First, a report on the Nigerian provincial website, about plans for growth and how these depend in part on finance. Read OVER 20 NEW DIOCESES TO BE INAUGURATED IN 2007.
Second, a report from Changing Attitude on Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) plans for Lambeth Conference. This suggests that quite a lot of money is available.
Update Tuesday
Mark Harris notes some editorial problems with the Nigerian provincial constitution in Revisiting The Church of Nigeria’s Constitution: An exercise in (mild) frustration.
Prayers for Nigeria, in light of the plane crash (including the death of the nation’s Muslim leader).
Lord have mercy!
I wonder how large a “fund” we could RAISE when appealing to LGBT people, our families, our friends and smart/sane folk everywhere/anywhere of ALL skin colors and religious flavors worldwide while ignoring +Akinola and his hatefilled nonsense/grandstanding and his silly campaign of promoting fear and international bigotry/stupidity? We could donate the “interest” from our huge “fund” to help heal ALL AIDS victims and AIDS Orphans in Nigeria, Uganda and beyond! +Akinola is having trouble staying focused on the REALITY of “what is REAL priority” in the Christian life. Digging other Christian and Muslim peoples graves is not a wise idea… Read more »
I will admit that I am unclear about the concept of “delegations” from Nigeria. I was aware that bishops might bring their spouses, but was not aware of any others. I was struck more immediately at the thought of 20 additional bishops from Nigeria. In “98 the great growth in Africa and Asia brought many new bishops from those provinces. Some reports have suggested that the sheer numerical change had some affect in driving the Lambeth statement on homosexuality, especially after the decision not to accept the prepared committee statement. In ’08 20 new bishops from Nigeria, equivalent of almost… Read more »
`If God is moving so powerfully in Nigeria we can all offer praise.’
My question is, how do you tell what is `God moving’ and what is political scheming backed-up by force of numbers?
Do you think ++Abuja’s had one of those Nigerian-sourced emails offering countless millions in exchange for a few bank details? If so, the bank balances of the entire province could be empty in weeks!
The news reproduced below, from the Changing Attitude Nigeria article, is very interesting indeed. Martin Reynolds+ has hinted recently that something like this has been going on in the background, but can anyone else confirm it? Just how big a disaster for Archbishop Akinola was the Kigali Declaration? Possibly related: the “Forty Days of Discernment” for Truro Church (Virginia), where the Nigerian Bishop Martyn Minns was formerly the Episcopal rector, are now over. No decision as to leaving the Episcopal Church has been made by the vestry. “What isn’t being generally reported is that the Nigerian leadership is now worried… Read more »
“Possibly related: the “Forty Days of Discernment” for Truro Church (Virginia), where the Nigerian Bishop Martyn Minns was formerly the Episcopal rector, are now over. No decision as to leaving the Episcopal Church has been made by the vestry.” On their website they have a brief notice that from Oct 29 to Nov 5 they are having a period of prayer and fasting. This is a new liturgical one on me. I thought these folks were against what they see as innovations. The time includes All Saints, the investiture of PB-elect Jefferts Schori, and, uh, ends on Guy Fawkes Day.… Read more »
“Each member of the Church of Nigeria has paid 5,000 naira (approximately £21 or $39) in advance to create an endowment fund which has been invested in banks and savings accounts. The interest on these deposits is considerable”
Usury funding the stacking of a political process. Even if you accept the 500 year old accomodation of usury, the political machinations seem pretty obvious, and not very Christian, IMNSHO. And here I thought the bishops gathered at Lambeth to seek the guidance of the Spirit. Just naive, I guess, and, in retrospect, perhaps not such a new thing after all.
‘ And, by the by, I hold the Church of Nigeria (Anglican) in some admiration for its firm stance on autonomy:
“Section5. In the interpretation of the aforementioned formularies and in all questions of Faith, Doctrine and Discipline, the decisions of the Ecclesiastical tribunals of the Church of Nigeria shall be final.”
