ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF JOS
CHRISTIAN INSTUITE
ARCHBISHOP BENJAMIN ARGAK KWASHI (OON) DD, D.Min.
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BISHOP'S CHARGE 1997
In the Name
of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Dear Friends
We praise the Lord who has brought us to this day and who has gathered us together in this place. In his name we welcome you
all most warmly to this Third Session of the Sixth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Jos. We are particularly delighted to welcome
our distinguished guests who have sacrificed their time and other engagements in order to grace this occasion. We thank you
for your friendship and your encouragement, and we pray that the Almighty Father will bless you in all your ways. When we met
at the last Synod we were one State and one Diocese. Since then we have become two States, Plateau and Nasarawa States,
making up our one Diocese of Jos. We congratulate the new administration in Lafia, and pray that they will be guided by God's
wisdom and understanding.
It is with great joy that we greet our Guest Preachers, the Rt.Rev.D.A.Yisa, Bishop of Damaturu, and the Rt.Rev.E.K.Mani, Bishop
of Maiduguri. We rejoice in our fellowship in the gospel, and we value the close relationship between our dioceses. My Lords,
you are most welcome.
This is the Third Session of the Sixth Synod, and so next year there will be elections to choose new diocesan officials and
delegates. We therefore wish to take this opportunity not only to welcome everyone, but also to thank most sincerely the
Bishop's Nominees, the Diocesan Officials and all the delegates for your work and contributions. May the Lord Jesus Christ
strengthen you in his service and guide you in his ways.
It was only two years ago that we were here in St.Piran's Church for our Synod. However, the pastors and people gladly
accepted our request that they host us again, and they have all worked tirelessly to prepare for our coming. We thank God for
their dedication, their hard work and for their willingness to serve. We pray that the Lord will reward and bless you all. During
these last two years St.Piran's Church building has been transformed, and we congratulate all who have been involved in one
way or another with this great task. We pray that as this building has been built and beautified, so the lives of the people will be
similarly built up and made beautiful for God. We pray that not long from today we shall gather again for the dedication
ceremony of this church. We recognize and appreciate special contributions of individual members in the church and those done
collectively. May the Lord reward you all.
Physical structures are very important in the life of man; there is a call for a roof over everybody's head by the year 2000.
Especially for us in Nigeria, as soon as one gets gainful employment pressures from the family begin to mount, requesting a
person to purchase a plot of land and build a house. The building of houses is of such significance in the Nigerian situation that
people will go to any length to secure and protect their lands. Houses are then built and fenced in such a way that most people
in Nigeria actually live in self-constructed prison yards. In the western world houses are available in many different designs and
people buy such houses depending on how much they can afford. The advantages in both cases are different and significant.
In Nigeria we are free to design and construct whatever we want, and this adds colour to the variety of buildings there are. It also
gives a lot of freedom to our architects in the use of their imaginations.
The situation has become one in which buildings are now idols. This is always a possibility. Man has always faced the
temptation of worshipping what he with his own hands has made. The second commandment warns against just that:
"You must not make a carved image for yourself, nor the likeness of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in
the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them in worship; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the
children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me."
(Ex.20:4-5)
By the time of Isaiah the problem had become so bad that men made wood and worshipped wood.
"All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant to their own shame.
Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit him nothing?
He and his kind will be put to shame;
craftsmen are nothing but men.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and infamy.
The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.
The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of a man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.
He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
It is man's fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions and makes a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me, you are my god."
They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so that they cannot see,
and their minds closed so that they cannot understand.
No-one stops to think,
no-one has the knowledge to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
(Isaiah 44:9-20)
They did this deliberately, ignoring history and refusing to learn from what had happened in the wilderness when 23,000 were
killed for idol worship. Idol worship has a peculiar ability to make man drunk with power, drunk with alcohol, drunk with
self-praise, with praise-singers, psychophants, gossips, women and the like. Man has a problem of always worshipping what he
with his own hands has made.
This temptation must be understood to be wide in its influence, as it affects everybody and everything. The evangelist will boast
of how wonderful and great his ministry has become and he will invite everybody to come and see what the Lord is doing with
him. At the same time, however, what he himself is doing with the Lord must be noted and praised: this is so much so that
without him the ministry cannot continue; without him miracles cannot happen. He himself becomes almost the object of the
church service, or crusade or seminar; he is called names - more names than Jesus ever had - and he acquires titles that are
useless when he is dead. The same temptation goes for the pastor who calls everybody to see how he has spent so much effort
in constructing the church, the vicarage, the church hall, the parish, the archdeaconry, the diocese and so on. Good as these
constructions may be, the people are left spiritually unbuilt and biblically unconstructed.
As far as the people in the world are concerned, their condition is perfectly understood: they are purely idol worshippers. But for
the church and for the chosen people of God the danger of idol worship must be pointed out for what it is, and the ways in which
God has dealt with his people over the years in history must be taken very seriously in order to avert spiritual exile. It is easy and
possible to take idols out of the Temple, but to take idols from the hearts of men is the struggle of all spiritual journeys. Spiritual
exile is the mother of all exiles.
The prophet Zechariah lived and worked in the sixth century B.C., at about the same time as the prohet Haggai. By this time the
Israelites, God's chosen people, had been in exile for 70 years, but had now come back to their own land, and to Jerusalem.
Sometimes when church workers go to a new job they expect to find the Vicarage built, furnished and painted, and everything
prepared so that all the worker has to do is to "enjoy" and to give orders. Such expectations show a total lack of understanding
of the job! In the same way, some at least of the returning exiles probably thought that once they got back to their own country
everything would be easy, life would be without problems, and they could enjoy themselves. That was not the case. They
therefore began asking not only "Why did the exile happen?", but also "Why is life difficult for us even now?" This was the
situation which Zechariah addressed.
Zechariah, we are told, was descended from Iddo, one of the priestly houses mentioned by Nehemiah in his record. Zechariah
himself may well have been a priest as well as a prophet. In any case, he was deeply concerned with the holiness of God, and
with the peoples' relationship with this awesome God. It was Zechariah's own devotion to God which led to his deep concern for
the people - a concern which showed itself in community action. People who have a strong devotion to God get involved with
community action. If your devotion is weak you will be afraid of community action. If your devotion is strong your community
action will point people beyond yourself to God. Zechariah was a priest but he was so devoted to God that from the Temple he
moved out to the community: he began to talk about justice, righteousness and wholeness.
