15^th September, 2005.

Press Release :

CHURCH  OF NIGERIA REDEFINES ANGLICAN COMMUNION

With a careful rewording of her constitution, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) redefined her relationship with all other Anglican Churches.

All former references to ‘communion with the see of Canterbury’ were deleted and replaced with another provision of 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’.

Emphasis was also placed on the 1662 version of the Book of Common Prayer and the historic Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.

The Constitutional change also allowed the Church to create Convocations and Chaplaincies of like-minded faithful outside Nigeria. This effectively gives legal teeth to the Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in Americas (CANA) formed to give a worshiping refuge to thousands in the USA who no longer feel welcomed to worship in the Liberal churches especially with the recent theological innovations encouraging practices which the Nigerians recognize as sin.

Excerpt of the minutes read;

 ‘At the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion holding in Onitsha Diocese on the Niger on the 14^th day of September, 2005, the Constitution of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2002 was amended as follows: 

Chapter 1 Section 3

Chapter 1 Section 3 was amended by deleting sub-sections 1, 2, and 3, and replaced with new section 3, thus.

“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.”

Chapter IX Section 39 (a) – (f)

Add a new sub-section (c) and re-number the section thus

“(c) to create convocations, chaplaincies of like-minded faithful outside Nigeria and to appoint persons within or outside Nigeria to administer them and the Primate shall give Episcopal Oversight

Chapter 16 Section 75 add a new sub-section 8 thus

“(8) Convocation shall mean non-geographic collection of Churches and Mission”.

And re-number the rest of the sub-section. 

To ensure adequate care for the existing Convocation, the Episcopal Synod which met on Wednesday after the Holy Communion Service set up an Advisory Committee comprising of eight bishops, one Priest, and the Registrar of the Church.

The Members are:

The Most Rev. Maxwell Anikwenwa   Dean and Archbishop Province of the Niger,

The Rt. Rev. Ikechi Nwosu                             Bishop of Umuahia

The Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma             Bishop of Enugu

The Rt. Rev. Segun Okubadejo                      Bishop of Ibadan-North

The Rt. Rev. Benjamin Kwashi                      Bishop of Jos

The Rt. Rev. Caleb Maduoma                        Bishop of Ideato

The Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi                             Bishop of Lagos-west

Barrister Abraham Yisa                                  Registrar

Ven. Sola Igbari                                               The Director of Global Anglican Relations

They will initiate policy, and monitor implementation of the programmes of CANA under the supervision of the Primate of All Nigeria.

Signed:

The Rev. Canon AkinTunde Popoola

Director Communication