Global South Anglican

The vision is clear … we are to make disciples of all peoples. However, as he traveled along many rural highways it became clear to the Primate, Archbishop Peter Akinola, that large sections of his own country of Nigeria were without any significant Anglican presence. “It was a disturbing indictment of our ministry,” said Archbishop Akinola, even though with 19 million members, it is the largest Province, in terms of active membership, in the Anglican Communion. This became a personal challenge for the Primate, Archbishop Peter Akinola, whose passion to bring all people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is well known around the world. He has shared this vision throughout the Province and a number of missionary dioceses have already been established. This next unprecedented step was approved by the Standing Committee, when they met in Port Harcourt in September 2006, and so detailed preparations began that culminated in an amazing night of back-to-back elections.

“It was a truly historic event and one for which I am very grateful to God,” said Archbishop Akinola, who along with Archbishop Maxwell Akinwenwa, Dean of the Province, presided over this remarkable night. Ninety-three Anglican bishops most wearing traditional purple cassocks gathered in the chapel of the Ibru Ecumenical Retreat Center at Agbarha Otor. The Retreat Center is a sprawling complex of modern air-conditioned buildings surrounded by palm trees in the middle of the farmland of the Delta State in the Niger Delta region approximately 6 hours drive from Lagos. The theme for this annual retreat was “Empowered Leadership” a title that seemed most appropriate in light of the events that were about to unfold.

They began with an hour of energetic intercessory prayer for the nation and the church that was punctuated by spiritual choruses and loud shouts of praise. This was followed by a traditional service of Holy Communion and then the work began. Earlier in the meeting large maps of the various regions had been carefully examined and twenty new strategic areas for mission reviewed. A committee had worked with neighboring dioceses and regional leaders to choose a location for the new work and also gather the necessary resources for housing, transportation and financial support – 3 million Naira per annum for the first three years (approximately 12,000 pound sterling). Each area was then briefly described and the particular dynamics discussed – for example some of the areas are situations where there is virtually no Christian presence, others are places where new universities have been established, and still others where an influx of refugees present a unique challenge. Nominations were then made.

All of those nominated were clergy who had a demonstrated aptitude for dynamic evangelism and church planting. In some cases as many as four candidates were proposed and then the ballots distributed. As a team of election monitors including Bishop Martyn Minns, one of the newest missionary bishops, carefully counted the ballots there was a time for prayer and vigorous hymn singing before the results were announced. This pattern was followed for the next five and a half hours until 3:30am! By which time all twenty new bishops had been chosen – nineteen will serve in new missionary districts and one will fill a vacancy in an existing diocese. “You have taken three of my best clergy!” exclaimed Bishop Ben Kwashi of the Diocese of Jos where three new missionary districts have been established. His big smile however made it clear that he was proud to be part of this remarkable night.

Finally, there was an election for a new Archbishop for the Niger Delta Ecclesiastical Province – Bishop Ugochukwu Ezuoke of the Diocese of Aba - and ninety-three tired but jubilant bishops walked out into the moonlight aware that they taken part in a historic event. “This is a dream unfolding!” declared an exuberant Archbishop Akinola. Now they had to make plans for an unprecedented consecration that will have both national and international, significance. No one could think of a similar moment in the history of the Anglican Communion. This truly is a church on the move.