Monday 24 January 2005

Church of Nigeria elects Ten Bishops

Church of Nigeria elects Ten Bishops
By Peter Onwubuariri
CONN/040105
Updates: Church of Nigeria now has 91 dioceses
Abuja, Jan. 24, 2004- The Episcopal Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has announced the election of ten new Bishops.
In a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, Director of Communication of the Church of Nigeria, The Rev Canon Tunde Popoola said the election was made at the Bishops’ meeting held in The Chapel of St Peter, Ibru Centre Agbarha-Otor in Delta state.
The names of the new Bishops are the Very Revd Ezekiel Ayodele Awosoga, formerly the provost of the Cathedral of Our Saviour Ijebu is now the Bishop of the Diocese of Ijebu.
The Revd Canon Solomon Gberegbara, formerly of St. Simon’s Church, Deken, as Bishop of Ogoni Missionary Diocese.
The Very Revd Mathew Osunade, formerly of The Cathedral of St. James. Ibadan, as Bishop of Ogbomoso Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Samuel Chibueze Chukwuka, formerly of All Saints’ Catheral, Onitsha, as Bishop of Isikwuato Missionary Diocese.
The Revd Canon Johnson Chibueze Onuoha, formerly of Our Saviour’s Church, Garki, Abuja, as Bishop of Arochukwu/Ohafia Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Joseph N. Musa, formerly of St. James’ Church Suleja, as Bishop of Idah Missionary Diocese.
The Rev. Chigozirim Onyegbule, formerly of Holy Trinity Church, Ubakala, Umuahia, as Bishop of Ikwuano Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Duke Timothy Akamisoko, formerly Director Ecumenism and Inter-Faith Dialogue in the Primate’s Office, Abuja, as Bishop of Zonkwa Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Babatunde Joseph Adeyemi, formerly of The Church of Pentecost Festac Town, Lagos, as Bishop of Badagry Missionary Diocese.
Also, The Rt. Rev Simon Bala, formely Bishop of Gusau Diocese in Zamfara Sate was elected the Bishop of Kubwa Diocese in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He is on translation.
The consecration of the new Bishops has been fixed for March 13, 2005 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Church of Nigeria News (CONN) reports that the Episcopal synod last September approved the creation of additional nine dioceses, bringing the total number of dioceses to 91.
The Nigerian church has ten ecclesiastical provinces each administered by an Archbishop. The provinces include Kaduna, Jos, Abuja and Ibadan. Others are Lagos, Ondo, Bendel, Niger-Delta, Owerri and On the Niger.

Thursday 20 January 2005

Diocese of Jos celebrates 25th Anniversary

Diocese of Jos celebrates 25th Anniversary
By Susan Essam and Peter Onwubuariri
CONN/030105
Abuja, Jan 20, 2005 - The Anglican Diocese of Jos held its 25th anniversary at St Luke's Cathedral Jos, on January 10.
The event included the launching of the diocesan booklet containing photographs of the past and present Bishops of Jos namely The Rt. Rev Samuel Ebo (1980-1984), The Rt. Rev T.E Adesola (1985-1991) and the Rt. Benjamin Kwasi (1992- ), as well as a special Holy Eucharistic service.
Bishop Kwashi used the occasion of his sermon to announce the preferment of seven canons into the position of Archdeacons, as well as to kick-start the diocesan theme for 2005, Walking in the Light.
The preferred canons and their new areas of supervision are Rev. Canon Austin Eboh as Archdeacon of Pankshin Archdeaconry, Rev. Canon Chijioke Nlem as Archdeacon of Jos Central Archdeaconry, Rev. Canon Emmanuel Nyitsse as Archdeacon of Jos South Archdeaconry and Rev. Canon Jwan B. N. Zhumbes as Archdeacon Special Duties.
Others include Rev. Canon Stanley Fube as Archdeacon of Vom Archdeaconry, Rev. Canon Olumuyiwa Ajayi as Archdeacon of Cathedral Archdeaconry and Rev. Canon Henry Okozi as Archdeacon of Bukuru Archdeaconry.
Rt. Rev Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of Jos
On their preferment, the Bishop extolled the clerics as those who have made themselves available models in the service and ministry of the gospel.
“They have shown themselves honorable, trustworthy, willing and able to serve without counting the cost, and so we bring them before you for prayers and for support as they lead this Diocese in the next phase of our mission enterprise,’’ he said.
Reflecting on the strides of the Diocese of Jos in the past twenty five years, the diocesan said "we must thank God that Jos Diocese may not have been where it should be, but definitely we have moved forward.’’
Moving forward has brought the carving out of five more dioceses from the Old Jos diocese including Yola (1990), Makurdi (1990), Jalingo (1996), Otukpo (1996) and Lafia (1999).
Moving forward has also brought pains and gains as well. Some paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The Bishop acknowledged one of such as Bishop Adesola’s wife, who died in the `midst of huge responsibility’. The Bishop retired short after that incident.
He (Adesola) was one of the pioneer Bishops. He carried on from where Bishop Ebo stopped and he would be fondly remembered for splitting the Diocese into three in 1990, with Makurdi Diocese and Yola Diocese becoming missionary dioceses, leaving Jos with an area covering the present Plateau and Nasarawa States.
Looking ahead into the year, the Bishop stated that the focus of the clergy school, the synod and the entire ministry of Jos Diocese would be spurred on by the theme,
Walking in the Light.
His words: To be light means to preach and to teach what we believe and to live out what we preach and teach in the society. It also means that we must be honest in financial matters, in dealing with each other, regardless of sex or race or tribe for that matter.
On the relevance of the theme to the nation, he challenged believers to lead the campaign for truth and justice in the country but warned “it may cost our life; it will be lonely; it will be tough, rough and difficult, but what is our life worth now other than investing it in the eternal truth”.

Tuesday 4 January 2005

Church of Nigeria gets new Acting Director of Youth and Women Affairs
CONN/010105
By Peter Onwubuariri
January 4, 2005- The Revd. Canon Benjamin Idume has joined the Abuja Secretariat of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as the new Acting Director of Youth and Women Affairs.
Until his appointment, he was Vicar of the Good Shepherd Church Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the Diocese of Niger Delta North.
Ordained in 1996, Canon Idume has been involved in youth ministry as a lay worker in addition to having served as the National Prayer Director of the Anglican Youth Fellowship (Nigeria), 1987-2001.
"The youth and women are the livewire of the Church and they constitute 70 per cent of our congregation in the Nigerian Church. One major challenge is to improve youth participation in the Anglican worship and to stir our women into committed service to Our God," Canon Idume told the Church of Nigeria News.
He is married to Joy and blessed with three children. His appointment took effect from January 1, 2005.