Open letter to Archbishop Williams from Bishops of the Church of Nigeria

Church of Nigeria

An open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury from the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria meeting in Osogbo, Osun State

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the one and only Lord Jesus Christ.

We write to you out of profound love for our beloved Anglican Communion and recognition that this current crisis in our common life together is an unrelenting source of anguish for you and for all concerned.

We have reviewed the paper “A Most Agonizing Road to Lambeth 2008″ that was made available to us by our primate, the Most Rev’d Peter J. Akinola. We found it to be a compelling summary of many of the key events and meetings of the past ten years. It highlights the intractability of our current crisis.

We are persuaded that a change of direction from our current path is urgently needed and write to assure you of our willingness and commitment to work towards that end. We have noted your desire that the proposed Lambeth Conference be a place for fellowship and prayer and an exploration of our shared mission and ministry - all of these are of course commendable aims.

We all know, however, that the pressures of the present situation would adversely affect the outcome of the conference unless there is a profound change of heart; for how can we as bishops in the Church of God gather for a Lambeth Conference when there is such a high level of distrust, dislike and disdain for one another? How can we meet as leaders of the Communion when our relationships are so sorely strained and our life together so broken that we cannot even share together in the Lord’s Supper? It would be a mockery and bring dishonour to the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the King.

We are also concerned about the abuse directed towards those who hold to traditional views on matters of Human Sexuality. The spate of hostility in the UK is alarming.

We are all witnesses to:

- The presence of placard carrying and leaflets distributing campaigners at the last Lambeth Conference distracting Bishops who travelled thousands of miles for fellowship. These protesters effectively shifted the focus of the conference to human sexuality - as if that was all that mattered.

- The physical assaults against clergymen with opposing view, such as your predecessor attacked in his own Cathedral pulpit, and a Kenyan bishop assaulted by two people dressed as clergymen.

- The occasion when your own General Synod was disrupted by protestors angry over the handling of the Canon Jeffery John issue.

- Recent attempts to mandate unbiblical views in the UK through force of law and the protests and attacks by activists determined to disrupt and intimidate any group that seeks to uphold biblical teaching.

In truth anyone who does not embrace revisionist views is a potential target. We know it is possible to provide some security to minimize such occurrences but is the additional cost justifiable? Would the resultant atmosphere of fear and uncertainty be conducive to the goals of such a large gathering of bishops?

These are all matters of concern but in our opinion there is a way forward.

The proposed Anglican Communion Covenant is the one way for us to uphold our common heritage of faith while at the same time holding each other accountable to those teachings that have defined our life together and also guide us into the future. It has already received enthusiastic support from the majority of the Communion. Therefore we propose the following action plan:

As a matter of utmost urgency, call a special session of the Primates Meeting to:

a) Receive the responses made by The Episcopal Church to the Dromantine and Dar es Salaam Communiqués and determine their adequacy.

b) Arrive at a consensus for the application of the Windsor Process especially in Provinces whose self-understanding is at odds with the predominant mind of the Communion.

Set in motion an agreed process to finalize the Anglican Covenant Proposal and set a timetable for its ratification by individual provinces. This cannot be done at the Lambeth Conference because it is simply too large and, we all know, the Anglican Covenant requires individual provincial endorsement and signature.

Postpone current plans for the Lambeth Conference (as has been done before).

This will:

a) Allow the current tensions to subside and leave room for the hard work of reconciliation that is a prerequisite for the fellowship we all desire.

b) Confirm that those invited to the Lambeth Conference have already endorsed the Anglican Covenant and so are able to come together as witnesses to our common faith.

We make these proposals in good faith believing that they provide an opportunity for us to reunite the Communion consistent with our common heritage and give us a way forward to engage the world with the holistic Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ.

Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
September 13, 2007


    Comments & Responses

  1. Christian concert denied funding by university
    Plug pulled despite past approval – payment OK’d for ‘Coming Out Week’ newspaper ad:
    http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/201396

    Approximately 95% of Professors, Administration, and Staff at Universities are Left-Wing Socialist Liberals.

    Posted by  on  09/16  at  10:29 PM

  2. The communique of the ‘Bishops of Nigeria’ is just one more piece of evidence of their lack of understanding about the constitution of the Anglican Communion.

    To ask the Archbishop of canterbury to cancel, or even postpone, the next Meeting of the Bishops of the Anglican Communion at Lambeth in 2008, is tantamount to asking Archbishop Rowan to renounce his position as ‘Primus Inter Pares’ in the Communion.

    The historic circumstances of the Lambeth meetings is that the Canterbury Primate invites those Bishops who accept his titular jurisdiction to meet together for prayer and discussion of the affairs of the Anglican Communion around the world - without prejudice.

    This invitation is at the sole discretion of the
    holder of the Office of the Canterbury Primacy and is not a perquisite available to any other of the Instruments of Unity within the Communion.

    Therefore, for the Archbishop to resile from his historical privilege in hosting the traditional Lambeth Conference, it would need something more tangible than a request from a coterie of bishops who do not even recognise his historic jurisdiction within the Communion.

