Be loyal to relevant authorities, Archbishop cautions youth
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Owerri, August 12, 2005- At the opening of the 48th National Bible Conference of the Anglican Youth Fellowship (Nigeria), young people have been reminded to always uphold the Constitution of the Church and be loyal to relevant authorities.
In his address of welcome, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri, the Most Rev Bennett Okoro said: "the Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF) is not a separate body from the Church, and can only find relevance within the goals, objectives and programs of the Church.
Archbishop Okoro, who declared the conference open Thursday, on behalf of the Primate, the Most Rev Peter Akinola urged the executives of the AYF to urgently address the issue of humility and submissiveness.
In 2003, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) adopted ten provincial structure known as ecclesiastical provinces, each headed by an Archbishop.
"The insistence of some of the Officers of the AYF to continue to hold onto the former three provincial structure which is now defunct is counter productive, as it is no longer necessary."
He urged members of the fellowship to desist from giving any recognition or support to any structure no longer recognized by the National church.
On the theme of the conference, ‘Going with God In Times Like This'- Exodus 34:9, the Archbishop said it has been carefully chosen to buttress last year's Conference theme 'Living By Faith'.
He stressed: "It is indisputable that a time like this (the dispensation in which we find ourselves) is very horrible."
Describing the time as perilous, Okoro said: a period of hooliganism, vandalism, violent murders, brigandry, false asceticism, syncretism/occultism, indecency, disobedience and shallow belief in God.
He called on the youth to say no to societal vices such as cultism, adding, "embrace education and be professing and possessing Christians, by living out the gospel message”.
Earlier, the President of the AYF, Mr. Godwin Oguguo Nathaniel commended the evangelism efforts of the present Primate, which has led to the creation of more dioceses.
According to him, the creation of additional dioceses was in line with the vision of the Church tagged Mission 1-1-3, which aims to double Nigerian Anglican membership in three years.
