The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) website has published the text of some reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) concerning recent activities of Archbishop Peter Akinola.
See Law suits against traditional Anglicans demonic, says Akinola.
The full text of this is copied below the fold.
Scroll down even further for the full text of a second article titled Battle against unscriptural practices not over, says Akinola. Also copied.
So far, I have not been able to locate either of these reports at the website of NAN.
(h/t to Episcopal Café)
Law suits against traditional Anglicans demonic, says Akinola
Washington, Feb. 11, 2010 (NAN) Archbishop Peter Akinola, the outgoing Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has described as “demonic’’, the myriad of ongoing lawsuits instituted against orthodox Anglicans in North America.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Washington D.C., Akinola said the intention of the lawsuits was to stifle and annihilate the growth of the Church in the U.S.
NAN reports that the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary initiative of the Church of Nigeria, was established in 2005 to cater for Christians opposed to same-sex teachings.
The convocation, which disassociates itself from the U.S. Episcopal Church, says it has grown to about 95 congregations since its formation.
Akinola noted that the growth had not been without serious challenges.
According to him, the mainstream U.S. Episcopal Church had filed multi-million dollar suits over ownership of church property.
“It is (the law suits) a major challenge. It is not CANA going to court; it is the demonic powers in the so-called Episcopal Church that are suing CANA churches.
“They are fighting us with everything they have with the hope of crushing us.
“It is so ungodly, so demonic and they are determined to completely wipe us out and this is costing millions of dollars.
“Money that could have been used in more positive work of the gospel, is now being used for legal battle; it’s so sad,” he said.
The Nigerian Anglican leader, who in 2006, consecrated a former Episcopal Church priest Martyn Minns, as bishop of CANA, said some of the legal battles had been decided in favour of CANA and some against it.
“Where we have lost, our people have braced up to say that they will not bow down to Baal and they will not on the account of money go and do what is not right.’’ he said.
Akinola, who was in the U.S. for a farewell luncheon organised in his honour by CANA, also spoke on what he plans to do after retirement on March 25.
“Peter Akinola has been able to live a very active life and at the age of 66, it is not possible for him to go and sit down.
“With the help of parents, we have been able to incorporate Peter Akinola Foundation (PAF) which has five broad initiatives.
“Four are written down and one is kept in the mind.
“ The four that are written down have to do with youth empowerment, mission and evangelism, standing-in-the-gap (a programme for lukewarm members of the church) and the fourth one is continental- a concern to deal with African unity and economic empowerment,’’ he said.
He said that the N300 million Foundation would also initiate a programme to spur Christian leaders particularly those in Africa, to “wake-up’’ to their leadership roles and responsibilities. (ENDS)
Battle against unscriptural practices not over, says Akinola
Washington, Feb. 11, 2010 (NAN) Archbishop Peter Akinola, the outgoing Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), says the ongoing battle against unscriptural practices in the “Church of God’’ will continue after his retirement on March 25.
At a valedictory luncheon in Washington D.C, organised by the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), Akinola urged evangelicals in the Church to continue to stand firm against “huge problems confronting the Church.’’
“The problems that led to the forming of CANA are still very much with us; the battle is not over yet.
“Akinola is going to step down from this office but you dare not step down from this struggle.
“The schools which our children attend are filled teachers who are promoting this same evil agenda,’’ he said.
The cleric described as very fascinating the “story of CANA’’, which was established as a spiritual harbour for Christians opposed to liberal teachings of the US Episcopal Church.
“It was originally meant to be a church that will be a home for Nigerian Anglicans in this country.
“ We said we will not allow them to go to drift to some other churches, that was the initial plan.
“But in God’s providence, that little effort has resulted in this mighty tree called CANA and in that I rejoice,’’ he said.
Akinola insisted that he was not “retiring from preaching the gospel of Christ, saying “ I am transiting to another phase of work.’’