    Posted by  on  09/17  at  08:40 AM

  3. I kept wondering the kind of patoral oversight Father Smith gives his congregation or the kind of congregation they are.  Are they alongside with their leader walking towards meeting God someday?  Do they believe in God at all? What are his perceptions about God?  Does he see the Church as a mere charity organisation with no underlining notion of believers as pilgrims (as in John Buyan’s Pilgim Progress).  Or he may not even have a congregation but a group of followers whose carnal mind find fulfilment.

    Perhaps answers to these question will enable me save valuable time reading his comments to issues that are of eternal consequenses.

    Dave

    Posted by  on  09/19  at  02:56 PM

  4. In response to (Mr?) Fadugba’s questions:

    1. The congregation of which I am a part is situated in Aotearoa/New Zealand - a part of the Global South, which recognises its ‘True North’- the historic Anglican Communion - dedicated to the service of Christ, and the World for which Christ died.

    We believe in the mercy and kindness of a Loving God, whose will it is that ‘none should perish but find everlasting life,’ through the Gospel - the Good News of Jesus Christ. Note, this is not ‘Bad News’ which some itinerant preachers might have the world believe, because God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only-Begotten Son....”

    2. Yes we are sinners and pilgrims, walking together with the Christ, the uniquely Sinless One, who has already revealed himself to us in the Eucharist. So, we are not only walking towards God, we are walking with him, in the Person of Jesus - to be apprehended in the sacred mystery of his Body and Blood - “He who eats my flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life already, and I will raise him up at the last day”
    “Where 2 or 3 gather together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.... You will know they are my disciples by their love” words of Jesus in the scriptures you claim to uphold (as do we).

    3. We do not regard the Body of Christ, The Church, as ‘a mere charity’, but it ought to embody the Charity of Christ: “Where Charity and Love are - there is God”. - a canticle sung in the Liturgy of Holy Thursday.

    4. Our minds are not carnal - that is an aspect of our bodies - as it was an aspect of the Body of Jesus: “The Word wass made FLESH (i.e. carnal) and dwelt among us. We are an Incarnational Church - a fact which I can see does upset some people - those who deny the place of the body in worship (a non-sacramental church) of the One True God. We are not disembodied spirits here. However, we do recognise that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit - being sanctified by God from within - not by any works of our own.

    5. We also are a community which celebrates the Sacraments of Christ (which he left to the Church) on a daily basis - in recognition of the fact that “The WORD became FLESH and dwelt among us - and we beheld (and do behold) his glory, the glory of the only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” - The Gospel of John 1:14

    6. A wonderful prayer which recognises our daily need of Christ’s ongoing love and forgiveness which might help you to understanding where I, and my congregation are coming from (and going to) - and would commend to you, is this:

    “O God, in a wonderful Sacrament have given us the memorial of Christ: Incarnate, crucified, risen and glorified; grant that we, who are privileged to be partakers of his most sacred Body and Blood, may ever perceive within our selves the fruits of his redemption; who is alive and reigns with you, Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

    Posted by  on  09/20  at  07:22 AM

  5. Smith in post #4:

    3. We do not regard the Body of Christ, The Church, as ‘a mere charity’, but it ought to embody the Charity of Christ: “Where Charity and Love are - there is God”. - a canticle sung in the Liturgy of Holy Thursday.

    “Where...Love are-there is God”.

    Smith, Love is not God--God is Love.

    God’s Love is man lieth with woman in marriage-only.

    Posted by  on  09/20  at  08:08 PM

  6. Mister Morrow, please note:

    GOD IS ALL IN ALL - ergo- God is Love and Love is God - end of story.

    You need to be purged of your fascination with bodily function - especially below the belt.

    What are you afraid of, Mr. Morrow?

    Grow up!

    Posted by  on  09/21  at  05:37 AM

  7. Posting #6 should give all people a clear indication of the cancer within the Anglican Communion.

    Posted by  on  09/21  at  10:16 PM

  8. And posting number 7, just as likely to give all people a clear indication of the cancer outside of the Anglican Communion?

    Posted by  on  09/23  at  06:16 PM

  9. re: Smith, “Where...Love are-there is God”.
    For the Love of Sodom:
    http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/01/perspectives_for_the_love_of_s.php

    GOD IS LOVE

    “In this age of “Smile, God loves you,” it is imperative that the Biblical view of God’s love be boldly declared. The most tragic theological error of our day is the belief that love is the chief attribute of God. “God is love” of I John 4:8 and 16 connected with prejudice and Biblical ignorance have led to the error of “love is God.” The uninformed may think such statements minimize God’s love; whereas, the fact is, men have enthroned a deified love where holiness should reign. God who is love is maligned in this century by representing Him as loving without any regard for righteousness. The oversimplification of “God is love” has resulted in a dislike for doctrine in general and for distasteful passages, like “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom. 9:13), in particular. A system of doctrine built on the oversimplification of “God is love” leads to affinity with modernism and socialism.”

    “...error of “love is God.” ...oversimplification of “God is love” leads to affinity with modernism and socialism.”

    This is where Ron Smith is coming from-modernism and socialism.

    http://www.webbmt.org/EngHTML2/God Is Love.htm#1 GOD IS LOVE

    “Where...Love are-there is God” How about some more love...Is love for sodomy ‘God-given’?

    http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56920

    Some people love to rape women-in Smith’s World-"there is God”.

    Posted by  on  09/26  at  01:59 AM
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