sexuality, Immunity Clause, Child Trafficking, Electoral Process in Nigeria and the Anti-corruption crusade. Others are Census result, The Police, Democracy and Welfare package, education, Plight of pensioners and Niger Delta question. The meeting also approved in principle the request to create additional dioceses, in the first quarter of 2007.

Meanwhile, before the House of Bishops left the garden city of Port Harcourt they elected new bishops for Uyo (Isaac Orama) and Jalingo (Timothy Yahaya) on the morning of Saturday, September 16, 2006.

22- The Global South Primates meeting in Kigali released a 16-point communiqué which underlines their commitment to protect the poor and persecuted and seriously questions the future of the Anglican Communion.

Global South Anglican leaders at the gravesite of genocide victims in Rwanda

October

14- The Fellowship of Christian Patriots in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) organized an interdenominational thanksgiving service in honor of The Primate over his nomination by Time magazine as one among the 100 most influential persons in the world.

30- A delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by the Primate paid a condolence visit to the Sultanate Council Sokoto following the death in the ADC plane crash of Islamic leader, Sultan Mohammed Maccido and some members of his family.

November

26- Consecration of Timothy Yahaya as Bishop of Kebbi and Isaac Orama as Bishop of Uyo held at the Cathedral Church of Advent, Abuja.

December

17- Two large and very important US Episcopal churches, Truro Church in Fairfax and the Falls Church both in Virginia, voted to break away from the Episcopal Church and align themselves with the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Several other parishes in the U.S also announced their secession from the Episcopal Church aftermath the June 2006 Convention which elected Catherine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop. She supported the 2003 consecration of a practicing gay as bishop and has a theology many are uncomfortable with.

(Church of Nigeria News)