The Anglican Church has set guidelines for special guests in programmes organised by any of its parishes.
This may be a response to the recent ‘unholy’ use of its platform by the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Wike had used the opportunity to speak at the St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, during a thanksgiving service on July 6, to say that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, would never emerge as Nigeria’s President, as his time had passed.
The thanksgiving service was for the successful projects’ commissioning by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the FCT. Wike also claimed at the service that people were following Obi without knowing who he was.
But the Anglican Church, in a statement signed by its Director of Communication, Mr Korede Akintunde and shared on social media, said henceforth the church would no longer tolerate the excesses of its guests.
Though the church did not mention the FCT minister in its statement, it said the decision of the church was born out of the recent development, which may not be unconnected with the Wike Episode.
The statement titled, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Sets Guideline for Its Churches to Receive Guests in any Service or Programme, quoted a memo signed by the Primate of the Church, The Most Rev’d Dr. Henry Ndukuba.
In the memo which was released on Friday July 11 during the episcopal consultation of the church holding at Nike Diocese in Enugu, the Church stated that ‘in the light of the recent developments that have raised concerns about the use of the church services as political platform with the attendant potential compromise of its integrity, it hereby provides guidelines for receiving politicians and government officials in any of its church services and other church programmes.’
While noting that the Anglican Church will continue to maintain a welcoming and respectful environment, it would nevertheless uphold its neutrality and commitment to its mandate and core values.
The memo emphasised that in the light of the mandate of the Church and its inclusivity, the church cannot afford to be partisan in any of its programmes.
It also informed that the church will henceforth guard against speeches and whatever else that may cause division and partisanship.
To achieve this goal, it stated that all parishes should henceforth have a pre-discussion with any guest who is expected to address the church to guide such guests accordingly.
‘It must be clearly communicated to the guest that the church should not be turned into a political platform for disseminating partisan issues.
‘The presiding officers of the church must avoid making statements or conducting themselves in any manner that may be seen to be serving political or any sectional interest.
“No church official is expected to eulogise church guests in any manner that will bring the church to disrepute’ the memo stated
Guests, as much as possible according to the memo, should not be encouraged to use our lectern while addressing the church, because the lectern has been consecrated for reading the word of God.’
Despite these guidelines, the memo noted that the church should not shy away from discussing with the government issues that are of interest to the faithful and society at large.
The Anglican Church further promised that it would continue to live as the light of the world and the salt of the earth according to Matthew 5:13-14 in addition to upholding the government and society at large in prayer and giving godly guidance to all in authority.
New Bishops and Archbishops
At the end of the Episcopal Synod, the church announced the elections of two clergymen to fill the current vacant Sees of Osun North-East and Ilesa South-West.
They are The Ven. Dr. Samuel Adekunle Ola Osungbeju as the bishop-elect of Osun North-East Diocese and The Very Rev’d Dr. Adebola Ojofeitimi as the bishop-elect of Ilesa South West Diocese
Also, two current Archbishops were re-elected for a second term of five years as follows: Bendel Province, The Most Rev’d Dr. Cyril Odutemu, and Jos Province, The Most Rev’d Marcus Ibrahim
Primate Ndukuba, according to Akintunde’s statement, “urged all faithful to pray and support these newly elected servants of God and their families as they go into their new places of assignment at a time like this, after all the due processes, training and consecration are concluded.’