Zechariah began to explain to the people that the past had lessons for them to learn; in the present they must be purified,
strengthened and transformed both as individuals and as a society; and then, and only then, there is held out to them the hope
of a glorious future.
Zechariah looked at his people's history. Remember that if you do not take history seriously, you will repeat the mistakes of your
fathers! The Israelites had been in exile for 70 years: this is what disobedience can do. We too need to repent seriously. If we
do not repent, we will remain spiritual exiles, rejected and unwanted. You can remain where you are today and be exiled from
Jesus Christ. The most miserable person is someone who, because of pride, anxiety, malice, envy or deliberate sin, is in
self-exile.
The children of Israel were asking what their fathers did to deserve this sort of punishment. Zechariah's answer - to them and to
us - is: if you do what your forefathers did, you too will continue to be in exile because God hates sin. It is your responsibility to
return to God. You belong to God, and God wants to use you, to bless you, to make you a light to the nations. If you refuse, it is
your choice that you go into exile. If, however, you return to God he will cause your enemies not only to be afraid of you but he
will give you victory. If, on the other hand, you do not return to God your enemies will deal with you and make you slaves, and
you continue in your self-imposed exile. Therefore return to God!
The Israelites had returned to their land, but they had not returned their hearts to God. Living conditions were bad: there were
no city walls, the Temple had been destroyed, life was tough and they felt very insecure. We need to ask ourselves: is our
reliance on other nations, on other people, on the economic or political situation, on ourselves - or on God? The prophet was
critical of those who affirm their trust in God by word of mouth only while their actions are to the contrary. The basic lesson for
the Israelites as they remembered their past, struggled with their present, and looked towards their future, was God's call to
return and the promise of physical and spiritual restoration:
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." (Zechariah 4:6)
Not by military power; not by political power; not by the "power" of academic study; not by the power attributed to wealth and
possessions; not by the oppressive power of status; not by personal influence or charismatic leadership, not by any force,
strength, influence, power or might under the sun - but only by the Spirit of God. Only if the people repent and turn back to God
with their whole heart, mind and will, and only if that faith affects the way they live their lives, as individuals, as a community, as a
society and as a nation, only then can spiritual and physical exile be avoided. If, however, anything else is given top priority in
our lives, if any other consideration comes before the consideration of the word of God, then that one thing has become our god,
our idol, and we are on the road to exile and destruction.
The Israelites, however, complained because of the state of the country and they thought that God had left them. Zechariah
simply says, "Return to God". God has not abandoned you; you have abandoned God. Today some people are disillusioned,
and resort to prayer houses, search for miracles and magic, and follow other such practices. God wants you simply to return to
him. You must be ready to forsake sin: it is the sin which is the problem. When we fail to have mercy and compassion, when we
fail to forgive and to pay tithes; in fact, when God is not our priority, the end result will be disastrous. If God can take his special
children and put them into exile, God can surely punish anybody who continues in sin. Be careful! You and I should forsake our
iniquities and return to the Lord. If you are going to return to the Lord you must return with all your heart and under God's
conditions (Zechariah 6:15; 3:10).
How does a person return to the Lord? It requires brokeness, complete repentance and a determination never to do again what
you did before. It means letting go of all the things you have held on to and trusted. A total return is a necessity. You must
return to the word of God, read the word of God and meditate upon it, even when you feel tired. When you feel weak, kneel
down and pray and listen, and the Lord will give you a message. What you preach, you must practice. Return to God completely
with all your heart, all your family and all your ministry.
This was Zechariah's message. Put first things first! Return to God first, and then buildings and prosperity will follow. God first
has to break down all pride and self so that you become humble, and ready to appreciate the blessings of God. Even the
material prosperity we pursue will waste away unless we genuinely return to God. Material prosperity has never brought spiritual
prosperity. When God gives a blessing he gives it without regrets. When you do not genuinely return to God you will not know
peace; Satan and every vice will plague you, no matter what you do. If you use God's church as a means of enhancing your
material prosperity you will also go into exile. Jesus warned that on the last day, many will say, "We did ... in your name", and
God will say, "Get away from me, you worker of iniquity", because your aim was not the same as the aim of God. The aim of God
is that you return to the Lord so that others will return to the Lord, so that those others will bring others to return to the Lord, and
they will bring others ... and the mission continues.
The theme of repentance runs right through the message of Zechariah. Repentance means more than just saying that you are
born again: it concerns every part of life. For example, you may be born again, but you need to repent about giving your second
best in matters of church or even taking casually the things and commands of God, and also going late to church. Or there may
be something so deep down that is known only to you and to God alone: you must repent.
The children of Israel knew all about fasting and praying, but God was saying that he was not happy (Zechariah 7:4-14). They
were fasting, but it was for show, to show that they were religious. What is your purpose in fasting? Some of us have been
fasting for many years but with no effect. There are some fasts that are not pleasing to the Lord. Do not think that because you
have fasted and prayed the Lord must answer! No! Do not even get others to fast on your behalf! No fasting and praying is of
any use if Christ is not the Lord of your heart and if you have not returned to him with all your heart. Look at the oppression and
the sin surrounding your life. The Lord is angry because you are disobedient. If you want to know a child of God you know him
by obedience to God (Zechariah 6:15). Disobedience to God is a hallmark of Satan. Problems actually start when people stop
listening to God and spend time listening to sycophants, praise singers, gossips and to themselves. Fasting is rubbish if you do
not live in righteousness. To claim, "I prayed about it and I told God ...." makes no sense on its own. The point is: are you
willing to do what God says about it? Listen and hear what God is saying about it. He may be asking you to do what you are
refusing to accept. Discerning what God wants you to do may be the answer to your prayer, but you will perceive this only when
you listen to God.
If you are going to fast in a way which is pleasing to God, God must be Lord of your heart, and when God is Lord of your heart,
then you will behave as God wants (Zechariah 7:9). When something is wrong do not say that it is right, and vice versa. God is
a just God, a holy God. Whatever you do, let it be right, pure and true. There must be justice and mercy. If you say you are
fasting and praying but a member of your own immediate family is in pain, suffering, or living in poverty and you are doing
nothing about it, you are not fasting. Your focus must shift from yourself to Sudan, Liberia, Zaire, and Rwanda, to all areas of the
suffering world, to all the needy, and you must identify with these peoples in your fast and prayer and mission. If your attitude to
one another is not right, you are not fasting. This is why the children of Israel went into exile. If you live a life of mercy and
compassion, it shows that God is Lord of your life. When you are not merciful, it shows that you do not know God. Do not
oppress the poor and the widow. Remember that widows are very vulnerable as they have no husband, no status and no
income. Do you remember the widow in your congregation, or the one who lives next door? Look out for the fatherless children;
God created them and loves them. God wants us to show love to these people. Consider the foreigners, the poor, the weak and
the helpless. Any fast that is going to be acceptable to God must be in accordance with Zechariah 7:8-10; it must renew your life
and change your life - otherwise you will be wasting your time. Every year you fast and pray, but if you hold malice in your heart,
you will go into spiritual exile sooner rather than later. Keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God.
