Four Bishops for First Consecration Service in National Christian Centre
As Anglicans consecrate new Bishops for Warri, Bauchi, and Lagos Mainland and for America
CONN/0510806
Abuja, August 12, 2006, The imposing National Christian Centre (formerly National Ecumenical Centre) in Abuja will on August 20, host its first consecration service as the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) consecrates four new bishops including English-born US based clergy, the Revd Canon Martyn Minns as bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).
Canon Minns, 63, Rector of Truro Church, Virginia USA, will be consecrated along with three other bishops-elect in a service to be presided over by the Most Rev Peter Akinola. Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
The three other bishops-elect are The Revd Canon Christian Ide, 47, bishop of Warri, The Venerable Musa Tula, 44, bishop of Bauchi and the Very Revd Adebayo Akinde, 60, bishop of the newly created diocese of Lagos Mainland.
The consecration service is significant in the sense that it signals the commissioning of new mission to America initiated by the Church of Nigeria. It also marks the beginning of a new bishopric for the newly created diocese of Lagos mainland, a new bishop for the diocese of Warri; and a new bishop for Bauchi who succeeds the Rt. Rev Laudmaus Ereaku who died in an auto accident in December 2005.
The mission to America-CANA- was established in April 2005 as part of Church of Nigeria’s response to the lingering crisis in the US Anglican Churches brought about by controversial teachings regarding human sexuality and the bible. The Convocation is expected to provide a ‘safe spiritual harbour’ for millions of Anglicans affected by the teachings of the Anglican branch in the US. Some Anglicans from the convocation and other churches in the US still in communion with Nigeria will be attending the consecration in Abuja. Already CANA, duly registered for worship in the US has also registered her presence in the information superhighway with the release of a website, www.canaconvocation.org.
The Registrar of the Church of Nigeria, Mr. Abraham Yisa and Chairman CANA Board of Trustees said even though the Convocation was promoted by the Church of Nigeria, it applies to everybody that shares the same biblical faith with the Nigerian Church. Canon Minns like other network affirming Episcopalians remained in communion with the Church of Nigeria despite the impairment of relations with ECUSA over its revisionist teachings.
With the creation of an additional diocese, the Lagos Mainland Diocese, the Anglican Church will now have 95 dioceses in Nigeria with 3 other Episcopal missionary initiatives to Congo, North America (CANA) and a non-geographic nomadic mission focused on reaching the nomadic tribes in Nigeria and beyond.
As Anglicans consecrate new Bishops for Warri, Bauchi, and Lagos Mainland and for America
CONN/0510806
Abuja, August 12, 2006, The imposing National Christian Centre (formerly National Ecumenical Centre) in Abuja will on August 20, host its first consecration service as the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) consecrates four new bishops including English-born US based clergy, the Revd Canon Martyn Minns as bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).
Canon Minns, 63, Rector of Truro Church, Virginia USA, will be consecrated along with three other bishops-elect in a service to be presided over by the Most Rev Peter Akinola. Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
The three other bishops-elect are The Revd Canon Christian Ide, 47, bishop of Warri, The Venerable Musa Tula, 44, bishop of Bauchi and the Very Revd Adebayo Akinde, 60, bishop of the newly created diocese of Lagos Mainland.
The consecration service is significant in the sense that it signals the commissioning of new mission to America initiated by the Church of Nigeria. It also marks the beginning of a new bishopric for the newly created diocese of Lagos mainland, a new bishop for the diocese of Warri; and a new bishop for Bauchi who succeeds the Rt. Rev Laudmaus Ereaku who died in an auto accident in December 2005.
The mission to America-CANA- was established in April 2005 as part of Church of Nigeria’s response to the lingering crisis in the US Anglican Churches brought about by controversial teachings regarding human sexuality and the bible. The Convocation is expected to provide a ‘safe spiritual harbour’ for millions of Anglicans affected by the teachings of the Anglican branch in the US. Some Anglicans from the convocation and other churches in the US still in communion with Nigeria will be attending the consecration in Abuja. Already CANA, duly registered for worship in the US has also registered her presence in the information superhighway with the release of a website, www.canaconvocation.org.
The Registrar of the Church of Nigeria, Mr. Abraham Yisa and Chairman CANA Board of Trustees said even though the Convocation was promoted by the Church of Nigeria, it applies to everybody that shares the same biblical faith with the Nigerian Church. Canon Minns like other network affirming Episcopalians remained in communion with the Church of Nigeria despite the impairment of relations with ECUSA over its revisionist teachings.
With the creation of an additional diocese, the Lagos Mainland Diocese, the Anglican Church will now have 95 dioceses in Nigeria with 3 other Episcopal missionary initiatives to Congo, North America (CANA) and a non-geographic nomadic mission focused on reaching the nomadic tribes in Nigeria and beyond.
