First, my earlier article on official church news items was incomplete. Several further press releases have followed:
2007 Episcopal Retreat Press briefing Q & A : Abp. Akinola answers questions on Elections, Niger-Delta, Lambeth, and other issues. This includes the following:
Primates February Tanzania meeting and the homosexuality issue
We are not going to Tanzania to discuss gay marriages. We are going to Tanzania because we are Primates of the Church and we have many things to talk about and to pray about. We come together primarily for fellowship as Primates, we come together to study the word of God and to think together on various matters that concerns our provinces. So the gay marriage thing is not the main agenda. It may rear its ugly head again but it is not the main agenda.
Church of Nigeria Bishops and Lambeth 2008
We are part and parcel of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Lambeth Conference is called once in every ten years for all Anglicans Bishops therefore it is our conference. What we are saying in Church of Nigeria and in many other provinces in Africa is that for us to gather all over the world as many as 800 Bishops, and to build that consensus and to agree on certain things, and for some to say “well it doesn’t matter; we can continue things in our own way”. Then think of the financial implication, think of the risks involved. For 120 Bishops from Nigeria to travel to England, consider the financial implication. It will not cost any diocese in the country lest than N1million – for the delegates and other expenses-. We are talking about N120million and we are going to spend three weeks there. And then on return, there is nothing to show for it, that is what we are arguing against. So, we are part and parcel of Lambeth Conference, but we are challenging the authorities that before we come, we have to be sure that we are not coming for a Jamboree. We are coming for serious business and we have plenty of time before Lambeth to decide whether we are coming for a mere jamboree or a serious conference.
Press Release : 20 new bishops elected : Names of newly elected bishops and their dioceses
Church on the MOVE…: Rare glimpse into activities surrounding election of bishops.
Second, there has been this report in the Wall Street Journal In Nigeria, a Bill To Punish Gays Divides a Family which has also been reproduced at The Nigerian Village Square. This legislation is not mentioned in the press briefing.
At House of Rainbow, Rev. Jide repeatedly encounters his own family struggle in members of his flock. “The biggest issue,” he says, “is people have been wounded in their family by being rejected, by being totally unloved.”
Ah, Conservative Evangelical family values. Gotta love ’em, eh?
Beats me why the WSJ article should go along with our official church releases. Why is Thinking Anglicans joining those that see nothing else in the Church of Nigeria except the homosexual issue.
Also the article is flawed in that Jide and Father’s misunderstanding dates back to 2004 while the yet to be ratified bill was proposed in 2006. Is this timing as deliberate as the NYT Christmas story?
Anyway, I hope readers see what our bishops are talking about and not what some others want to present us preoccupied with.
Apparently, there are many more indigenous, non-western African LGBTQ citizens in Nigeria than we were first told by the ConsEvs forces, including ABN Akinola. The changes are surely coming to Nigeria as much as to the rest of us, thanks in no little part to the witness of South Africa holding forth equalities on the same continent. Given the deprivations common in Nigerian prisons, I would not be surprised if a multi-year sentence were a de facto death sentence in terms of the risks – both of violence by other inmates, and disease due to medical-physical neglect. If prison sentences… Read more »
Wow! Why do we bother taking the time for choosing an election committee, writing a profile of the diocese, inviting nominations from the whole of TEC, reading resumes, conducting background checks, interveiwing candidates in their home parishes, inviting the finalists to meet with members of the diocese in a week-long series of open meetings, and then hold an election at our annual council?
This is SO much quicker.
Imagine a million Nigerian bucks, just to send a bishop to the conference for a few weeks – they must be traveling/sojourning in high style?
I think it works out at about USD 8000.
Also the article is flawed in that Jide and Father’s misunderstanding dates back to 2004 while the yet to be ratified bill was proposed in 2006. Is this timing as deliberate as the NYT Christmas story? Can’t see that this qualifies as a flaw. Surely the point is that TEC is now being gripped by an issue (that of churches wishing to come under Nigerian oversight): the use of this story is not some conspiracy – it just acquires particular relevance for the US readership at this present, now that a wider US audience is becoming aware of the tensions… Read more »
The idea that the NYT and WSJ are deliberately timing their stories to harm the Church of Nigeria is peculiar to say the least. The Journal is no friend of gay rights, and having the Times’ very damaging story appear on Christmas morning, a day of low readership and low internet usage, was probably the best Archbishop Akinola could have hoped for having said the self incriminating things he said.