And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: `Administer true justice, show mercy
and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think
evil of each other.' But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made
their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through
the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. `When I called, they did not listen, so when they called, I would not
listen', says the Lord Almighty. `I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land
was left so desolate behind them that no-one could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.'" (Zechariah
7:8-14)
When you refuse to listen to God, God will make your land desolate. Consider what is happening in our country: there are
Christians and churches all over the land, but where are the results? God cannot bless sin - the land will be desolate because
the Lord is angry and you have refused to repent. Avoid a life of sin now, for the sake of your future and the future of your
children. The Lord is angry with us in Jos. What he said to the children of Israel he is saying to us. Shall we continue to make
the Lord unhappy? No! Let us repent now and return to the Lord.
Our national condition seems similar to that described by Zechariah, and the factor which, above all, we have in common with the
Israelites seems to me to be our complaining. Almost nine out of every ten Nigerians are complaining about the national
condition; in fact the complaints far outweigh any hope of restoration. We complain even when we should be grateful. We have
so swallowed the negative description of our nation, which the international media has put out, that it has affected our national
life. While the situation may indeed be very bad and seemingly hopeless, we have a God who cannot be confined by human
conditions and situations. Sadly, the church has adopted the complaining attitudes of the world, and is almost dependent on
what the world says before she can move. There is so much complaining of a lack of money when it comes to evangelism, of a
lack of money for church work, a lack of money for anything that has to do with God, the church and God's mission. It is not
because there is no money; it is also not because God has no people who can give the money; but, sadly, it is because the
people have chosen to believe the world and not God. God, however, promises his full restoration of his people, his chosen
ones, and he will do it: "`Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
Let me state categorically that I have no doubt in my mind that it was God who called me to be a priest in holy orders. I am also
convinced that God led men to elect me specifically to tend the flock of God in the Diocese of Jos. Therefore I am accountable to
God in my place of primary assignment, which is Jos. God will not require me to account for America, for Europe, or even for
Africa; I will account for Jos. It is one of the tactics of Satan to shift our focus from what we have done as individuals, from what
we can do, and from what God is doing and will do, and instead to show us the kingdoms of the world, and how impossible it is for
us to change the world. Satan further puts magnifying lenses before us, and triples the image of the problems around us, with
the one single aim of sending us to discouragement and despair, and making us give up totally. The truth is, as Zechariah puts
it, that God will use individuals, such as Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor, and God will do it: he will surmount the
problems; he will change individuals and circumstances; there will be revival, renewal and regeneration, "`Not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
There is no doubt that Zechariah was a man of deep devotion to God. The work of this prophet shows that he must have
studied, and was familiar with, other prophets like Amos, Micah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, and with the Torah. He spent a lot of time
studying the word of God and meditating upon the messages of God. This attitude formed the base from which he followed God
in a difficult situation. It is also clear that he followed God closely, and kept in mind the history of God and his people, using past
experiences as guide-posts on his journey of faith. Therefore he would tolerate no idols and he insisted that the knowledge of
the word of God must lead to action, and that every action must conform to that word of God. This determination and zeal could
not have been popular in his time. I want quickly to add that this kind of determination, zeal and commitment is not popular in our
time either! If you walk closely with God you will have a vision from God. But if you have no vision you will have no mission and
you accomplish nothing. A vision is a message from God, and usually concerns what you must do.
God is still looking for individuals like Zechariah the prophet, Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor, who will believe him
and whom he can use, regardless of the economic situation or circumstances, or even of the world condition or the state of a
nation. God wants just that one person, young or old, male or female, who will be resolute, single-minded and focused on God to
change the situation where he or she is. It may be tiny little things like someone who will keep an environment clean, maintain
order in school, a sexton in church, an honest lawyer, an incorruptable judge, a serious evangelist, a committed missionary, a
strong farmer, a soldier, a policeman, an ordinary citizen - the list is endless. God is looking for that one person who will believe
wholeheartedly and trust him sufficiently to be used to change the community. That person must have a very strong devotion to
God; that person must believe in the Holy Spirit of God; that person must believe in the power of God; that person must throw off
all despair and hopelessness; that person, whoever that person is, must be prepared to live for God and to die for his faith. God
will do it; he has done it before; he will do it again, "`Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
A story was told of an international trade-fair organised by Satan. The whole world was there; every country on the face of the
earth was represented. Satan and all his demons displayed all their goods, their wares and their abilities. The witches who fly at
night were there; those who operate during the day were also there. The demons that operate through technology, such as
computers and television, and those whose speciality is in the church alone were there. That trade-fair was one of a kind! Satan
was so overwhelmed by the interest of the world in the commodities he displayed that he chose to give the nations of the world all
the items on credit, to be paid for later in life, whether they were credit worthy or not. There was only one item he did not give
out: that item was discouragement. Several nations wanted it, but he would not give out that commodity for obvious reasons.
Satan therefore has kept discouragement to himself, unleashing it on people and nations, and on churches everywhere, with the
sole aim of making people helpless and hopeless to the point where they will give up following God entirely. The remedy for
discouragement is to have faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ who defeated Satan publicly on the cross of Calvary, and
made a public show of the lies of Satan.
