Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA

Church of Nigeria Officials

General Synod Representatives

Jesus said: Go...make disciples of all nations, baptizing them..., teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Matt.28: 19-20

 

 

 

SOKOTO TO HOST GENERAL SYNOD IN FEBRUARY 

CONN/070107

Abuja, Jan. 31, 2007- The Anglican Diocese of Sokoto is upbeat as it prepares to host a special meeting of national church delegates.

Over 600 delegates of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) - comprising all bishops, and delegates representing the clergy and the laity- are expected at the special General Synod of the Church, scheduled for February 6th to 8th, 2007.

According to bishop of Sokoto, the Rt. Rev Augustine Omole the meeting is coming to the diocese for the first time, 17 years after her creation.

He said the gathering will provide an opportunity to forge better understanding between Christians and Muslims in the state.

Sokoto, one of Nigeria's states that embraced the Islamic Sharia code, is the seat of the caliphate and home to the spiritual ruler of millions of Muslims in Nigeria, Sultan Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III.

Bishop Omole said the Sultan was very enthusiastic about the gathering and quoted him as saying ‘this meeting is going to make Nigerians see Sokoto as a place that is open to all religious activities.’

“My doors are open even if you will bring all the delegates to come and chat with me in the palace.’’ the bishop quoted the Sultan to have said.

Bishop Omole’s words on the forthcoming meeting: “I have tried to build faith in our parishioners to see the gathering as evangelism in itself because the Church is coming to the state and the city of Sokoto.”

“If the saying that where the Bishop is, there is the Church then the meeting has achieved that. We are expecting over 90 bishops and for me that has spiritual implication.”

“It shows that Sokoto, an Islamic environment will see bulk of Christian leaders coming to her. It will be like God in human form coming to the city of Sokoto because as Christians we are God’s carriers and God is blowing the wind of change.”

“By the Grace of God and in the words of the Sultan, the meeting is going to make Nigerians see Sokoto as a place that is open to all religious activities.”

“The sultan said: “my doors are open even if you will bring all the delegates to come and chat with me in the palace.”

“It is going to be a history making event. It is expected that there will be an amendment of the constitution of the Church of Nigeria at this meeting. So it will be on record that this amendment was made in Sokoto.”

“This gathering will open Sokoto for Divine Blessing by the Grace of God,” Bishop Omole said.

The General Synod of the Church of Nigeria is a triennial meeting of delegates from all the dioceses in the province who gather to pray, share and encourage each other in the service of God and mission of the Church.

 

The Synod is the body responsible for any constitutional changes as well as appointments of many provincial officers. It also considers recommendations from the smaller Standing Committee which meets twice annually. The last General Synod was held in Onitsha, South East Nigeria in 2005 where a major constitutional amendment was made.

 

 

(Church of Nigeria News)