Tunde, The bill is symptomatic of something greater. It shows that there is in Nigerian society a deep seated aversion to homosexuality. This aversion is exhibited in ways which, far from making gay people feel a need to repent of anything, drives them to dispair. It divides families. It causes grief, hardship, and misery. If you really wanted to convert gay people to a celebate and, as far as you are concerned, Godly life without the sin of homosexuality, you would want to find ways to preach that message so that your intended audience could hear it. Instead, you have… Read more »
Very sad and very moving. But also in a strange way hopeful, witnessing to God’s love and the love of God.
drdanfee wrote: “Given the deprivations common in Nigerian prisons, I would not be surprised if a multi-year sentence were a de facto death sentence in terms of the risks – both of violence by other inmates, and disease due to medical-physical neglect.”
So were these sentences when introduced in England little over a century ago.
Re: Church on the move…
I wonder what the clergy and laity of the CANA churches is thinking knowing that they have been shut out of the elections to the episcopate altogether. Who is going to elect the next Martyn for them?
“We are part and parcel of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Lambeth Conference is called once in every ten years for all Anglicans Bishops therefore it is our conference.” +Peter Akinola of Nigeria Amazing. +Akinola THEN wants to project the “outcome” of Lambeth so he can decide if the “spiritual investment” will balance out the “financial investment” (meanwhile he keeps increasing the number of Bishops to add to his financial “strain” and add to his “voting” clout). Perhaps +Akinola ought try and hire the “Holy Spirit” directly to advise him “free lance” in advance of any “listening” type revelations that may… Read more »
Dear Canon Tunde, When will Bishop Akinola “listen” to LGBT Christians at Changing Attitudes at the Anglican Church of Nigeria? Will Bishop Akinola and his many “Bishops” attempt to resolve social problems/differences at “Changing Attitudes Nigeria” with LGBT Christians before venturing abroad for the Lambeth Conference? Isn’t it sane and more rational for +Akinola to STOP threatening us on the subject of LGBT relationships until he knows more “details” about LGBT “relationships” (both intimate and merely social) in NIGERIA and beyond? Ought +Akinola stop the “war drum” beating and strident warning to us against *possible* Lambeth “off” conversations/topics that he… Read more »
drdanfree & Göran —
The anecdotal evidence that was shared with me is that gay men are not expected to survive their prison sentence (& don’t). As in Victorian England, lesbians are really a non-issue.
Hm. Prior Aelred’s comment above means that the position of the Anglican Nigerian church might be said to be less compassionate than that of sharia law: to condemn someone to a moderately quick deat by stoning is probably preferable to the cruel and unnatural punishment which imprisonment with extra-judicial execution presupposed. This is a position of which no Christian can possibly approve, and I think Tunde needs to explain how he squares support for the Nigerian legislation with his compassionate concern for the gay community in his country. I don’t believe that an appeal to ‘double effect’ would cut much… Read more »
Perhaps if Akinola can be convinced it is a mere jamboree the 120 might not turn up…
Mind you, there are 2 famous examples of people that survived Victorian prisons on bread, water and knocking on stone… Oscar Wilde and a painter whose name I forgot who in his after-prison life drew in chalk on the pavement he slept on outside the National Gallery.
“So much fresh air!” he said.
The denial alloyed with fear in AB Akinola’s declarations make me think things are not going quite as well for the realigners as they would have it.
Somehow…
mysterinpost=David Rowett, above, accuses the Nigerian delegation of intending to live the ‘high life’ when they come to Lambeth – an almost-but-not-quite libellous allegation as it stands. He bases this on Akinola’s statement that it will cost each diocese no less than N$1m to send its delegation, a figure he says is ‘roughly’ US$8,000. The latest currency conversion I can get is that it is actually US$7,800, or about £4,000 sterling. I understand that bishops sometimes go to Lambeth with spouses who have a special Lambeth programme organised for them. Typical airfare at the moment is £450 each. Add on… Read more »
John,
The conference is not scheduled to take place in London.
Mr Richardson:
you will note that the words ‘imagine a million bucks….’ are words of Drdanfee.
My own small contribution is to convert the Nigerian currency into something more internationally recognisable, the US Dollar, and to have read my post otherwise seems strange. I would NOT make reference to ‘a million bucks’ and then gloss it at about USD 8K, would I????
Please pay attention at the back there!