Another of Satan's tactics today is to introduce money problems and to place a price tag on everything everywhere. Money has
become so important and I am afraid that it has become more important than people and is even becoming more important than
the mission of God. I say this with fear not for myself, but for the future of the church, because money is a god, an idol; a god
and an idol that can easily be worshipped and even glorified. When this happens, the church will be exiled and whilst in exile she
will not know peace; she will disintegrate, lose her authority and her sense of mission altogether. The church will then be
struggling, and above all she will be hijacked by money and money-brokers who will dictate the pace and the speed of the church
through human manipulation and scheming. This will be done deliberately, for whatever reason, and for goals that only God will
reveal in eternity. There is no doubt that money is needed to buy a Bishop's car, build a Bishopscourt, buy land for churches,
print books, transport people and so on, but my conviction is this: money must not be the determining factor in our loyalty to God
and in our obedience to the mission of the church. In all matters affecting the church, therefore, all items and considerations
must be weighed in the light of God's word and placed within God's list of priorities, because God's people and God's work are
not kept or controlled by, nor are they dependent upon, the economy of the world. God's plans and purposes will be executed
"`Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
I want to appeal to all Christians to rededicate themselves to God individually, and collectively as a church, so that we can
provide a united front against all evil from within the church and from outside. When the church is corrected from within she will
definitely produce a corrected society. The church is also a mirror of the society; a poor state of affairs in the society reveals
itself in the church too. Let us therefore be determined like Zechariah to be changed inwardly and to let our inward change
affect whatever we are outwardly. If we believe God through Christ and believe his word we will make a difference because God
will then accomplish his word and promises in our lives and do great and mighty things which we have never heard nor seen.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek
me with all your heart." (Jer.29:11-13)
Let me mention once again the need for us to proclaim the message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all people
everywhere, I am impressing this upon our Diocese for us to know that we are called to move out, not to be static but to be on
the move all the time until the whole Diocese is reached with the gospel and the mission of the gospel.
To the glory of God two major mission outreaches were conducted during the last year: one in Nasarawa Eggon and the other in
Langtang Archdeaconry. These missionary endeavours were the toughest we have ever had. We had serious encounters with
Satan and his agents, but God gave us victory in all things. Four new churches were born in Nasarawa Eggon and at least two in
the Langtang area. Since then, however, new churches have been born throughout the diocese. Some of these congregations
were as a result of church planting, like Emmanuel Church, Rockhaven, Jos, and St.Matthias, Abbatoir, Jos. Others, mainly in
the rural areas, have begun as a direct result of primary evangelism.
We want to thank God for the lives of all who labour for evangelism and for the mission of the gospel: those who have gone out
with us; those who are labouring right now in the field; and those who have contributed gifts and financial support for the Great
Commission. May the Lord himself reward you.
"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 Cor.15:58)
We have received yet another vision concerning Riyom and Bassa Local Government areas. We have sent the Rev.G.E.Choji
as a pioneer missionary covering the whole of Riyom Local Government. It shall be his responsibility to make disciples, to raise a
leadership and to train the followership to repeat what we have taught him. Similarly, we have posted Rev.I.Yusufu and his wife
to Bassa Local Government area. We urge the church to pray for these pastors and for the people of those areas.
There is a great need for workers in the vineyard. Jesus, in Luke chapter 10, described the workers as "labourers for the
harvest". This is in contrast to the executive religious leaders, academic pharisees and debating lawyers. What is needed for
the harvest is not flowing gowns, long arguments and talk shows, but labourers, workers in the field. My experience so far in the
episcopacy has shown that many people who have expressed a desire to join the ministry want to work, but only in the cities. A
simple analysis shows that 50% of the entire clergy of Jos Diocese are in Jos city servicing about 30 churches and schools, while
the remaining 50% are grappling with nearly 200 churches in rural and remote areas of the states, in addition to continuing the
task of mission and evangelism. By this analysis we have reached the conclusion that we will accept and train new workers only
if they are willing and ready to be labourers and to work in the rural areas of our Diocese.
We have, by the same degree, had to review part-time and non-stipendiary training and ordination. It is a pity that some people
understand this style of ministry romantically with no serious preparedness for adverse conditions. The apostle Paul, after
whose example we have adopted the non-stipendiary ministry, did not understand it in this way. He was not a burden to any
church, yet he laboured more, suffered more and founded more churches than anyone else, and it was all at his own expense.
Those who want to join the non-stipendiary ministry should therefore take their cue from the apostle Paul, and from those whom
we have trained already and who are faithfully serving the Lord as labourers with us in the Diocese of Jos.
Furthermore, we have decided that between January and June next year every clergyman will again spend two weeks working in
a rural area where there is no resident pastor. This time, however, we are also inviting members of the laity to undertake a
similar exercise. All those who are interested in furthering the work in the Lord's vineyard in this way should come to our office,
submit their names and the dates when they will be available, and they will be posted to a particular location.
God is doing his work in our diocese and we must take seriously the message of the prophet Zechariah and keep our focus on
God. We must always remember what God has done for us in the past, we must recognize what he is doing now, and we must
trust him for what he will do with us, in us and for us in the future. He has promised and he will never fail. "`Not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
TAKE-OVER OF MISSIONARY SCHOOLS
I belong to the generation that was still in school when the Mission Schools were taken over by Government. With the privilege of
hindsight I have much pain as I see what obtains today in the lives of young people and in the society in general. When the
schools were taken over by Government, the regular morning devotions and prayers were no longer said. The regular closing
prayers in the afternoons were no more. The regular spiritual, moral and character checks were also thrown out. At that time
the teachers and children were happy that these were all out, as they were free and were now new government property with no
worry about schools fees, no worry about maintenance of buildings, standards, or morality, and no worry about the importance of
spirituality.
It is now thirty years since this happened. Before it happened most children were from pagan homes or from families of
non-committed Christians, but what these children did not receive at home they received at school. They had religious teaching;
they had character training and moral upbringing - all in the school. These things cannot be quantified in terms of their end
result, nor priced correctly in terms of naira. With the government take-over of schools children from these backgrounds lost
everything. What they did not receive by way of upbringing at home, they also did not receive in the school. As a result,
immorality has taken over; the number of drop-outs has sky-rocketed; respect for the law has been lost. The list of negatives is
as long as you can imagine. Today we are reaping the consequences of this great neglect.
I am therefore appealing to all who care about the future and to all who have concern for Nigeria, to beg the Government to
return mission schools. This is not because we want a return of mission schools for its own sake, but because the type of
education and training provided by these schools formed the foundation upon which we have been built and it was the bedrock
of a moral, sane and just society. If this appeal is not heeded and we continue in the way we are going, some of us will pay for it
very dearly at a time when we are helpless, weak and even incapable of defending ourselves. My desire for a return of these
schools is borne out of the concern and conviction that we can also develop and contribute to the dreams and aspirations of the
present leadership by doing our bit through the development of a total, all-round education for the child.
POLITICS
It is gratifying to see the growing rise of interest in politics as shown by the majority of the populace. It is my observation that it is
the majority poor who turned out in large numbers during the last Local Government elections. We congratulate those who were
elected to offices and we further congratulate those who lost and wish them success next time. I do not know much about politics
and how they work, but I am very interested in who leads me and my people. Let me make plain certain convictions which I
indicated earlier at the Easter "Christian Association of Nigeria" (C.A.N.) Rally.
