By Motunrayo Adetola
I watched an abridged video of the episcopal ordination of the Rt Rev (Dr) Funke Felix-Adejumo (FFA), which happened in Akure, Nigeria a few days ago.
There are theological objections to women becoming Bishops that have been made elsewhere that are sound but that is not my concern in this write up.
Pentecostal-Charismatics have typically mocked the traditional (called Orthodox) churches in Nigeria for having priests, wearing robes and using titles such as Reverend, Canon, Father, Bishop etc. Now, Pentecostal folks are hypocritically embracing the same.., with vestments and titles but bringing the Pentecostal disorder in tandem.
If they have chosen to copy an existing tradition with almost 2000 years old of doing ordinations (since the Pentecostal tribe is barely 100 years old), they can and should as educated folks do minimal research, invite Bishops in the Methodist or Anglican tradition to lunch to lecture them or whatever.
The Pentecostal Bishops from some (Pentecostal) College of Bishops from what I saw looked like Cherubim and Seraphim Bishops. Some wore red, purple, white zuchetto (bishop skull cap) and another wore none.
Her husband wore a biretta. The Bishopric robes were different and yet they were of the same college and tradition electing FFA a bishop as announced by the leading bishop, Francis Wale-Oke.
When it came to handing over the insignia of the office of the bishop, they had an “Archbishop” Osa-Oni there but it was “his eminence” Francis Wale Oke a Bishop, who ran everything.
When time came for putting vestments on her, the “Archbishop” gave her the cope (long robe), another bishop placed the pectoral cross but Bishop Wale-Oke whom they called Baba gave her the mitre (long cap) and the crozier (staff). 🤔
Just wondering for jurisdiction sake, there are two croziers in their church now (Funke’s and her husband), and both are full Bishops, what are the jurisdictional boundaries of each bishop?
A few things however at the ceremony do gladden if the oaths will be taken seriously. Bishop Wale-Oke asked and FFA affirmed the following.
- She is persuaded the Bible contain sufficiently all doctrines of necessity for eternal salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ.
- She is determined to instruct the people committed to her charge.
- She will exercise herself in the same Holy Scripture so that she can teach and exhort and convince those who contradict the Truth.
- She is ready and with all diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous doctrines and both privately and openly to call and encourage others to do the same.
I wish Sister Funke well. If she takes seriously the oath she swore to above, many will certainly hear the gospel.