The Primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, is in Virginia, attending the annual council of CANA.
According to Episcopal Café
Asked about whether Okoh had sought permission to be in the diocese, Henry Burt, a spokesperson for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, said “Bishop Johnston received no request from Archbishop Okoh to exercise any ministry in the Diocese of Virginia. Unfortunately, the circumstances of this visit do not aid the process commended by the Windsor Report.”
According to Breakaway Groups Prevented Anglican Split, Nigerian Primate Suggests in the Christian Post
According to Okoh, the Church of Nigeria received the same sanctions as The Episcopal Church this year, which include removal from the Anglican Communion’s ecumenical dialogues and from a body that examines issues of doctrine and authority.
“The command of Scripture is that we should go everywhere and preach and teach. So we came here to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord. But instead of getting commendation, we are getting punishment or sanction,” said Okoh, who was elected as primate in September.
Criticizing the move, he commented, “To do so, to ban us … we believe they were not properly advised. So if you ask me whether there is justification for that, I will say no.”
Sanctions were proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, earlier this year for provinces that breach the three moratoria that leaders in the 77 million-member global body had agreed to since 2004. The moratoria include cross-border interventions, the ordination of partnered homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions.
The legal situation in Virginia is complex. Previously, in ADV motion for rehearing has no merit, and even earlier in Anglican District of Virginia files motion of appeal Episcopal Café explained the detail. In summary now:
In a motion for rehearing to the Virginia Supreme Court the nine churches in dispute with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia over church property earlier this month reversed field and instead of claiming they are a branch of the Church of Nigeria now claim that CANA is not a branch of the Church of Nigeria…
“earlier this month reversed field and instead of claiming they are a branch of the Church of Nigeria now claim that CANA is not a branch of the Church of Nigeria…”
CANA’s next legal claim: “Down is Up”.
I still think the “news” is that the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Virginia found significant evidence of division in the Episcopal Church to satisfy the Virginia statute. So much for the PB’s dismissive attitude that this is just the cries of a tiny coalition of the unhappy. This part of the ruling should cause all – liberal and conservative alike – to grieve.
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“CANA’s next legal claim: “Down is Up”.”
Well, that would certainly be consistent with their ecclesiological and other theological claims, which seem to be summed up neatly as:
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
And although CANA is not a branch of the Church of Nigeria, it has always been at war with Eastasia.
From CANA Annual Council
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Agenda.aspx?e=58ce8f59-8ca9-4c7b-9a45-b7d6e8d70466
“4:00 PM – 5:30 PM July 22, 2010
Bishop Minns: CANA’s Dual Citizenship in the ACNA & Church of Nigeria Clergy and congregations in CANA carry 2 passports: one that says we’re full fledged founding members of the new Anglican province called the Anglican Church in North America, and one that says we’re
full fledged members of the most vibrant province in Anglicanism, the Church of Nigeria whose 20 million active members account for at least
25% of the active membership of the Anglican Communion.
Leader: Bishop Martyn Minns.”
Baby Blue:
“I still think the “news” is that the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Virginia found significant evidence of division in the Episcopal Church to satisfy the Virginia statute.”
Uh, no, the Supreme Court unanimously said that the division statute was wrongly applied to this case by the original trial judge in the first trial.
The exact opposite.
My question is how much have CANA paid out in legal fees, and how much has been given to their episcopal friends in Nigeria?