First: The Christian Association of Nigeria is not a political party and has not been registered as such. Therefore C.A.N. does
not intend to field a political candidate; in fact C.A.N. has no candidate and will not have a candidate. However, God has his
candidates and God will confirm the choice of his candidates through his people. To the best of my knowledge there is no one
Christian political party. The interest of the common people, I believe, is to find a God-fearing leader, from whichever party, so
long as he is the peoples' choice and so long as he will serve God. Therefore I strongly appeal to Government and to all the
political parties to caution politicians against manipulating and imposing unpopular candidates on the majority of the masses, as
this seems to produce a reaction which inclines towards violence. The majority of the people are poor and are suffering, and
many people have become impatient and would explode in anger for flimsy reasons. I therefore appeal for restraint on the part
of any of the affluent rich and powerful who may have ambitions or assumptions that wealth can provide political power, lest the
poor electorate be tempted to react in anger. I further urge all people of Plateau State to exercise restraint and caution in spite
of the prevailing circumstances.
Secondly, I want to appeal to Christian people not to take money from politicians. I say this knowing that things are indeed hard
and that living conditions are difficult. However, my conviction is that our salvation in Jesus Christ cannot be bought with money.
As Christians we were purchased by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is far beyond anything that money can
achieve or buy. Following this is the fact that your vote as a Christian is your God-given right, freedom, opportunity and power to
participate with God to elect leaders in the society. Therefore do not sell your vote; do not negotiate it for anything or mortgage
it for whatever reason. If you do, however, sell your vote I want to appeal to you to forget about asking the church to pray
afterwards when things turn sour!
Thirdly, I want to appeal to Christians in politics not to use insults or character assassination of opponents (or of anybody for that
matter) as a means of gaining followership. It is unbiblical to slander anybody for whatever reason. If you do not approve of a
person's candidature, please simply let the ballot box decide.
I want to plead with the Government and people of Nigeria to work together and see to it that our programme for the transition to
civilian rule is successful.
PASTORAL PUBLICATIONS COMMISSION (P.P.C.)
The Pastoral Publication Commission has an invaluable role to play in the ongoing work of evangelism, and in discipling church
members. The need not only for Prayer Books, but also for good devotional materials and for Bible study guides and teaching
aids is urgent. Those who profess faith in Christ must be taught, if they are to continue to grow and to be built up in him. If we
do not continue to teach the people they will fall by the wayside and we shall have failed in our task. If, however, we teach
faithfully and fruitfully, those whom we teach will then in turn go out to teach others (2 Tim.2:2).
The P.P.C. was therefore established with the following aims and guidelines:
1. The Pastoral Publications Commission of the Anglican Diocese of Jos shall be responsible for the publication of such materials
as shall seek to spread God's Word, to teach God's people, and to build up the Body of Christ, the Church.
2. Priority in publication shall be given to those works which fulfill the requirements of 1. above, meet the local need, and are
deemed to be viable.
3. The materials to be so published shall be recomended by the P.P.C., and evaluated by the editorial unit, publication unit and
marketing unit. The final decision rests with the P.P.C..
4. No income of the P.P.C. shall be used for any other project; the monies shall form a revolving capital to be used for the work of
the P.P.C.alone.
5. Contributors and authors shall derive no personal financial gain from works published by the P.P.C..
The members of the Executive Commission of the P.P.C. are: Chairman: Rt.Rev.B.A.Kwashi; Members: Rev.Canon E.S.Egbunu
(Secretary); Rev.Canon O.Ajayi; Rev.Canon S.Miner; Dr.M.Mogekwu; Mrs.H.Gofwen; Dss.Susan C.Essam (Treasurer).
The P.P.C. has now produced the Prayer Book in English and in Hausa as well as the Lent study guide, "Living for Jesus"; the
six-monthly "Cycle of Prayer"; the "Four Steps to Spiritual Growth" and "Baptism?" leaflets (in both English and Hausa); the study
book "Called to Serve"; and "Passion for God's Kingdom" (by Canon E.S.Egbunu). On 3rd May this year we held a Dedication
and Fund Raising for two new books: "Sermons and Meditations" and "The Mission of Evangelism" both by Benjamin A.Kwashi.
Hausa translations of "The Mission of Evangelism" and "Called to Serve" are in process, and other publications are planned,
including further Bible study guides and devotional materials. We give God the glory for all that has so far been achieved, and
we strongly urge every person in this diocese to read and to use these publications.
We sincerely thank all who have contributed towards this venture, especially the organizations "Feed the Minds" and "Trust in
Christ", both of whom have made grants to us, and others churches and individuals both here and in England who have donated
generously. Our thanks go especially to our printers: to Mr.J.Bitrus for "Called to Serve", and to Chief A.O. Ehindero and his
staff for all other publications. They work untiringly and produce materials which are of a consistently high standard. Their
generosity as they participate with us in this work is greatly appreciated. This commitment, together with the fact that no writer or
editor receives any royalty or payment for his or her work, enables us to keep prices to a minimum.
GRATITUDE
We wish to express our sincere thanks to all who have helped the church in any way, and have contributed to the growth of the
diocese and to the furtherance of God's kingdom. The Barnabas Fund in England and various individuals both here and
overseas are contributing to the cost of training some of our Christian Institute students, and some of our pastors who are doing
further courses. Kasco Scientific Agency have also run special computer courses for our clergy and staff. May the Lord reward
you all.
Individuals and churches have donated generously to provide a video camera and equipment for the Diocesan Media Unit, as
well of course as continuing to contribute to the Diocesan Bishop's car and the Bishopscourt building. The willing and energetic
work of those who have organised these collections and purchases is deeply appreciated.
With the growth of new churches, congregations in many places are looking for land and materials for building. Again, we thank
those who have given buildings, land and money for this purpose, especially the Aaren Eggon, Mr.B.Angbazo, who has donated
a large piece of land and who is an enthusiastic supporter of the work of evangelism being done amongst his people.
In connection with evangelism we cannot fail to mention our ongoing gratitude to the Great Commission Movement: we value their
co-operation and the use of their equipment. The film equipment has been used for three years by the diocesan Film Ministry
team, who have been supported by each of the three main Jos churches in turn. We thank St.Piran's church, St.Luke's
Cathedral and St.Paul's Church for their faithfulness in this regard, and we thank Mr.Kingsley Njoku and Miss Naomi Fanto for
their work. The Film Ministers' report has been received by us, and is being studied.
