CHRISTIAN INSTUITE
BISHOP'S CHARGE 1995
In the Name
of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Friends
We welcome you to this august occasion. For me it is unique. I have aready spent three years as Bishop, and this is the first
Synod Session in which I will preside over the election of new officers. So my welcome will be both to you who are coming to
Synod for the first time, and those who have been elected according to our guidelines, as well as to myself as this will be my first
time of witnessing election to offices as Bishop of this See. We implore each elected delegate to put in his or her best within the
period of the life of this Synod, so that it may be said that during our time we took decisions in accordance with the will of God
and we led the people to do the will of God. May we never fail in this. We have been called to a very serious responsibility in the
life of our Diocese, and we are believing that God who has called you will equip you for this big task and enable you to do his will.
We also welcome all our guests, distinguished personalities in the society, who are here to grace this occasion. Your friendship
and association with us has encouraged us and we thank you for the joy you bring to us whenever we call upon you.
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We also thank our Guest Speakers, the Rev.Dauda Dan Mallam, and Professor Jerry Gana. Both of these men of God are part
of my history in different ways. The Rev.Dan Mallam was my student as a Catechist soon after his conversion and he became
my student a second time for his ordination training. He is learned in the Koran, and is a pure blooded Hausa person from Kano
area. He literally learnt how to read and write with me. Today, the Rev.Dan Mallam can speak and read some English, but his
major gifts are in evangelism and preaching. We thank God for his life and pray God to bless and prosper his ministry.
Professor Jerry and Mrs. Lucy Gana have been close family friends since 1982. They welcomed me to Zaria and introduced me
to the Christian fellowship in Zaria, As a young unmarried clergyman they fed me, but more than that we have been prayer
partners since then. With the news of my accident in England, it was Professor and Mrs. Gana who prepared all the welcome for
me in Lagos, cleared my luggage, and blew the sirene ahead of me so that I might not be delayed, before parcelling my wife and
me safely to Jos. We congratulate them for serving in Government in difficult times, but they went, they saw and they served.
Our gratitude also goes to St.Piran's as a church. St.Piran's has broken loose and opened the doors of its church wide, wider
than I have ever known. As an Archdeaconry, we thank them for the great strides they are making in the fields of mission and
evangelism. We praise God for their exemplary life of sharing and caring. We are grateful to St.Piran's as a church for hosting
us for this Synod in its uncompleted building. We are grateful to their very generous members and to the dynamic team of
leaders. We thank God for the Archdeacon and his clergy and all the
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people who have laboured so tirelessly to make us comfortable for the period of this Synod. May the Lord reward you.
Our synod theme this year is:
"Rejoice in the Lord!"
(Philippians 4:4)
Josephine Rwaje is the wife of Bishop Rwaje of Rwanda. She attended the Mothers' Union Leadership Training in Mindolo,
Zambia, along with twenty others from all over Africa, including Gloria from Nigeria. While they were undergoing the training
news broke that Rwanda had gone into civil war. A day later the news carried pictures of killings and mass massacres of people
and of the destruction of property, including the church where Josephine had left her husband and children. With the help of
C.M.S., Josephine was later reunited with her husband and children. Not many are as fortunate in God's plan as she was.
News from around the world indicates that people would rather choose war than make for peace. In West Africa, Liberia has
been torn to pieces by war. Sierra Leone, close to Liberia, is battling with guerrilla warfare. In Algeria fundamentalists enjoy
destroying tourists' lives. In Egypt it is a similar situation. In Sudan, needless to say, even those who have escaped from the war
zone are being bombed to death by the government in Khartoum.
Economically there is nothing much to say about Africa except to describe its poverty. Here we are, with almost one country out
of three torn by war in its search for peace, and as if that were not bad enough, the economy is at
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its lowest ebb. Poverty has hit the soil of Africa so badly that many are better off dead than alive. The struggle for survival on
the continent of Africa leaves a lot to be desired. In Nigeria during the last three years not many people would have believed that
the nation would still be together by now.
Yet it is in this same context that the church is thriving and growing very fast in leaps and bounds everywhere. This is the cause,
the source and the meaning of our joy. The things around us definitely give us no reason to rejoice, but what God is doing
brings joy out of us and fills us with joy which is beyond human understanding.
Paul's letter to the Philippians hardly contains much reason for joy. First of all, Paul was in prison for no crime against the law of
the land. He had been preaching the gospel that sets people free from bondage to sin. This gospel liberates man from the
clutches of Satan, and those who believe in this gospel become children of God. The message is so revolutionary that it breaks
barriers of tribe, of race, class or status, and brings people into one strong fellowship where the peace of God rules supreme.
This message impresses in the hearts of those who believe a deep and strong love for God and a love for the brotherhood. It
also demands a public demonstration of this inward conviction in daily life. It is a faith that goes beyond mental and intellectual
assent. It bears fruit that abides. It is for
this gospel's sake that Paul was in prison.
At his first imprisonment in Philippi Paul, together with Silas, chose to praise God for his condition in prison, and God responded
by causing an earthquake which led to the conversion of the Philippian jailor. For Paul, therefore, it is not his condition that
matters, but the opportunity for the gospel to spread that brings joy, and this gives him great
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joy. At this second imprisonment, Epaphroditus, who was sent with help to Paul, became ill. This was like adding another load of
problems onto someone who was already in problems. The apostle, however, hardly sees it in this way.
The story of the young Philippian church indicates that there were at least two factions that disagreed badly. The letter also
shows that there were some who preached the gospel out of jealousy and some who were misinterpreting the gospel for selfish
ends. There is no doubt that the aim of Satan is to cause distraction, to bring sorrow to those who labour for the gospel, and to
create disharmony in the fellowship. Yet in the face of all this, the apostle insists that the joy of the believer cannot be stolen by
Satan because it was not given by him in the first place. The joy of the believer is eternally settled in the victory of Jesus over
Satan. The joy of the believer is knit together in the faith of the believer. Just as there is no substitute for the faith of the
believer, so there is no substitute for the joy of the believer. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!"
