Church of Nigeria:

Goodbye 2005, Welcome 2006

Review of Major events in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as compiled by Peter Onwubuariri

CONN/030106

“We must never forget that we are here only temporarily and as we come into the New Year, we are reminded we are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. At the time Archbishop Peter Akinola said this on the last day of December 2004, there was no hindsight of what would befall the nation, the church and the family of many Nigerians who lost their loved ones in 2005.

The passing year recorded a disturbing loss of lives among top ministers of the Church. Back in January, Bishop of Sabongida-Ora and Archbishop of Bendel, the Most Rev Agbaje died at 68 and eleven months later, the first week of the festive month of December another Bishop, the Rt. Rev Laudamus Ereaku of Bauchi diocese died at 52. Despite the inevitable rite of passage recorded within the top echelon of the Church, 2005 was indeed an auspicious year for Nigeria, says Canon Tunde Popoola, Director of Communications of the Church.

“It was a season of growth. This year witnessed the creation of 12 new dioceses, adding impetus to the goal of the Church in bringing evangelism and the gospel of salvation to farthest lands. It was a season of hope and belief given the fact that the Anglican Church in Nigeria is recording success in her zeal to build end-time believers,” Popoola said. The deaconate ministry, which was commissioned in 2005, has opened-up the ordained ministry for both men and women. Persons who feel called of God to work in the vineyard can perform specific functions like the deacons in the Acts of the Apostles. This is an invitation to the laity to join in the harvest of souls, the Director explained.

Here are some major highlights of 2005:

January 2005

An annual retreat of Bishops, held at the Ibru Centre Agbarha-Otor Delta State announced the election of 9 new Bishops. At Agbarha-Otor, the House of Bishops decided to translate the Bishop of Gusau, the Rt. Rev Simon Bala to the missionary Diocese of Kubwa as her pioneer Bishop.

At the same meeting, a pastoral letter issued by the House of Bishops denounced the formation of a so-called splinter group in Nigeria, the Gospel Anglican Church, led by a former Anglican Priest, who appeared in the pages of some national dailies, addressed as Bishop of the Gospel Anglican Church.

The Nigerian Government issued license to Ajayi Crowther University. The first University to be owned and managed by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

The 68-year old Archbishop of Bendel Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of Sabongida-Ora, the Most Rev Albert Agbaje died at 68. He died while in active service.

February 2005

A meeting of the Anglican Primates at Newry, Northern Ireland asked the Episcopal Church of America (ECUSA) and the Canadian Anglican Church to withdraw from the Anglican Consultative Council- a key body and one of the four instruments of unity of the Anglican Communion. The decision by the Anglican Primates was interpreted as a victory for the traditionalists, who are sternly opposed to homosexuality.

March 2005

Archbishop Agbaje was buried in his hometown, St James Anglican Church Ibillo, Edo State Nigeria.

Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) met in Kaduna under the theme “To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice”. The Kaduna meeting resolved that the Nigerian Church will not ordain women as priests for now but the issue may be revisited in the future. In Kaduna, the Episcopal synod- house of Bishops- elected John Garba as the new Bishop of Gusau. He succeeded Bishop Simon Bala who went on translation to the Diocese of Kubwa.

In a nearly-4-hour service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Abuja, 10 new Bishops were consecrated. The Primate, the Most Rev Peter Akinola presided. The same week, in a record time of 7-days, 9 new dioceses around the length and breadth of the country were inaugurated by the Primate.

Anglican Students in tertiary institutions under the aegis of Anglican Students Fellowship (ASF) stormed Gwagwalada, Abuja for their 2nd biennial Conference. The theme was ‘Restoring the Ancient Landmarks. The conference reminded the over 2000 students delegates of the need to protect the orthodox Anglican tradition amid flamboyant hedonistic practices gaining grounds around the world.

April 2005

A carefully worded statement by the Primate of Nigeria announced the formation of Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in America. (CANA)

In a pastoral letter announcing the convocation, the Primate said the ministry of Church of Nigeria in the US will provide a safe harbour for worshippers who feel estranged because of the revisionist agenda of some North American Churches.

In the same month of April, the Primate published a letter to members of the Church intimating them about the recent developments of the Anglican Communion particularly the outcome of the Primates’ February meeting in Northern Ireland. He talked about the intransigence of the North American Churches on the issue of homosexuality. He dismissed it as unfounded the alleged influence of external forces on some Primates in their decision to suspend the North American Churches.

May 2005

In apparent reaction to some Muslim groups campaigning for a Jihad, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), through her Presidents-In-Council issued a strong-worded letter condemning calls for a Holy-war or Jihad in the country. The Presidents in-council chaired by the CAN President, Archbishop Akinola, warned on the consequences of such calls and hinted that Christians in Nigeria would do anything to resist the return of religious terrorism in the country.

June 2005

The 13th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) held in Nottingham London expelled the North American Churches to the period leading to the next Lambeth Conference in 2008. Indeed, what the ACC did was to ratify the February decision by the Primates, who met in Ireland. The ACC said they were unconvinced by the justifications offered by ECUSA and Canada for their actions in ordaining an openly homosexual bishop and authorizing same-sex blessings.