ADMINISTRATION
Our concern for evangelism is not restricted to Jos Diocese! We are grateful for opportunities to preach and teach in other parts
of this country as well as overseas. Our concern in this regard has led us to release the Rev.Canon D.Yakubu and his wife to
work in the Diocese of Kafanchan. Similarly, the Rev.Canon D.DanMallam and his wife have returned to Kaduna Diocese.
In recognition of their missionary endeavours and their untiring work amongst the people of our churches, it was our pleasure on
New Year's Day to prefer three of our clergymen as Canons: the Rev.Canon V.G.Sanda, the Rev. Canon A.B.Lamido and the
Rev.Canon O.O.Ajayi. We congratulate them and their wives.
We also congratulate those who were ordained as priests last year: Rev.Joel Mban Ayuba; Rev.James A.P. Bankole; Rev.Gyang
E.Choji; Rev.Ayuba Chuka; Rev. Audu P.Dabang; Rev.Dr.Joseph D.Emmanuel; Rev.Yakubu Gimba; Rev.Tanimu Jeze;
Rev.Benjamin C.Opara; Rev. Gabriel Sedemogun; Rev.Jeremiah L.Wadak; Rev.Ramdi R.Wonole; Rev.Sunday Yakwoi; Rev.Jwan
B.N.Zhumbes.
The Rev.M.Ogbodo and the Rev.B.Nyisana retire this year. We thank them for their service and we wish them and their wives
God's continued blessings in the future.
VISITORS
During the past year we have been delighted to welcome various visitors to the diocese. The Rev.Canon Ken Okeke has taken
over from Miss Diana Witts as the C.M.S. Regional Secretary for West and Southern Africa and the Sudan. Towards the end of
last year he made his first visit to Nigeria in this capacity, and he spent some days with us in Jos. He was most interested and
also encouraged by what he saw, and we thank the Lord for our continued association with C.M.S. and for their own contributions
to God's work in this diocese.
Also last year we welcomed Miss Sally Brydon, an undergraduate from England, who spent some three weeks with us, and early
this year we enjoyed a return visit from Mrs.Julie Park (from U.S.A.). Such visits provide a valuable opportunity for us to learn
from one another, and also to strengthen the links between the different part of the world-wide Anglican Communion.
PROVINCIAL NEWS
In September last year the Fifth General Synod of the Church of the Province of Nigeria was held at Archbishop Vining Memorial
Church, Lagos, and subsequently a One-Day Provincial Synod took place in January. The Provincial Standing Committee met
again in April 1997 at Owerri. The Communiques from these meetings are appended to this Charge.
We congratulate those who were consecrated Bishop on 30th September 1996, and we similarly congratulate the newly
established dioceses and wish them God's guidance and blessing. They new Bishops and dioceses are:
The Rt.Rev.G.H.Pepple - Niger Delta Diocese; The Rt.Rev.I.Ugede - Otukpo Diocese; The Rt.Rev.Y. Lumu - Dutse Diocese; The
Rt.Rev.D.A.Yisa - Damaturu Diocese; The Rt.Rev.T.Samari - Jalingo Diocese; The Rt.Rev.E.Akanya - Kebbi Diocese. The
Rt.Rev.D.O. Elenwo was translated to the new diocese of Niger Delta North.
We praise Almighty God for his continued protection over us all, and we particularly thank him for saving the lives of the
Rt.Rev.D.O.Elenwo and the Rt.Rev.E.K.Mani from accidents and attacks during the past year.
LAMBETH CONFERENCE
Every ten years a conference is held for all the Bishops in the world-wide Anglican Communion. The Bishops and their wives
assemble at Lambeth Palace at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The next conference is due to be held from 18th
July to 9th August 1988. The conference fee for the Bishop and his wife is ,2,500.00, and this together with all travel (including
air fares) and expenses is estimated to total ,5,000.00. Despite the good intentions recorded in the minutes of our Diocesan
Board meeting as far back as 26th November 1994, this money is yet to be raised!
WOMEN'S WORK
We want to congratulate the women and wish them a lot of success in all their endeavours. The women of our diocese have
come to the point where they are not just ministering alongside or beside the men, but they are ministering in their own right as
women called by God. We give God all the glory and we praise him for the quality and dymanic leadership of the women of our
diocese. I urge you to pray for "Ebony Black, Mary Sumner", Mrs.Gloria Ladi Kwashi, that she may grow in grace, steadfast in
faith, and may increase in wisdom.
The Zumuntar Mata, one of the outreach arms of the women has been a tremendous blessing in the work of evangelism. Their
visitations to Babale, Ganawuri, Shiwer and other parts of our diocese have yielded fruit. We pray that God will uphold them and
keep them safe as they journey from place to place encouraging believers and sharing the gospel with others.
One of the major achievements of the women during the past year has been the production of their beautiful, unequalled, royal
blue and white Mothers' Union wrapper. It has found acceptance in the Province and beyond. The design and production have
been very carefully and prayerfully done to meet international standards. Again, we congratulate the women and we praise God
for the President of the Women's Guild and Mothers' Union, for the initiative and courage to undertake a venture of this nature at
a time like this. We sincerely congratulate the committee that worked tirelessly for the production of this wrapper and we thank
God for them, for making this dream become a reality.
I want to conclude this section by mentioning the football match between the Eschatological Team, led by the Bishop, the
Rt.Rev.Benjamin A.Kwashi, and the Mothers' Union / Women's Guild Team. I understand that the women have protested and
rejected the official result of 2 -1 against them. I hereby pronounce an episcopal result of 2 goals to 1 in favour of the
Eschatological Team. The women should take solace in God and hope to win next year!
CONGRATULATIONS
We sincerely congratulate all who have gained distinction or promotion, or who have received God's blessings in one form or
another during the past twelve months. We praise God for all that he is doing amongst us, and we pray that we may be faithful
stewards of what has been entrusted to us.
OBITUARY
During the past few months a number of our members, friends, clergy and church workers have died. Engr.L.Mwansatt was
instrumental in opening several of our Jos churches and he gave himself instintingly to the work of evangelism.
Rev.Toma Dogo Dung was an Army Chaplain who came from this diocese, was ordained here and was looking forward to coming
back to work with us, when his life was cut short in a car accident.
Mrs.Teresa Ajose's sudden death is a great loss to the diocese, and particularly to the Mother's Union and Women's Guild, of
which she was such a staunch member. Her wisdom, godly counsel and prayer support were valued by many.