Our joy, therefore, is not controlled by whether Africa collapses or stands. Our joy is not controlled by the decision of a House of
Bishops abroad to ordain homosexuals; by those who advertise sin, disobey God, ridicule his word, and oppose the gospel; or by
hypocritical living or outright satanism. Yes, it may seem that Satan is winning; wickedness is on the increase and war is
engulfing the world. Indeed it seems as if we are controlled by the media and by the media's attempts to dictate our peace and
joy and contentment. The cable news every day advertises corpses from around the world. But we know more than that. We
know that people are being converted every day. We know that their conversion is real, genuine and Spirit-led. We see lives
changed from wild living to a godly
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living. We see families returning to one another through the ministry of the gospel. Sunday after Sunday we see people being
born again into the Kingdom of God. We see the Church of God growing stronger even when some people are growing weaker.
We rejoice not in what the media says, but in what God is doing. We rejoice, and again we rejoice, because in spite of
everything our God is in control of the universe. He has already won the victory and the victory is all ours if we believe in Jesus
Christ.
The belief in Jesus is a transformational belief, a belief that causes all things, indeed everything, to be nothing, except the goal
and satisfaction of having Jesus. Paul makes the point correctly when he says:
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to
the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I
may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from
the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
This is what matters, and yet the world would want us to believe that it is wealth, power and entertainment which have the
pre-eminence. Unfortunately, some
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preachers and churches have captured the world's vision. Such religious leaders collect for themselves power and become
wolves instead of shepherds. They cause a lot of distress and hardship in an already difficult and strenuous situation, thereby
making the people suffer and feel the effect of the bad situation twice over. For Paul, and indeed for every believer, it should be
known and be made known that power belongs to God, and that therefore for those who believe in Jesus Christ, to die is gain
and to live is Christ. This is a crucial fact and a comfort for the realization of our joy. Needless to say, the commercialization of
the Christian gospel has increased in our generation. Many have taken the world's system of entertainment into the church and
have made a mockery of the cross of Christ. For them, Christ must be an entertainer, and Christianity must present itself in a
way which will make them feel good, in order for them to be satisfied. The first side effect of this is, of course, that they are
unable to stand in the face of hardship. They know only a momentary happiness instead of joy. Worse than that, their faith, if it
is faith at all, is temporal and emotional. The joy that Christ gives is more than entertainment; it is not temporal; it is not
controlled by circumstances and situations: it is real.
"This is my commandment," says the Lord, "that you love one another. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I
have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full."
(John 15:12,10,11)
The apostle re-echoes this as he interprets the outworking of love and the command to rejoice, with a few warnings to the
believer. The believer must watch his faith and watch out for those who seek outward, temporal and
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ephemeral things instead of things which are permanent and of eternal value.
We are called to follow in the steps of Christ. Jesus himself calls us to follow him, and the apostle Paul invites us to imitate Christ.
The world wants us to believe that wealth is everything. Permit me to caution that money and wealth are good; they are gifts
from God; they can be a blessing. However, we must be careful always to remember that while money can be a great, wonderful
and faithful servant, it is always a terrible, wicked and merciless master. The apostle's admonition here is to be careful: we
should not live as enemies of the cross of Christ, for the end of that is destruction:
"Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their
shame. Their mind is on earthly things."
(Phil.3:18-19)
Those who remove the cross from the gospel of Jesus Christ have nothing to show in this life except their stomach, as their god
and their glory is in their shameful actions. Those who live like this have their minds set on earthly things, but we are called to be
citizens of Heaven, where Christ is. Therefore ours is to see what God is doing; to give him our absolute loyalty; to trust him; to
listen to him; to follow him and to obey him. To turn aside from this is to turn away from real joy. We are called to rejoice only in
the Lord. Outside the Lord there is no joy. In the Lord, however, our joy is full and overflowing, regardless of prevailing
circumstances.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!"
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Suffering sends us to our knees, to the doorsteps of humility, and sometimes to humiliation. Times have become so hard in our
country that a mudu of masara is now N25, a mudu of gari N17, and my missionary in the field earns about N600. Can you
imagine this church worker feeding a family on N600 a month? The official exchange rate puts one pound sterling as being
equivalent to N120 (or more). Meanwhile the purchasing power of the naira continues on a downward spiral. A small size loaf of
bread in Jos goes for N25. My own salary as Bishop is not more than ,25 per month, and even at that we are better off than
some others in the rural areas who do not have access to light, schools, hospitals, water and good roads. We have a
responsibility to share with them. No matter how poor we think we are, we must imitate Christ. This is the time each one of us
should look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others, and our attitude should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus:
"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus." (Phil.2:4-5)
Jesus Christ left his glory in heaven and became man, and became poor for our sake in order that we might become rich.
Although he himself committed no sin, he died on the cross for our sins in order to make us righteous and acceptable to God.
He took our nature so that those who receive him may receive the nature of God, behave as children of God, and become
co-heirs with Jesus Christ of the inheritance of heaven. First, however, we must take the humble path of giving ourselves for
others, the path of sacrifice and of surrendering our comfort, our time and our resources for the good of others. By doing
this we
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demonstrate in practical terms the love of Jesus to a lost world. All who have done this have always known the joy of the Lord
which is the strength of the believer. Whatever your situation today, therefore, let us take on the path of Christ and we shall
know and experience the peace and the joy of the Lord.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!"
EVANGELISM
The opportunity to share in the ministry of the gospel in Southwell Diocese (U.K.), and in West Bridgford in particular, was a
memorable one. I felt, and I know, that I received more than I gave. To God be the glory! The hospitality and the generosity of
the people and of the Anglican Churches of West Bridgford (St.Giles', St.Paul's, Holy Rood, St.Luke's) will never be forgotten. I
had time to share the gospel from the pulpit, at Bible studies, prayer meetings and other organised meetings, as well as in simple
day to day activities and casual meetings with individuals and groups. I met with different kinds of people, and my faith has since
been greatly enriched. For me the ice was broken in the field of evangelism. A day before my final preaching engagement my
right achilles tendon was broken on the squash court, and I was hospitalized. It was a miracle that I was able to preach from a
wheel chair. I quote from a local newspaper, the Nottingham Evening Post:
"A Nigerian bishop, who has been visiting four parishes in the West Bridgford area, preached his final sermon from a wheelchair.