The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in spite of heavy snowstorms in Washington D.C on Wednesday, the organisers of the event braced the odds to organise the momentous event.
The occasion was laden with tributes from friends, priests, parishioners and Church leaders who lauded the visionary leadership of the 66-year old cleric.
Bishop Martyn Minns of CANA recounted Akinola’s humble beginning from a poor home and his growing into a “man with great passion for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.’’
“A man who is determined to be obedient to the word of God, who sees no problems but opportunities,’’ Minns, who was consecrated the first bishop of CANA in August 2006 in Abuja said of Akinola.
Mr Abraham Yisa , the Registrar of the Church and Chairman, Board of Trustees of CANA, thanked Akinola for his selfless service and jovially invited him to “ please apply for the position of a parish priest in CANA after retirement.’’
Emmanuel Kampouris, the publisher of Kairos, a Christian journal, said owing to Akinola’s commitment to the Holy Bible he had spoken at various events in the world “telling the hard truth in love and encouraging those facing fiery trials.’’
He commended his great courage, saying “ he is a Man who fears only God and we thank God for that.’’
Akinola will be retiring as Bishop of Abuja diocese, Archbishop of Abuja and Primate of Nigeria, a position he held for a decade.
The Primate-elect, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh is currently the Chairman, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC). (NAN) ENDS
The pain continues.
It is just the same old “who hurt the other first” question.
Does theft get a free pass and should it not be challenged in law courts?
Doesn’t the Bible decry theft?
Unfortunately, spin and whining and the “big lie” are the continued techniques of the -disappointed- right wing extremists.
I am trying to figure out why it is so hard to take seriously a man who refers to himself in the third person….
It could, of course, be that he is telling enormous lies–and slandering his coreligionists while he does it. But the “Royal We” adds that special patina of ridiculousness.
“WE are a grandmother !”
Doxy
Like so many before you, you are simply embarrassed by his humility.
Oh, and genocide isn’t demonic. What a joke.
And the Church of Uganda’s support of Anti LGBT legislation isn’t demonic?
Um, demonic? Sighs. Good grief Charlie Brown.
Expects Snoopy to walk in from stage-left and tell us that this was all a figment of fuss-budget Lucy’s sick imagination.
I suppose if anyone knows about “demonic” it would be +Peter Jasper of Abuja.
“It is not CANA going to court; it is the demonic powers in the so-called Episcopal Church that are suing CANA churches.”
Strangely enough, “Thou Shalt Not Bear FALSE Witness Against Thy Neighbor” is still in MY Bible.
Lord have mercy!
I guess all this latest might offer us a telling clue as to what the grrrreat bishop may be doing after his retirement. I note two failures right off, insofar as PofA utterly omits mention of either his Windsor Rpt condemned border crossings – mentioning Minns is a nice dollop in that regard, since Minns is a sort of embodiment of the border cross in the first place; and insofar as PofA also rushes by any connecting of his own sorry-shaggy antigay narratives and RW’s public apologies for these same/similar antigay narratives. It seems obvious that if TEC is doomed… Read more »
‘Expects Snoopy to walk in from stage-left and tell us that this was all a figment of fuss-budget Lucy’s sick imagination.’
This topic is taking a welcome turn towards sanity — if only Peter Akinola and the ‘religious right’ would turn to Snoopy.
Is anglicanism or Snoopy the most benefical to our world ?