We had just finished Mrs.Ajose's Funeral Service when we received the news of Rev. Elisha Useni Shekwolo's death.
Rev.Shekwolo was an experienced teacher and headmaster, as well as a pastor. He served first in Yerwa Archdeaconry, and
was then appointed as the first Principal of St.James' Christian Academy, Lafia. His humility, his willingness to serve and his
steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus Christ form an inspiring testimony. He is sorely missed.
We also mention particularly the death of Mrs.Ruth Kuyue Inyom, the mother of the Bishop of Makurdi, and we give thanks for
her life.
We thank God for these and all other faithful servants, and to the relatives of all who have died we extend our sympathy and
condolences.
Let us rise for a minute's silence.
May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace.
Amen.
CONCLUSION
The ills in our nation, in the world, and also within the church are many. The majority of people complain; many are discouraged;
others put their trust in people or in the gods they themselves have made. There is one way forward, and only one way.
Individually and collectively we must totally rededicate ourselves to God and put our whole trust in him alone. If we genuinely
repent and obey God then God promises us renewal, restoration and victory.
Earthly power ends, human resources pass away, money finishes, possessions rot, and might fails. Those who trust in these
things will weep and lament because they are in exile far from the City of God. But "on that day, whether in summer or in winter,
running water will issue from Jerusalem ... The Lord will become King over all the earth; on that day he will be the only Lord and
his name the only name." (Zechariah 14:8a,9) This will be so, because it is
"`Not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit',
says the Lord."
Amen
+Benjamin Jos May 1997
Appendix I
THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION): FIFTH GENERAL SYNOD
COMMUNIQUE
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) held her 5th General Synod at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Oba Akinjobi
Road, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos State between Wednesday 11th September to Sunday 15th September, 1996.
The Synod was attended by 450 delegates and officials comprising the Bishops, the Clergy and the Laity from the 53 dioceses
and was presided over by the Archbishop and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev.J.Abiodun Adetiloye. The Synod
hereby under the guidance of the Holy Spirit issues the following communique.
1. CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
(a) In accordance with the theme "As the waters cover the Sea" and in the light of the high moral and spiritual decadence of our
nation today, Synod calls on Christians to engage in a concerted effort of mission and evangelism until the knowledge of God
covers our land as the waters cover the sea.
(b) The Church rejoices at her tremendous growth since the inauguration of the Province of Nigeria on February 24th 1979, with
Archbishop Timothy Olufosoye, of blessed memory, as the first Primate and with the succession of the Most Rev.J.Abiodun
Adetiloye, the Anglican Church has witnessed a tremendous growth in membership and an increase in the number of dioceses.
Today, there are 53 dioceses in Nigeria. The General Synod congratulates Nigeria which is now acclaimed as the fastest
growing province within the world-wide Anglican Communion.
(c) In view of this tremendous growth, the need to create more provinces within Nigeria has been recognised and efforts are
being made to bring this desirable objective to fruition.
(d) The Church of Nigeria hereby offers her right hand of fellowship to all Christian Churches in Nigeria and urges all Christians
to carry aloft the light of Jesus so that righteousness may exalt our Nation.
(e) The Church urges all Nigerians to respect the fundamental right of their fellow citizens to freedom of worship and therefore
deprecates all acts of violence based on religious intolerance and fanaticism.
2. OUR NATION, NIGERIA
(a) The General Synod views with distress the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth. The Synod regrets that Nigeria's
reputation within the comity of nations is at its lowest ebb and urges the Federal Government of Nigeria to spare no effort in
redeeming the image of Nigeria, the largest black nation in the world.
(b) The Synod noted with dismay the frequent incidents of assassinations, arson and armed robberies which have made lives
and properties unsafe. A Government deserves the loyalty of its citizens only when such citizens can live decently in peace and
tranquility.
(c) Distressed at the continuing fall in the standard of education in the country and considering the possible negative effects of
the on-going dispute between government and the University Lecturers, the Church of Nigeria hereby offers to mediate between
the Federal Military Government and the Lecturers.
(d) Noting the dilapidation and deprecation of infrastructure in Nigeria, Synod deprecates the lack of maintenance-culture in
Nigeria resulting in the terrible state of road disrepair, epileptic electicity supply resulting in frequent black-outs and the bane of
industries, schools, churches and private homes.
Telephone services are deficient in the extreme. Synod therefore calls for an end to the monopoly of NITEL, NEPA and other
parastatals.
(e) The need for urgent return to democratic rule can no longer be over-emphasised especially with the threat of sanctions
hanging over Nigeria. Out of thirty-six years of independence, the military have ruled for about 25 years, leaving the economy in
ruins, and the political arena in utter confusion.
The Synod therefore prays for the early release of all political prsoners now in detention and that political parties be registered
without favouritism so as to give the electorate the opportunity to make their choice without hindrance and to inspire confidence
in the general public.
(f) The success of Nigeria Olympic Team in Atlanta '96 Olympic Ganmes has been a bright silver lining in cloud. Our success
proves that Nigeria is endowed with talents waiting to be tapped and channelled to the glory of our Nation. The Synod
congratulates the Nation, the athletes and their coaches.
(g) Despite all the problems now confronting our great Nation, the Synod strongly believes that with fervent prayers, there will be
light at the end of the tunnel through God's intervention.
3.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
(a) The Synod recognises that fundamental human rights are enshrined by the United Nations and the Organisation of African
Unity. Human Rights are no longer considered the internal affairs of any nation.
Synod therefore urges all nations of the world to jealously guard fundamental human rights in their territories and take
appropriate actions for this purpose.
(b) Synod believes that the advanced nations of the world should rally to the aid of poorer nations and grant debt-relief to such
nations.
The governments should be changed through the ballot box and not through the barrels of guns and all nations of the world are
urged to discourage coups d'etat and should not grant them recognition whenever and wherever they occur.
(c) The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) prays for peace and goodwill to prevail throughout the world and that God's
bounties be managed properly to eliminate hunger, disease and illiteracy.
Ven.S.B.Akinola Ven.S.S.O.Sodipe
General Secretary Clerical Secretary
The Most Rev.J.A.Adetiloye
Archbishop of Nigeria
Appendix II
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION), HOLDEN IN CHRIST CHURCH,
OWERRI FROM 16TH-20TH APRIL, 1997
COMMUNIQUE
Preamble
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in its continued mission to hold and maintain the Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and
Discipline in the Church of Christ and the society as a whole, cognisant of the role of the Church in bringing about happiness to
the citizenry and conscious of the need to ensure that the society is just, fair, peaceful and progress-inducing for spiritual and
economic growth and development, met at Christ Church, Owerri from 16th to 10th April, 1997 and hereby issues this
communique.