The Rt.Rev.Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of Jos, Nigeria, came to Britain via the Church Missionary Society interchange scheme at
the invitation of
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the parishes of St.Giles', St.Luke's Gamston and Bridgford, Holy Rood Edwalton, and St.Paul's Wilford Hill. But he almost missed
his final engagement at St.Paul's Wilford Hill, after badly tearing an achilles tendon two days earlier. Richard Meredith, C.M.S.
Area Secretary, said, `It was only his tenacity and infectious good humour which persuaded hospital staff at Queen's Medical
Centre to release him for an evening, prior to an operation.' The Bishop returned to Jos yesterday."
However, while on my sick bed, I received convictions on mission and evangelism not only for Jos Diocese, but beginning with Jos
Diocese and then spreading out to everywhere else. In a separate vision our Diocesan Missioner, while praying and seeking
God's face, received a similar conviction, and so we mapped out a programme for a Diocesan Mission Week. That Diocesan
Mission Week has come and gone, but the mission and evangelism has only just started. The general reports will be given in the
course of this Synod and to the glory of God you will hear of tremendous exploits of the power of God at work in the lives of
young school children, pastors, old men and women, and all who participated. New churches were started, and we received
reports of congregations coming back to life, pastors witnessing for the first time in their lives, door to door evangelism, mass
rallies, music, drama, and so on, and so on, to the glory of God. May I assure all the Christian people here that this is only the
beginning! The actual Mission Week is a whole life style. Daily, everywhere, anywhere, any time, we have been called to live the
life of Christ in a time like this, where poverty, suspicion, hatred, suffering and dishonesty are rampant. The Lord has called us
to be salt and light in this world. There is no compromise to this and no substitute. In fact, there is no negotiation, unless we
have not been born again by the Spirit
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of God, unless we are fake. True spirituality in Jesus Christ calls us to stand firm:
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because
you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
If our conversion is genuine, if Jesus has truly come into our lives, then obedience to Christ is a must. Living the life of Christ is
natural and following in his steps is a joy. Rejoice, therefore, that you have been called by him, and again I say, Rejoice!
We aso received a vision to place every pastor in our Diocese in a location where he would have a missionary experience, two
weeks of sacrifice. The instructions given to each pastor were as follows:
1. Consult the list of Missionary stations and fill in the dates. You are to spend a minimum of 2 weeks doing mission in your area
of assignment. This should be completed before the end of June.
2. You are expected to evangelize; to make disciples; to start a church (if there is not one where you are going); and teach the
church to be able to stand when you leave. The same church should not only feel the impact of your missionary visit, but should
carry on the mission after you.
3. Do not go with your car, motor cycle or bicycle. Do not take more than your transport money (to and fro) from your local
church. You are on a venture of faith and God will meet your needs according to his riches in glory.
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Most clergy have been on their missionary experience and have come back. The results are plain for everyone to see. There is
more joy in serving the Lord faithfully than in the things that we see or possess. One of the clergymen experienced what the
early missionaries saw in the last century. He came to a place where there were no Christians at all and he led the first convert
to Christ. The man and his four wives turned to Christ and there is now a young congregation in that place. Everywhere, the
professional clergyman had so much to share; the doctors, accountants and teachers encouraged and blessed the young faith
of many, as well as making new converts.
The reports of this missionary experience and of the Mission Week will be put together by our Mission Department for our library.
This kind of placement will be open next year to lay men and women, members of our church, and to Christian people from
overseas who would wish to spend their vacation here, or have some time to spare on a short term basis in our Diocese doing
mission work. In the same way we are open to any denomination here or abroad that needs men and women of various
vocations and callings for short term missionary service anywhere in the world. We continue to facilitate and to solidify our
manpower base by training people for service of this kind in the Christian Institute.
There is much work to be done and we should not delay. A report published in 1979 of the unreached peoples of the world
indicates that the following peoples are unreached with the gospel:
35,000 Alago people
10,000 Ankwe people
60,000 Basakomo people
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100,000 Basa people
80,000 Eggon people
500,000 Gbari people
150,000 Jarawa people
35,000 Koro people
These, I suppose, are people groups within Plateau State in our Diocese. Along with these are many of the younger generation
who have never heard the gospel. There are also teeming thousands who have not been firmly established in the faith and have
drifted into syncretism, various heresies and modern cults in search of the true gospel. The labourers are truly few while the
harvest is ripe.
I must conclude this section by noting that our theology of mission is Bible based: it is not just a matter of activities and of being
busy. During this Mission Week some churches did not do as much, but later God opened doors in some areas for mission. In
other places God moved with the people differently, but the underlying common denominator is obedience to our Lord's
command:
"Go, and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19)
Whatever it will take for us to assist people to hear this command, to understand it, to accept it and to obey God, we will do. This
is our joy. Our emphasis in this regard is to get people back to the Bible, new converts and old must go back to the word of God
because the word of God is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, able to cut through the heart and able to discern
the thoughts of man (Hebrews 4:12). The word of God must be taught. Reading the word of God, memorizing and meditating
upon
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it bears fruit that abides. And for evangelism to take root, prayer from all the community of faith must be part of the church's life.
For when we pray for evangelism, we are praying in accordance with God's will:
Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his
harvest field." (Luke 10:2).
When we go for evangelism we do not go to advertise sin, human weakness, failure and disobedience, but we actually confront
these with the gospel of love which is able to change disobedient hearts, and subject them to the power of the gospel. Therefore
we insist on the true gospel which calls for the conversion which proves itself in conduct. True conversion is seen at work in the
quality of the life of the convert. We have a responsibility to train ourselves and new converts to turn away from sin and to turn
to righteousness and holiness.
MOTHERS' WEEK
It is with joy and gratitude to God that we report the work of women in our Diocese. We are a privileged diocese. The
international headquarters of the Mothers' Union, Mary Sumner House in London, organised training for provincial Mothers'
Union Trainers from Africa. Three trainers were approved for Nigeria: Mrs.A.Adepoju for the west, Mrs.E.Mesigo for the east,
and our own Mrs.Gloria Ladi Kwashi for the north. The first part of their training took place in Zambia in April 1994, and there
five of them were selected to conduct training for Mothers' Union members in U.K. for a period prior to their own month's training
at Selly Oak, Birmingham. Again Gloria was one of the five.