July 2005

A meeting of the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria at the Cathedral Church of St Matthew Benin elected a new Archbishop of Bendel Province. Bishop of Asaba, the Most. Rev Nicholas Okoh assumed the see of Bendel Province following the demise of Most Rev Albert Agbaje. The same meeting translated Bishop Christian Efobi of Yola diocese to Aguata and Bishop Daniel Yisa of Damaturu to Minna. Three new Bishops were elected for the dioceses of Sabongida-Ora, Kwara and Ijebu-North.

In Benin, the man at the centre of the storm in the diocese of Warri, the Rt. Rev Edafe Emamezi was announced as the new Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Western Izon. Since 2003, ethnic tensions between different groups in the oil rich but war torn city had prevented the Bishop-elect, Emamezi, from assuming the See. The diocese remained without a substantive Diocesan.

August 2005

The Church of Nigeria reacted to the recent statement by the Bishops of the Church of England on the Civil Partnerships Act. In a statement through the Primate, the Nigerian Church described the recent law which allows persons of same-sex to live together as marriage in everything but name. The Nigerian Church called for a disciplinary action to the Church of England -the same meted out to ECUSA and Canadian Church- should it fail to renounce her support for the partnerships act.

The 48th National Anglican Youth Fellowship Bible Study Conference was held in Owerri. Over 7000 delegates attended the Conference which met under the theme ‘Going with God in Times like This’.

September 2005

The 8th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria was held in Ontisha. The theme of the Synod was ‘The Body of Christ’. The Synod took major decisions including the amendment of the Church’s constitution. In a landmark amendment, the church in a bid to protect herself from what is considered wrong teachings by some Western Churches deleted references subjugating her to the See of Canterbury from her constitution.

In the course of the Ontisha meeting, three Bishops was consecrated while another three were elected, including a missionary Bishop to Congo.

Archbishop Akinola addressed a World Press Conference in Abuja to clear the air on decisions reached at the General Synod. Prior to the meeting, media speculations- particularly from the west- had predicated that the Nigerian church would announce a split with the Church of England and go ahead to lead a major re-alignment in the over 70 million Anglican Communion worldwide. The Primate described such speculations as misconstrued. He also spoke about the state of the nation and the historic dedication of the National Ecumenical Centre now National Christian Centre.

October 2005

A magnificent Christian Worship Centre formerly National Ecumenical Centre was dedicated in Abuja. At exactly 11.55am on Sunday October 2, 2005, the following pronouncement was made by Archbishop Peter Akinola:

“I, Peter Akinola, by Divine Providence the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on behalf of all the Christian faithful at home and abroad. “Do hereby set apart, hallow and dedicate this National Ecumenical Centre as a House of prayer for all people and an instrument of unity of all Christians in Nigeria and we hereby pronounce, decree and declare the said centre to be so dedicated and set apart from all profane and ungodly uses. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”

The 45th Independence anniversary service also took place same day and the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) used the occasion of his sermon to challenge President Olusegun Obasanjo to take the war against corruption beyond the current level that appears superficial and inadequate.

In October, as part of her resolve to position dioceses to be fully self-sustaining and self-financing, the Church of Nigeria organized an economic empowerment seminar in Lagos. It was attended by all Bishops, Clerical Synod secretaries and treasurers of the 94 dioceses in Nigeria.

Three Bishops were consecrated at the Christ Church Cathedral Marina including the First missionary Bishop to Congo. The Primate of Congo, the Most Rev Diropka Fidelle was among the many dignitaries that attended the service.

A meeting of global south Anglicans held in Egypt resolved among other things to set up theological institutions that are relevant to the historic teachings and formularies of the traditional Anglican Church. The group condemned most Western theological schools describing their institutions as ‘compromised’

November 2005

The Church of Nigeria announced a covenant with the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America, signaling the implementation of the amended constitution. Chapter 1 Section 3 of the constitution states that “The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) hereinafter called “The Church of Nigeria” or “This Church” shall be in full communion with all Anglican Churches Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as the Lord has commanded in His holy word and as the same are received as taught in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordinal of 1662 and in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.” With a name change, they now become part of CANA, The Convocation for Anglicans in North America.

December 2005

Vibrant Bishop of Bauchi, the Rt. Rev Laudamus Ereaku died in an auto crash in Bauchi.

The much talked about Civil Partnerships Act finally came into effect in the United Kingdom. Over 1000 same-sex partners registered for the union that allows same marriage rights as heterosexual partners. Despite denials of the marriage intentions of participants, a retired Bishop blessed a homosexual union between a priest and another man. The leadership of the Church of Nigeria had warned on the consequences of such despicable act to the church and the society. Up till now, though the Church of England says it does not sanction homosexual marriages, she is yet to strongly denounce the civil partnerships that have publicly considered themselves as 'legaly married'.

In his Christmas message, Archbishop Akinola warned about the Christless celebration of Christmas. "Christmas essentially reminds us of God’s sacrificial love and self emptying to reconcile us to Himself. Without accepting this truth, we have no business in this celebration......As we celebrate, let us keep in focus the theme of repentance, reconciliation and healing in our minds. Let us humble ourselves and confess our sins to God."

In his new new year message for 2006 released at the close of 2005, he urged all to remove masks of deception saying "The year ahead is clean, open and ready for us to leave our marks upon. If we turn to God, repenting of our sins, removing all the evil masks of deception, corruption and wickedness, and dedicate ourselves to the goals of the fear of God, honesty, justice and selfless service to humanity – we can safely anchor our hope for the best in God who never fails."

Welcome 2006!

(Church of Nigeria News)