“Perhaps +Akinola ought try and hire the “Holy Spirit” directly to advise him “free lance” in advance of any “listening” type revelations that may occur at Lambeth that he may disapprove of!” But he doesn’t need to. The Spirit, if present at any gathering of the Church can only speak so as to quote Scripture. Anything else is just “following the traditions of men”. So he knows how Lambeth should turn out, he’s merely now trying to figure out if Lambeth will quote Scripture, which will indicate to him the action of the Spirit, or if it will attempt to… Read more »
It would be so lovely if the C of N could incorporate the rite of consecration to the episcopate into the rite of initiation — baptism, chrism, first communion, ordination – why not ? BTW I had never considered that Lambeth Conferences were much more than jamborees. Though Bishop Richard Holloway, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, likened the atmosphere and episcopal behaviour of the last presided over by George Carey, to a Nuremberg Rally. And he cancelled his planned retirement so concerned was he about the goings on in the AC – prophet or what ? He remained in… Read more »
Well the per capita income figures on the net are so far not quite clear. One site reports that the per capita income is 1, 154.00. But doesn’t say for certain whether this is USA Dollars or Nigeria currency. Either way, a million Nigeria seems like quite a lot compared to 1,154.00 in either Nigeria currency or changed USA dollars. It is still possible that outside realignment funders will warm to the notion of paying to send Nigerian bishops to Lambeth, if Nigeria attends. There is lots of money on the USA right, no doubt about it. Viewed it would… Read more »
Just as a continuation of discussion on the longevity prospects of a Nigerian prisoner, the US state department released a report on Nigerian prisons in 2005 which included the following. “Disease was pervasive in the cramped, poorly ventilated facilities, and chronic shortages of medical supplies were reported. Prison inmates were allowed outside their cells for recreation or exercise only irregularly, and many inmates had to provide their own food. Only those with money or whose relatives brought food regularly had sufficient food; petty corruption among prison officials made it difficult for money provided for food to reach prisoners. Poor inmates… Read more »
Göran asked: ‘Mind you, there are 2 famous examples of people that survived Victorian prisons on bread, water and knocking on stone… Oscar Wilde and a painter whose name I forgot who in his after-prison life drew in chalk on the pavement he slept on outside the National Gallery.
“So much fresh air!” he said.’
That would be Simeon Solomon
If Rev Jide Macaulay were to be an Anglican in the church of Nigeria, Oh dear the world must by now be reading that a new Scammer has joined the race. Slowly and clearly the world will come to know that facts and pains we are feeling in Nigeria because of the actions of the Nigerian Anglican Church Supporting that Bill that will make us an outcast in our country. Most of us have been separated from our families and many disowned by their family. All WE Request from ++Akinola is to create a safe place for us where we… Read more »
“Bishop Richard Holloway, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, likened the atmosphere and episcopal behaviour of the last presided over by George Carey, to a Nuremberg Rally.”
My bishop was appalled: “They were so angry, you can’t believe how angry they were” he said to me.
Swedish bishops are invited to Lambeth – no explanations given, but remember Dr Reuterdahl, the Archbishop of Upsalla was invited to the first Lambeth conference (he agreed with Bishop Colenso on Dr Darwin, but declined the invitation).
Göran commented: “Bishop Richard Holloway, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, likened the atmosphere and episcopal behaviour of the last presided over by George Carey, to a Nuremberg Rally.” There was an interesting article penned by Andrew Brown on the subject of the last Lambeth. Originally written for Granta, an edited version eventually appeared in the Church Times. I did not get the impression from it that Lambeth was a happy occasion. Another source told me of the strange logic which enabled (I think) a Ugandan prelate to insist (after Augustine of Hippo)that heterosexual sex was only for the purposes… Read more »
I think it was Peter Selby, Bishop of Worcester, who likened the debate to a Nuremburg Rally. The bishop doesn’t really matter. The character of the debate does. I was there, and it was foul.
Dear mynsterpreost I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were quoting someone else in your post. The words weren’t in quotes, so I misread it. Ditto thanks to whoever pointed out the conference isn’t in London, but at the University of Kent. The point (obviously) I was making is that it seems a bit ‘rich’ to accuse Nigerians of coming over to the UK to ‘live it up’ courtesy of being at the Lambeth Conference. I’m sure their own folks back home are capable of raising an eyebrow or two if the figures given are suggesting any such thing. I presume… Read more »
As a PS, I think in drawing attention to the figures given for sending the Nigerian delegation to Lambeth 2008, we may be missing the point Akinola is making, which is that it is so expensive they might not come at all, meaning they would save the money.