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Last year the Mothers' Week was celebrated in a new way, but I only heard stories about it. This year I was privileged to be there
to see a display of their arts and crafts and handiwork; a competition was organised for the best marching group from the women
in the churches; and there was a novelty football match between young members of the Mothers' Union and senior citizens who
are members of our churches. The match ended one nil in favour of the women. I was the referee and, needless to say, that
goal was forced down my throat! The Grand Finale was followed by Thanksgiving Services in our various churches. We
celebrated ours with our family at St.Andrew's Church, Anglo-Jos. We praise God. The celebration drew crowds from the cream
of society in Plateau State and beyond.
We thank God for the activities of the women, for their dynamism and vision. They have a dream to build a hostel facility for
University girls and single ladies. The hostel facility will host the Mothers' Union headquarters of the Diocese, shop, canteen,
kitchen, cafeteria, and recreational facilities. Every member of this Diocese is called upon to support this God-sent vision for the
uplifting of the life of the women and for the progress of the work of evengelism. Three hearty cheers for our women!
In recognition of the good work of the women and of the dynamism of the leadership, it is our pleasure formally to receive
Mrs.Gloria Ladi Kwashi, a Provincial Trainer, a Lay Reader of the Diocese of Kaduna, and the wife of the Bishop of Jos, and to
issue her with our Licence as a Lay Reader of the Diocese of Jos.
NIGERIA
Ours is to continue to pray for our nation Nigeria. I must quickly make a note that Nigeria is made up of you
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and me, the church, muslims, pagans and other settlers. We are called as a church to be peace-makers and that is the only way
to recognise the children of God. This nation has seen enough turmoil and confusion. Those who call for sanctions on Nigeria
have not seen the suffering of the majority of the poor populace of Nigerians. Many Nigerians now have imposed sanctions on
themselves simply because the only available alternative is sanctions. Next to it is death. In my work as a pastor and Bishop I
have watched a young boy die for lack of money for medical care. Some members of my church have come to me crying and in
need of food, in fact they come from beyond our denomination and my office these days is like a social welfare centre. What
else do the sanction callers want to see?
While I may totally disagree with the perpetual rule of a military government, I wish personally to plead in the Name of God with
the military government and the international community to take the minimum time to alleviate the suffering of our people.
Democracy in itself cannot save. Democratization can be as bad as military rule unless there is a fear of God and a sincerity of
purpose. Therefore I wish to call on Nigerians themselves to look at the matter with keen interest and to put the interest of the
people of Nigeria first and avoid anything that will cause commotion or even war. In any case there is not a single nation that has
ever fought a war and had its problems solved by fighting such war. There is already enough war in Africa. There should be no
more war. This nation is blessed with resources, material, human and otherwise. God has given this nation so many blessings,
so that through us other nations of the world might be blessed. We as a nation shall be called to give account on the Day of
Judgement. What have we done with the abundance of the resources that
God has given to us? What have we done with all the
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blessings that God has given to us? What have we done with all the riches that God has given to us? Our fellow Nigerians have
not enjoyed all of these resources and our leaders do not care: they are insensitive, and manipulate these resources only to
their political ends and for the enrichment of their families. Some of our elite have also amassed so much wealth and use their
wealth to perpetuate evil, confusion and chaos. Others use their wealth to dominate the less fortunate and enjoy seeing
Nigerians in abject poverty, and do nothing about it. There is a day of reckoning coming when we shall account before God.
Only recently an Emir in this State felt dissatisfied at seeing a church on the way to his farm. The church building neither spoke
to the Emir, nor did it stop him on his way. He then physically stopped one day and personally ordered its destruction. He is a
First Class Royal Father in Plateau State. There is supposed to be freedom of expression and of choice of religion in Nigeria, but
when a young boy became a Christian because he was healed by the prayer of Christians, his life was threatened, and he is
even now in hiding. Meanwhile we know of several mosques built with no papers to support their existence, and yet Christians
take the pains to follow the law, only to be treated shabbily. We are not asking for what is more than ours. We are asking for
fairness and justice for all.
Our church in Keffi, even with a court order permitting us to fence our property, continues to face difficulties. The Muslim Alhaji
Ezekwe, who was in the first instance the man behind the burning of our church there, is still parading arrogantly and unhindered
in Plateau State, disrupting church services in Keffi, destroying cars parked in the church premises and even hindering the
progress of our work of fencing. We have laid complaints
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before the security agencies and government but no help has been forthcoming. We are watching what is happening and we are
praying. One day we shall give account - all of us. It is my prayer that God will give the various governments of this nation
wisdom, not to add more to our suffering, not to inflict us with any more adversities, but to do everything within their resources to
make every section of Nigeria secure, safe and free for all.
The beheading of the Igbo Christian man in Kano leaves a lot of questions in the minds of all Nigerians. The beating of another
Igbo man in Sokoto, to the point of near death, adds more to our questions. These two were carried out in the name of Islamic
religion. Despite all of this the church is marching on and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
It is only a fool who says on his heart that there is no God:
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
(Psalm 14:1).
This must be understood not in the sense that anybody verbally says so, but that more often than not, people in authority, those
in power, those who hold economic and political power and the elite, display their arrogance over the less privileged as if there
were no God. When God is not considered, "issues of justice, need and righteousness fail to remain priorities and the end
condition is one of moral suicide" (Encounter with God: S.U.Daily Notes). This kind of attitude comes out of choice, when such
people have deliberately turned away from God through rebellious actions, so that even when they do not say it, their actions
speak loud and clear: there is no God.
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I appeal to high and low to make the fear of God a priority in life lest we commit moral suicide. What is most apparent, to me at
least, is that even the poor are equally corrupt and also say by their actions that there is no God. I plead for a return to morality.
I plead for the fear of God in the society. I plead for the sanctity of life. I plead for equality and equity and justice.
All hope is not lost because God is still doing his work silently, steadily but powerfully in the lives of his people. God is doing what
money cannot do. God is doing what power cannot stop. God is winning lives beyond political rhetoric into his kingdom. Our
hope therefore is in God. There is no reason to lose hope now in Nigeria, in Africa, or in the world at all if only we know this living
God. He is working out his purposes one day at a time. He is doing his will and leading us in the paths of righteousness for his
name's sake. Things that seem like evil may not necessarily be so; the hardships, the difficulties, the political turmoils, may not
all be as bad after all. God's purpose is to draw us back to himself, and we are seeing this happening now before our eyes. This
is a great cause for joy and we rejoice in the hope of a God who is at work in the lives of people and nations.