Wonderful quotation from the Church of Nigeria Constituion, in the Preludium website (link above). In other words they only care for ‘what is hammered on their own anvil’ –but god help anyone else who tries it !
Sure – the Nigerian church is stuffing the ballot box by making new bishops! Get a grip! How many bishops are there in the US? 100 or so with jurisdiction? For a total of about 2 million members and ASA of about 700,000. Nigeria has 18 million Anglicans and most of them are in church on Sunday. How many bishops does it have? Would you like to do the math and determine who has a disproportionate voice at Lambeth based upon numbers? And what about the mother country? How many bishops does it send to Lambeth and how many worshippers… Read more »
Tim asks: “My question is, how do you tell what is `God moving’ and what is political scheming backed-up by force of numbers?” Simple enough – when TEC does it at GC, it is God moving. When the rest of the Communion acts (Lambeth 1.10, Windsor and Dromantine, Kigali, etc.) it is political scheming. What is truth, Pilate asked? Answer: whatever the majority says it is regardless of Scripture, 2,000 years of tradition and the common witness of virtually every Christian who has ever lived.
Rather atheism than the sort of christianity promoted by the Nigerian church
Colin seems to be referring to the Church of Nigeria Endowment fund which came about because the church need to fund a vision (http://www.anglican-nig.org/vision.htm) developed in the year 2000. This was long before New Westminster or Gene and is borne out of a desire to do mission without being hindered by paucity of funds. Over the years we have constantly evaluated the plans and progress of the vision. The goals and aspirations epitomized in the Vision statement however remain unchanged. I do pray that Colin and others will realize that we have been working with a vision that says; The… Read more »
“who has a disproportionate voice at Lambeth” See, DaveG, I would say human beings have by far the disproportionate voice at Lambeth. We are supposed to be listening to the spirit, not each other. As long as we think in terms of democratic, or monarchical, or any other kind of representation of OUR voice, at any such gathering, we are not only missing the point, but following our own ideas instead of God’s. We are not members of the Republic of God. It’s called the Kingdom for a reason, and the King isn’t ++Abuja, or any other bishop or archbishop… Read more »
Thank you Ford – you are exactly right. And in light of that, please go back and examine the comment to which I was replying. Marshall Scott offered the perspective that “in ’08 20 new bishops from Nigeria, equivalent of almost 20% of the bishops of the Episcopal Church, could affect any balance within the Lambeth Conference, should Nigeria decide to attend Lambeth.” And now please also examine TEC’s contentions as to why the election of +VGR is no one’s business but that of TEC. After all, didn’t a majority support that innovation? What are we to make of a… Read more »
“This number were expected to join in a mass protest against western tolerance of LGBT people in the Anglican Communion.” This quote initially made my blood run cold. But, on further contemplation, I think it would be a good idea. I would venture to bet that, were there to be such a protest, opposition to “western tolerance of LGBT people”, in itself an appallingly unChristian statement, would be exposed as based not on biblical principals, as these “Conservatives” do vainly talk, but upon hatred pure and simple. Those who fall for the “hate the sin, love the sinner” lie would… Read more »
That is not a quote from ++Peter nor from any Nigerian bishop. It is the surmise of the author of the article, someone belonging to Changing Attitudes. So if your blood runs cold, I guess the author met his goal — to inspire disdain for Nigerian Anglicans. Ford – Have you ever met Peter Akinola or spent any time with him? I have including some quality one on one time. He does not deserve to be demonized any more than does Bishop Robinson. He has implemented some terrific programs in Nigeria under conditions that none of us face – including… Read more »
DaveG, No, I haven’t, and I suspect that Nigerian Christians are enduring what you describe not only for their beliefs, but for ours as well. Mullahs do preach against Christians because of what they see as the decadence of the West in being tolerant to (ie not stoning) gay people. I have posted previously on what I think of us taking actions that will mean the lives of Christians half a world away. And the quote did not inspire disdain for Nigerian Anglicans. Fear of what their leadership wants to do to people like me, but not disdain. And in… Read more »