Akinola’s frugality seems one way if you stay just with the money – he is a poor struggling church leader, and has better things to spend on than attending frilly expensive church parties with despicable queer-friendly believers who soon will be finally defined out, as non-Anglicans, God be praised and God be willing. If you allow that money comment to sit in the other chairs Akinola has occupied as a realignment leader – Don’t worry about Rowan, he will do what we tell him to do – or – Who needs Canterbury? – or – I don’t hate queer folks,… Read more »
Money issues complaints are maybe part of the continuing realignment Nigerian smoke screen, just as passing comments on the Muslim death penalty for queer Nigerians helps to deflect us and obscure the death sentence that Akinola is confortable dealing out to citizens like Rev. Jide. All maybe just in case this whole inevitable realignment movement to judge and condemn queer-friendly or science-friendly believers or all the other former varieties of worldwide Anglican believers – suddenly goes sour on Akinola. That would mean some of his comments being seen, pretty much for what they are in context, cultural and historical, instead… Read more »
I’m perplexed about this notion that Lambeth ’08 might be a “jamboree” – at least if I’m reading that word in its colloquial, pejorative sense rather than that used in the scouting movement. I guess bishops will come together to spend time in prayer and worship; to give and receive hospitality and welcome to each other; to study the scriptures in depth; to re-invigorate ministry through engaging with one another. There will be some rest and relaxation both before the main programme and during it; and some formal statements to be agreed and issued in the name of the conference.… Read more »
There is a big obsession about being on the right hand of God. There is a misconception that the left hand is unsaved and unwanted. David did not guard only one side e.g. “…though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left.” (see 2 Samual 16:5-14) Plus in Zechariah 12, God makes it clear that both the left and the right will be rebuked. Interestingly this passage also tells us that “The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not… Read more »
Simon,
See what I mean, Our bishops had a retreat where the gay issue was not on the agenda. You graciously added it and the usual TA folks forgot about most of the bishop’s statements from the retreat.
THANKS
David Walker wrote: “I guess bishops will come together to spend time in prayer and worship; to give and receive hospitality and welcome to each other; to study the scriptures in depth; to re-invigorate ministry through engaging with one another.” 800 of them? at the same time?? after Dromantine??? David Walker wrote: “There will be some rest and relaxation both before the main programme and during it; and some formal statements to be agreed and issued in the name of the conference.” Just a reminder: a Lambeth Conference is a conference in the ancient sense. Get together. Conversation, sharing. Tea… Read more »
‘…Our bishops had a retreat where the gay issue was not on the agenda. You graciously added it and the usual TA folks forgot about most of the bishop’s statements from the retreat. ‘ My understanding of a retreat must be very different. Retreats do not have ‘agendas’ or produce ‘bishops statements from the retreat.’ Retreats are being alone with GOD together, & together alone with GOD. Maybe the good bishops needed to have spent a lot more time on their knees. Time for the heart’s Adoration, before the blessed Sacrament exposed. GOD not politics. Silence not more words…. Is… Read more »
“Time for the heart’s Adoration, before the blessed Sacrament exposed.”
LOL. My understanding of the tradition of most African Anglicanism, especially that of Nigeria, is that this would cause more than a little consternation. My worry with the rise of Evangelicalism is that those of us who find great spiritual comfort in such an act will one day be cast into the outer darkness along with the gays and their sympathizers as the quest for True Evangelical Purity continues.
Laurence : yes, the problem is that they would only come back….
This quote came through from Sojourners today: “The only purpose of the gospel is to reconcile people to God and to each other. A gospel that doesn’t reconcile is not a Christian gospel at all. But in America, it seems as if we don’t believe that. We don’t really believe that the proof of our discipleship is that we love one another (see John 13:35). No, we think the proof is in numbers … Even if our “converts” continue to hate each other, even if they will not worship with their brothers and sisters in Christ, we point to their… Read more »
Clearly Nigeria has assumed leadership for many of the disaffected primates of the Global South, no doubt partly because of its size, but unquestionably also because of the personality & opinions of its primate, but as the primates’ meeting approaches, I think we need to be clear that the Akinolists have NEVER accepted the Windsor Report — NEVER! The WR does not condemn TEC or New Westminster because their actions were contrary to Scripture but because their actions were not in keeping with the current mind of the WWAC & that they should stop (but NOT asking +Gene to resign)… Read more »
‘Laurence : yes, the problem is that they would only come back….’
Possibly Mike !
On the other hand, possibly changed, perhaps beyond immediate recognition, like characters in The Cocktail Party
Thanks for this message Cheryl. Encouraging and inspiring.
What is the Sojurners ?