PROVINCE
We had a wonderful Bishops' training in Ibadan. Twelve of us attended Course Number 2, which we nicknamed "Anglican
Institute for Strategic Studies". It was a memorable get-together with wonderful hospitality. During the course we were privileged
to attend the consecration of two new Bishops: for Egba Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Matthew Owadayo, whom many of you will
remember
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was on the staff of our Diocese before moving to Akoko and later to Ibadan, until his election as Bishop; for Ikale-Ilaje Diocese,
the Rt.Rev.A.Omoyajowo, who was, until his election, Provincial General Secretary. Similarly, the Rt.Rev.George Bako was
consecrated and enthroned as Bishop of Lokoja last year.
In April we were in Awka for the Provincial Standing Committee. Again it was a memorable one for the Province of Nigeria. All the
Bishops present, the Chancellors and delegates took before God the oath of non-membership of secret societies. Some of
those who had been members and had recanted also took a separate oath. God is the final decider in matters of this nature, but
as far as is humanly possible, the Church of Nigeria can be said to be one hundred per cent opposed to any form of Christian
deviation, heresies, erroneous teachings and cults. Several meaningful decisions were also made, among which is the possibility
of the creation of new Provinces, as well as the decision to accept into full membership all Anglicans wherever they live, and
wherever they work, or earn their living. It is now accepted by the Church of Nigeria that even when Anglicans die away from
home, if such members have been active in their local situations, a letter of introduction by their local Bishop to their "home
Bishop" will permit them to have a place of decent burial in their diocese of origin. A Communique from this Standing Committee
is attached (Appendix I).
DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION
Many churches in our Diocese have been grappling with the question of Bazaar Sales, during harvest or after harvest. Some
have gone so far as to interpret my position on this matter as a law. Let me re-iterate that I have never organised a bazaar in all
of my ministry, and wherever I go
21
I teach the people and train them about giving and stewardship, and then provide them with the opportunity to choose whether or
not to carry on with bazaar sales. I am not a Persian King, and I do not wish to be one who would make rules that can never be
broken. I am an ordinary Christian, seeking to live for God and to bring glory to God and to promote the Kingdom of God.
Therefore I maintain my position as an individual Christian and Bishop of this Diocese, and permit every church to seek its
position before God and to be fully convinced that it is carrying out its activities to the glory of God. I do not command any
church not to organise bazaar, nor do I command any church to organise such.
The congregations continue to expand and new ones to be established. The following new parishes have been approved:
Keffi Archdeaconry:
Karmo Parish: Emmanuel Church, Karmo
St.Matthew's, Madeki
St.Luke's, Robbi
St.Philip's, Jawu
St.Michael's, Rigiji
St.Bartholomew's, Daji
St.John's, Dogon Dutse
Anglican Church, Kemu
Pankshin Archdeaconry:
Kurgwi Parish: St.Mark's, Kurgwi
St.Paul's, Namu
St.Paul's, Kondaman
St.John's, Gidan Dabat
All Saints', Kwande
Yelwa Parish: St.John's, Yelwa
Christ Church, Yamini
Anglican Church, Kuka
22
Amper Parish: St.Augustine's, Amper
Anglican Church, Gugur
Anglican Church, Kalashi
Anglican Church, Shuwer
Kabwir Parish: St.Stephen's, Kabwir
Anglican Church, Lur
Anglican Church, Dawaki
Anglican Church, Mwel
Duk Parish: Holy Trinity, Duk
Anglican Church, Ballang
Kamshar Parish: Emmanuel Church, Kamshar
St.James', Jephnihal
Akwanga Archdeaconry:
Akwanga Parish: St.Peter's Akwanga
Gudi Parish: St.John's, Gudi
St.Patrick's, Moroa River
St.Stephen's, Anzurku
Mama Parish: St.John's, Mama
St.Stephen's, Wamba
Anglican Church, Kwara
Churches which are Archdeaconry Headquarters and also double as District Church Council Headquarters are:
St.Luke's Cathedral St.Paul's, Jos
St.Piran's, Jos St.Paul's, Pankshin
St.Paul's, Yerwa St.Peter's, Keffi
St.Peter's, Akwanga St.James', Lafia
Further District Church Councils have been created as follows:
Shendam Langtang Mangu Toto
23
The Chapelries Council (consisting of all Chaplaincies, New Covenant Anglican Church, The Chapel on the Rock (St.John's
College), Trinity Chapel, the Mothers' Union / Women's Guild) has been constituted with the Bishop as the Supervising Priest.
We are glad and we rejoice that God is doing his work. It is our rare privilege to be part of God's work, and we give him thanks
and all the glory for what he is doing and for what he will yet do.
I wish to introduce to you four young, energetic, humble, loyal and conscientious labourers in the vineyard of the Lord. They
may have their human weaknesses known to us, but in matters of mission and evangelism their committment is without doubt.
Their loyalty to God and to the authority of the church has born testimony to their work and their labour in their place of posting.
They have quite evidently distinguished themselves with humility, honesty, a sense of direction, committment and calling. I know
that these men and their wives are a gift to us in Jos from God. Their wives have equally proved their call to serve not only
alongside their husbands, but in their own right. My job has been made easy by God, and it is simply to honour those whom he
has already honoured. They are Rev. Sunday O. Ajah; Rev. M. Sunday Bello; Rev. Emmanuel S. Egbunu; Rev. Dauda Yakubu.
It is therefore with joy that we make these men of God Statutory Canons of our Cathedral. We commend them to your prayers.
On the other hand, there is a young, strong spirit-filled, dynamic wife of a pastor who is on the move. It is not that her husband is
not moving, but she is definitely in the lead, and very keen and interested in the things of God. It is my pleasure to make the
Rev.E.Peter Dah an Honorary
24
Canon of our Diocese. A wife like Theresa Dah is definitely a blessing to her husband and to the church.