“Emmanuel Kampouris, the publisher of Kairos, a Christian journal, said owing to Akinola’s commitment to the Holy Bible he had spoken at various events in the world “telling the hard truth in love and encouraging those facing fiery trials.’” He commended his great courage, saying “ he is a Man who fears only God and we thank God for that.”’ I think Akinloa’s fear of God is understandable (his own ‘fiery trial may yet be to come) – especially hearing his renewed rhetoric against the LGBT community while addressing the ACNA schismatics in North America. The putative ‘humility’ of this… Read more »
What is demonic are the behind the scenes plotting of the American Religious Right (ACNA) and Archbishop Akinola. It is truly a political war that is going on and it is all about the disenfranchising and marginalizing of the glbt community and women. It is everything that Jesus and his inclusive love are NOT about. It is shameful and the counterpart in the Roman Catholic Communion is the same reactionary elements that put Benedict (Joe Ratzinger) in the top spot as Bishop of Rome. In the long range, their hate filled rhetoric will come back to bite them and they… Read more »
““Peter Akinola has been able to live a very active life and at the age of 66, it is not possible for him to go and sit down.”
– Nigeria Anglican News-site –
This reminds me of my shcooldays. When any of us in class acted against propriety, we received six of the best. The result of all of that was what? We couldn’t sit down, either!
++Peter, please tell us the REAL story regarding the Massacre of Yelwa. ++Peter, why do you name-call, and harm, children of LGBT Christians by referring to them as ¨Hooligan Children¨? Speaking of Children, what has been your long-term ministry regarding stopping Child Witch sacrifices in Nigeria (they are increasing in number as I type)? Why have you not made a ¨Pastoral Visit/Adios¨ trip to The Anglican Church in Colorado Springs that you were Archbishop of until YOU and the others were ordered out of Grace and St. Stephens by the authorities for trespassing and more. I realize there is a… Read more »
Perhaps we should go to Malawi and ask Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimalanga about “demonic” court proceedings.
Yea, the Massacre of Yelva. Inquiring minds want to know about Demonic.
Re: the possibility of a possible “fiery trial” for Akinola, I’m not sure if that’s something any of us can predict, whether for ourselves or especially for others.
I for one hope that the Archbishop does indeed reach heaven. There he will be met by every gay saint in heaven and ushered in by an angelic choir of drag queens. Whether he enters through those pearly gates or flies the other way will be up to him.
I often wonder if bishops of the moderate mindset in The Church of England are just waiting for Akinola to be given enough rope to hang himself? He seems to be getting close to doing just that. Each statement he makes that devalues women and glbt people appears to backfire the same way that a similar event is backfiring in The Church of Rome. The progressive, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which represents the vast majority of remaining Religious orders for women in North America is being “investigated” by a reactionary Cardinal Rode in Rome. He has similar political views… Read more »
“I often wonder if bishops of the moderate mindset in The Church of England are just waiting for Akinola to be given enough rope to hang himself?”
How much more does this person need for these moderates to respond? Do they need to see Akinola to personally beat to death a gay person with his own hands?
Cripes.
“How much more does this person need for these moderates to respond? Do they need to see Akinola to personally beat to death a gay person with his own hands?”
Now, now Cynthia, we mustn’t interrupt the delicate negotiation process, or be bold enough to call a jerk a jerk. That might be demonic.
For some people in this world, if Akinola did beat a gay person to death, he’d probably be declared a saint on the spot and lauded as the perfect example of what a righteous Christian should do.
“For some people in this world, if Akinola did beat a gay person to death, he’d probably be declared a saint on the spot and lauded as the perfect example of what a righteous Christian should do.”
He’d be billed as a second Phinehas (Numbers 25).
Jus sayin… what are the odds that somewhere in PofAs extended family networks, let alone his church and African neighborhoods … gasp … one or two queer folks are actually alive and real?… just sayin…
“The (original) Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is appealing to the Commonwealth Court of PA seeking to overturn property disputes with the rump Diocese of Pittsburgh, arguing that they are the rightful owners. Attorneys representing the leaders of the diocese, including Bishop Robert Duncan, are appealing the decision of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County that determined the rightful trustee of diocesan assets to be the new Episcopal Church Diocese of Pittsburgh led by Bishop Kenneth L. Price, Jr. – David Virtue, of ‘virtueonline’ – And this is the sort of statement that David Virtue, of the oxymoronically-titled ‘virtue-on-… Read more »