The Province of Nigeria is gradually erasing the post of Chairman of the Board of Finance, and we in Jos Diocese are adopting
this policy. Therefore this post will be uncontested. However, as Bishop of this Diocese, I shall have an appointed Finance
Adviser who will be a member of the Diocesan Board, a member of Synod, and who will monitor and advise the Finance Team. I
have carefully and prayerfully considered appointing a man of integrity, whose honesty is known to all, and whose support for the
things of God is total. It is my pleasure to appoint to this exalted and responsible position in our Diocese Mr.Ayo A.Kehinde. We
commend him to your prayers.
We also circulated Biblical expectations and guidelines for church office holders. We trust under God that you will continue to
use these guidelines not just for elections but for training in righteous living throughout our Diocese. These guidelines are as
follows:
Qualifications of a Church Elder (1 Tim 3; Titus 1:6-9)
Personal Character
* Personally committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Good Christian testimony outside.
* Self-controlled; not given to drunkenness; not quarrelsome or quick-tempered.
* Not in any business, club, society or cult that contradicts the gospel of Christ.
Family Life
* Should be faithfully married to a Christian spouse: known to be the husband of one wife / wife of one husband.
25
* Not a divorcee or a polygamist. (Each case of a divorcee or polygamist will be treated on its merits after clearance with the
Bishop.)
* If widowed, must be seen to live a pure and respectable life that is above reproach.
* Must manage their own family well and command obedience and proper respect (1 Tim.3:4,5). Whoever cannot manage his
own family cannot lead God's people aright.
Church Involvement
* Must be positively committed to the local congregation both morally and financially (record of financial obligations to be verified)
and a contributor to church projects.
* Must be more than a Sunday - Sunday member.
* Life and actions must be seen to be according to Christian teachings.
You must remember that if the people are not taught beforehand there will be problems. The above guide-lines must be taught
and understood by the Church long before the P.C.C. elections. By this means we hope to have godly people from the
grass-roots up to the highest positions in the Church.
GRATITUDE
We continue to thank God for the great encouragement we receive from the Proclamation Trust through their assistance in
training manpower for the ministry of preaching. We are particularly thankful for the training this year of the Rev.George
U.Njoku. I feel the great support and prayers of Dick Lucas and David Jackman. I personally hope to be at the Proclamation
Trust (Cornhill Training Centre) from October to December this year.
26
We are also thankful for yet another opportunity given to us for studies in St.John's College, Nottingham, U.K.. The Rev.Rodger
and Mrs.Sarah Petch have secured a place of study and sponsorship, and will be away for a year. We are grateful to C.M.S. and
to all who have contributed to make this opportunity possible.
We wish to thank most sincerely and especially Mr.A.A.Kehinde for scholarships awarded to all the Diploma students of the
Christian Institute. He has sponsored them for two years for full training. May God richly reward him.
We also wish to thank Mr.and Mrs.K.Hallam who have very graciously allowed us to start a Chapel in their compound. The
Hallam's themselves, as committed Christians, have a vision to reach the indigenous Naraguta people with the gospel. They see
this as a call and a priority. We share this vision with them as we seek to serve the Lord together. They have, in pursuance of
this vision, given to us a piece of land on which to erect a proper church building for Trinity Chapel which will be our base for
reaching out and for the evangelization of both the Naraguta indigenous people and settlers, as well as University students and
the entire community around Naraguta.
We must mention with gratitude to God a personal donation to the Diocese of the Ebenezer Chapel in Gidan Kranshaft, Farin
Gada, Jos. Chief Ajiboyede and his family have been blessed by God, according to him, through our ministry, and wished to
build a chapel to the glory of God in this respect. It was with joy that we approved the drawings, and laid the foundation stone
last year. We are trusting God that we will dedicate it as soon as it is completed.
27
We thank God for all our friends in Surrey, Shottery, Pershore, Nottingham, Kenilworth and so many other places all over the
U.K., both individuals and groups alike, who have continued to uphold us in prayer and have written to encourage us in the good
work of the Lord. Canon and Mrs.Peter Lapage, Peter and Thelma Robinson, and my commissary, Canon Nigel Graham with his
wife Anne, work tirelessly for us, and we praise God for them. We also thank Janet and Bob Stanley for their support, and it is
our pleasure to appoint Mrs. Janet Stanley as the Corresponding Secretary for the link between Southwell Diocese and Jos
Diocese. We particularly want to thank all those in U.K. who have contributed to buy and send to us a photocopier, a laser
printer and a fax machine: this equipment is an enormous asset to the work of God. In this connection we also express our
sincere appreciation to those who have installed and maintain this equipment free of charge: Mr.Adeluyi of Kasco Scientifc
Agency, and Mrs. G.Kehinde of Grakol Business Centre. In addition, we have received books for the library of the Christian
Institute from the Rev. and Mrs.Tony Lindsay and from the library of the late Rev.Richard Jeavons, sent to us by Mrs.Maggie
Jeavons. So also have we received some medical equipment from the women of the Church of St.Luke's Gamston, West
Bridgford, Nottingham, for the clinic of St.Luke's Cathedral Church, Jos.
We must thank Bishop Pat Harris and his wife, the entire Diocese of Southwell and especially the churches of West Bridgford, for
the invitation extended to me and Gloria to share fellowship, and for their bearing all the responsibility of having us for six weeks.
We also thank them most sincerely for taking responsibility for all the medical care when I broke my achilles tendon. Our sincere
thanks go to the Church Missionary Society for organising
28
this visit. I have extended our invitation to Bishop Patrick to visit us in Jos with his wife: I now repeat that invitation. The Bishop is
a man of God, and a humble servant. I have memories of his wife showing us the picture of the Bishop sitting down under a tree
and having a meeting with his Indian parishioners in Argentina. Bishop Patrick himself was consecrated in Argentina. He has a
wealth of experience as a preacher, evangelist and missionary. We would love to have him here.
We have received letters assuring us of prayers being offered on our behalf from around Nigeria. We have received
tremendous encouragement and physical support from all the people of this Diocese, young and old, male and female alike. We
are particularly grateful for your prayers and support when I returned from U.K. with a broken leg. Most of all, however, God
himself has given us all the encouragement, and has led us one day at a time. For all these we offer prayers and ask God to be
for us a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, and to continue to lead us, one day at a time, towards the land of
promise.
BISHOPSCOURT BUILDING
We are glad to report that the Bishopscourt building has commenced. We have run out of money as it is, and we are asking
everybody to contribute to build a Bishopscourt for the Diocese of Jos. Make your contributions specifically marked for the
Diocese of Jos Building Fund. We thank God for the efforts and the labour of the committee. This is a noble project and I
believe that we all can contribute to make the Bishopscourt dream a reality. The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all
Nigeria, the Most Rev.J.Abiodun Adetiloye, has agreed to come and lay the foundation stone of the Bishopscourt on Saturday
15th July 1995. His visit shall be from 14th July to 17th July.
29
DEVELOPMENTS
On my arrival in Bokkos to see the Local Government Chairman, the Forof Community Development Association in Bokkos Local
Government, without prior notice, hijacked me to Kwatas where the community heads were immediately gathered to meet me. I
received the greatest shock of my life when they explained to me their mission. They told me that because of the testimony of
our work in Jos Diocese they were handing over to me a five classroom block with 25.134 hectares of land together with the
Certificate of Occupancy, for the Diocese of Jos, for the establishment of a community Secondary School. It must be noted that
these were non-Anglicans: there were people of different denominations in a community where there was no Anglican presence
at all. You can imagine my disbelief, but this is what God is doing through us, with us, and for us, to His Glory. We have since
replied to their official letter, and the project shall take off with the assistance of every one of us.
St.James' Church Lafia is upgrading their Primary School and also, on their own, they have acquired a large piece of land and
have gone ahead to start a Christian Academy which will actually be a secondary school after the model of St.John's College, Jos.
The Christian Institute has added two more to its list of training departments: the most recent additions are Theological Education
by Extension (T.E.E.), and the School of Music. Needless to mention, these are very strong arms of mission for the church. We
continue to thank God for the steady growth and expansion of this institution of training for evangelism and mission. We seize
this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the development of the Institute. We are trusting God that it shall not
be too long before they move to a permanent site.
30
As the work of evangelism progresses, I have a dream of feeding and establishing the faith of our new converts by providing
good Christian literature and materials which will be used by adults and children, in the home, in schools, in churches, in evening
classes, in T.E.E. and in general education. To fulfill this dream and vision, we propose to start a Mobile Bookshop, called the
"Bookshop on Wheels". We therefore need a pick-up van in excellent condition (it will have to go to the rural areas), the
donation of good Christian literature in marketable quantities, and educational equipment. Donations towards this project should
be clearly marked for the "Jos Diocesan Bookshop on Wheels".
CONGRATULATIONS
As a Diocese, we congratulate all our members who have added a feather to their caps in their field of vocation and calling. It is
to the glory of God that you have been lifted. We also share our sorrows with those who lost jobs or business or who suffered
one loss or another in any form. Our prayers and our hearts reach out to you with the hope that God will bring you out of this
predicament and lift you high. Your situation is in fact not uncommon to man, but it is God who brings one down and brings
another up. Our appeal is for you to look up to God and he will lift you up in due time.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY
It is with much joy that we report the appointment a new General Secretary for C.M.S., in the person of Miss Diana K.Witts. Many
of you will remember her: she was,
31
until her appointment, the Regional Secretary for West and Southern Africa and Sudan. She has visited our Diocese quite a few
times and it has always been a pleasure for us to welcome her. She is the first woman General Secretary of C.M.S.. She is
someone we know, and she has been on our prayer list for some time now. We need to pray for her even more as she
shoulders the huge responsibility of leading the entire C.M.S. organisation. As we congratulate her we also assure her of our
continued friendship, support and fellowship.
We were also blessed with the visit in December of Mr. Russell Price, of the Parish Programmes Department at C.M.S.
Headquarters. He has since written to say how much he enjoyed his visit.
We have had in our midst for three and a half years Dr.Tom and Mrs.Hilary Cope. I have just received the information that they
may be leaving us at the end of June. We shall miss them, as their contributions to the Christian Institute and to the various local
congregations in Jos have been of much value. We wish them God's blessings.
CLERGY MATTERS
Last year, for the first time, we held two Ordinations. We congratulate those who were ordained deacon and priest, and installed
as Canons:
3 July 1994: Deacon: The Rev.J.O.Aderounmu
The Rev.K.S.Akobe
The Rev.Z.C.Anyanwu
The Rev.M.C.Ayodele
The Rev.A.O.Azuh
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The Rev.M.M.D.F.Bewarang
The Rev.B.C.Jidanke
The Rev.J.S.Kehinde
The Rev.S.G.Kyoms
The Rev.F.V.Lamda
The Rev.E.Morris
The Rev.D.E.Nnaji
The Rev.I.C.Nwokoro
The Rev.S.C.Onuegbu
The Rev.D.R.Petch
The Rev.V.G.Sanda
The Rev.S.Tada
The Rev.P.M.Usman
The Rev.B.R.R.Wuyep
The Rev.I.Yusufu
Priest: The Rev.J.Ali
The Rev.A.A.Anokwuru
The Rev.I.Bako
The Rev.M.S.Bello
The Rev.I.Bmitauwza
The Rev.J.Bwas
The Rev.T.T.I.Gyuse
The Rev.A.B.Lamido
The Rev.S.Lazarus
The Rev.S.Miner
The Rev.B.N.Nwajide
The Rev.E.F.G.Nyitsse
The Rev.P.E.Omole-Ekun
The Rev.E.Shekwolo
The Rev.N.Yisa
Statutory Canons: The Rev.Canon M.K.Maza
The Rev.Canon B.C.Nwogu
Honary Canon: The Rev.Canon S.Miner
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18 December 1994: Priest: The Rev.J.O. Aderounmu
The Rev.K.S.Akobe
The Rev.Z.C.Anyanwu
The Rev.M.F.Ayodele
The Rev.A.O.Azuh
The Rev.M.M.D.F.Bewarang
The Rev.B.C.Jidanke
The Rev.S.G.Kyoms
The Rev.D.E.Nnaji
The Rev.I.C.Nwokoro
The Rev.S.C.Onuegbu
The Rev.D.R.Petch
The Rev.V.G.Sanda
The Rev.S.Tada
The Rev.P.M.Usman
The Rev.B.R.R.Wuyep
The Rev.I.Yusufu
The Diocese of Bauchi urgently requested the services of the Ven.D.O.Olowosulu: he therefore moved to Bauchi at the
beginning of this year. Although we did not make any request, the Rev.O.Ajayi was given to us by Osun Diocese, and since his
arrival he has been a blessing. We feel very sorry that Osun should lose such an active, dynamic young man of God. One man
loses: another gains! Mark you: we in this diocese should notice that it may not be long before we ourselves start sending out
missionaries to everywhere and anywhere they are needed.
OBITUARY
Some of our members have been called to glory; many of our dearly loved ones have slept in the Lord. We are hoping to join
them one day and we look forward eagerly
34
to the day when the Son of Man will tear the heavens in two and appear with a shout of the Archangel, and we shall return to
where we belong, to the place of glory, where the streets are paved with gold, and there shall be no weeping, no tears, no thirst
and no hunger. For now, however, we observe a minute's silence for those who have gone before.
May the souls of the faithful departed in Christ
rest in perfect peace.
Amen.
CONCLUSION
There is no question at all in my mind as to where the source of my joy is. There is also no doubt as to the fact that our joy can
only be found in the Lord. We have been given life in order to enjoy all things, and this life in which all things may be enjoyed
can only be found in Jesus Christ. The search for material things in order to enjoy life brings sorrow, hardships and even death.
Let us therefore go back to where true life can be found, to where joy is, in order that we may live and live for ever.
"Rejoice in the Lord, always,
and again I say,
Rejoice!"
+Benjamin Jos May 1995
35
Appendix I
COMMUNIQUE PRODUCED BY THE PROVINCIAL
STANDING COMMITTEE HOLDEN AT AWKA
5-10 APRIL 1995
The Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) during its meeting at Awka, in Anambra State, from 5th
April to 10th April, 1995, under the chairmanship of the Rt.Rev.Dr.B.C.Nwankiti (Dean of the Church of Nigeria) presiding on
behalf of the Primate, Most Rev.Abiodun Adetiloye, and guided by the Holy Spirit deliberated on the current state of affairs both
in the Church and on the national scene. At the end of the meeting it issued the following Communique:
1.THE CHURCH AND SECRET SOCIETIES AND CULTS In furtherance of the Church's aversion to the existence of secret
societies and cults, the members of the Provincial Standing Committee beginning from all the Bishops, to the clergy and lay
representatives, in an open and solemn service individually put themselves under oath that they will never be members of any
secret societies and cults. Those who had previously renounced their membership of secret societies, also publicly confirmed
their renunciation. The Church, therefore, calls on all Christians to make such public declarations and those that are still in any
secret societies and cults, to publicly renounce forthwith their membership and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their only Saviour.
2. RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE
a) The news of the beheading of a citizen under the noses of security agents for an alleged religious offence, has constituted
another scandal for this country. Such a
36
dastardly act will not take place in any civilized country. So far, we have not seen justice done in the sad episode. Christians in
this country want peace and they pursue it. Otherwise it would have been crystally proved that no particular religion has a
monopoly of violence.
b) We also heard the most disturbing report that in at least one State in the Northern part of the country, the monthly
Environmental Sanitation day has been shifted from Saturday to Sunday. To say the least, the decision is most provocative and
unfair. It is not only a violation of the rights of the people, but also a flagrant circumvention of a National directive. The
Authorities responsible for this dangerous development should be called to order immediately.
3. ECONOMIC WOES
Despite orchestrated measures purportedly being taken to revive our cancerous economy, the greater percentage of the people
of this nation have continued to wallow in abject and unprecedented poverty. Subsistance has become almost impossible for
majority of the people. This is due to misplaced priorities, wrong fiscal measures and mismanagement of funds.
It is the duty of the Government in a country with such abundant natural resources to provide all the economic means to
guarantee tolerable living conditions for all the people.
4. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE
The Church notes again Nigerians are frustrated by the continued stay in power of the Military. It therefore agrees to the
recommendation of the constitutional conference that the Military should hand over power to a
37
democratically elected Government by January 1996 and return to their barracks.
5. NEW STATES
While we are in sympathy with the areas agitating for the creation of new States, we wish to say, with a great sense of
responsibility that Government should approach this issue with great caution and should make sure that those in existence are
provided with the adequate funds to take off and to attend to the responsibilities of government.
6. SECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
The incidence of armed and violent robbery in private houses, on the streets and on public highways irrespective of the time of
the day, assassination of citizens, and child stealing has reached an alarming stage, and all these in Military regimes! It is the
duty of the Government to assure the populace of the security of their life and property. The Church therefore, calls on
Government and security agents to take steps to safeguard life and property throughout the country.
7. HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
Whether Government denies it or confirms it, Nigerians now know that the rate at which lives are lost through the diseases that
were hitherto properly controlled particularly typhoid, cholera, meningitis etc. is unprecendented. These occur because of
inadequate or non-supply of pottable water especially in the major cities and the filth that has become commonplace in our cities.
We therefore, call on the Government to be alive to its avowed responsibilities of providing the basic health care delivery,
encouraging our medical presonnel to stay in Nigeria and making the cost of drugs affordable also of providing pottable water in
every place and ridding the cities of mountains of filth that now litter our streets.
38
8. OPEN DOOR EVANGELISM
We have noted with dismay, that many criminals in Nigeria today answer to the name Christian. The Church has discovered that
this is largely due on the part of such nominal Christians, to ignorance of the tenets of the Christian religion. The Church should
therefore intensify its teaching ministry in our Sunday Schools, among the Youth organisations viz: the Boys/Girls Brigade, the
Girls Guild, the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion (EFAC) the Anglican Youth Fellowship and others. The study
of the Bible and its practical application should now be emphasised in and outside the homes in order to bring about the desired
spiritual growth and social morality.
9. Finally, the Standing Committee enjoins all Christians that in the face of the present hardships which people are going
through, they should trust in God and remain steadfast in prayers especially for the peace and stability of the nation.
Signed:
Rev.Canon C.A.Maduoma
Provincial Clerical Secretary
The Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion)
DIOCESE OF JOS
THE BISHOP'S CHARGE
delivered to
THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SIXTH SYNOD
at 10.00 a.m. on
Friday, 26th May, 1995
in
St.Piran's Church, Jos
by
THE RT. REV. BENJAMIN A. KWASHI
(Bishop of Jos)