1. Hospitality: The Church of Nigeria is grateful to the Government and people of Imo State for their heart-warming hospitality and
specially thanks His Excellency, the Military Administrator of Imo State, Col.Tanko Zubairu, for being a wonderful host.
2. Progress of the Church: As we approach the year 2,000 we note with satisfaction the effort of the church in keeping aloft the
banner of Christianity in Nigeria. As a result of our progress, the Church has decided to create three Provinces within the
Church of Nigeria with three Archbishops under one Primate. The provinces will take effect from September 1997.
The Church has also approved the creation of three new Dioceses of Abakaliki, Wusasa and Oji River.
3. The Economy of the Nation: Although there is laudable effort on the part of the Government to improve the economy, we still
regret that this effort has not succeeded in alleviating the suffering of the masses. The cost of living is still too high. The recent
mass retrenchment of workers in some states has worsened the unemployment situation in the country. Retired workers are not
being paid their gratuities and pensions as and when due and this has brought untold hardship to many families. The value of
the naira, although steady, continues to be low.
However, we note the magnificent effort of the Federal Military Government through the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in
maintaining several facilities in the country and urge that this effort be redoubled. Government should take immediate steps to
prevent the shortage of petrol and petroleum products in the country.
4.Education: We have expressed our dismay on previous occasions at the falling standard of education in the country. Matters
have now degenerated to the level where secondary school students can no longer express themselves orally or in writing in the
official language of the country.
We are dismayed that science and mathematics are no longer properly taught due to lack of adequate laboratories and qualified
teachers. We warn that these subjects are of profound importance in the modern world.
We are therefore compelled to demand that some former voluntary agency schools be handed back to their former owners and
that more private schools be allowed to exist.
We urge the governments of Nigeria to regard themselves as partners of voluntary agencies and private proprietors in providing
education in the country and to continue not only to supervize all schools within their jurisdiction but to pay grants-in-aid in
respect of all pupils.
We urge the Government to stem the tide of frequent closure of Universities which has adversely affected the quality of university
education in the country and to adequately fund universities in the country.
5. Discrimination against non-indigenes: We urge all governments in the country to encourage all Nigerian citizens to feel at
home in all parts of the country. We therefore wish to discourage the recent practice in some states of retrenching
"non-indigenes" from their services. Any discrimination based on ethnicity or place of origin is immoral and should be
discouraged.
6. TRANSITION TO CIVIL RULE PROGRAMME: we note that two Local Govenment elections have so far been held during the
administration of General Sanni Abacha - one under the Zero party system and the other contested by the five registered
centrist political parties.
We urge all lapses observed in these elections be prevented in future elections.
We recognise that Nigeria cannot be an island unto herself and urge all Nigerians to take note of the views of the United Nations,
the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African Unity regarding respect for human rights during this period of transition to
civil rule. We urge all public officers, Military or Civilians, who are keen on contesting an election to resign their posts and join a
political party of their chioce long enough to avoid any untoward conclusion that they exploited their public offices to their own
political advantage.
7. The Church of Nigeria will continue to pray for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria and will continue to thank God for His
bountiful blessings.
8. The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) calls on all its members and the faithful to continue to adhere to the teachings of
Christ following the Anglican tradition and thus refuse to directly be associated with the proliferation of churches particularly
those which veer away from established Anglican tradition.
Ven S.S.O.Sodipe Chief (Mrs.)O.A.Wilde
Clerical Secretary Lay Secretary
Ven.S.B.Akinola
General Secretary
The Most Rev.J.A.Adetiloye
Archbishop, Metropolitan & Primate
The Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion)
DIOCESE OF JOS
THE BISHOP'S CHARGE
delivered to
THE THIRD SESSION OF
THE SIXTH SYNOD
at 10.00 a.m. on
Friday, 23rd May, 1997
in
St.Piran's Church, Jos
by
THE RT. REV. BENJAMIN A. KWASHI
(Bishop of The Rt.Rev.Benjamin A.Kwashi
Bishop of Jos
of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Dear Friends
We praise the Lord who has brought us to this day and who has gathered us together in this place. In his name we welcome you
all most warmly to this Third Session of the Sixth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Jos. We are particularly delighted to welcome
our distinguished guests who have sacrificed their time and other engagements in order to grace this occasion. We thank you
for your friendship and your encouragement, and we pray that the Almighty Father will bless you in all your ways. When we met
at the last Synod we were one State and one Diocese. Since then we have become two States, Plateau and Nasarawa States,
making up our one Diocese of Jos. We congratulate the new administration in Lafia, and pray that they will be guided by God's
wisdom and understanding.
It is with great joy that we greet our Guest Preachers, the Rt.Rev.D.A.Yisa, Bishop of Damaturu, and the Rt.Rev.E.K.Mani, Bishop
of Maiduguri. We rejoice in our fellowship in the gospel, and we value the close relationship between our dioceses. My Lords,
you are most welcome.
This is the Third Session of the Sixth Synod, and so next year there will be elections to choose new diocesan officials and
delegates. We therefore wish to take this opportunity not only to welcome everyone, but also to thank most sincerely the
Bishop's Nominees, the Diocesan Officials and all the delegates for your work and contributions. May the Lord Jesus Christ
strengthen you in his service and guide you in his ways.
It was only two years ago that we were here in St.Piran's Church for our Synod. However, the pastors and people gladly
accepted our request that they host us again, and they have all worked tirelessly to prepare for our coming. We thank God for
their dedication, their hard work and for their willingness to serve. We pray that the Lord will reward and bless you all. During
these last two years St.Piran's Church building has been transformed, and we congratulate all who have been involved in one
way or another with this great task. We pray that as this building has been built and beautified, so the lives of the people will be
similarly built up and made beautiful for God. We pray that not long from today we shall gather again for the dedication
ceremony of this church. We recognize and appreciate special contributions of individual members in the church and those done
collectively. May the Lord reward you all.
Physical structures are very important in the life of man; there is a call for a roof over everybody's head by the year 2000.
Especially for us in Nigeria, as soon as one gets gainful employment pressures from the family begin to mount, requesting a
person to purchase a plot of land and build a house. The building of houses is of such significance in the Nigerian situation that
people will go to any length to secure and protect their lands. Houses are then built and fenced in such a way that most people
in Nigeria actually live in self-constructed prison yards. In the western world houses are available in many different designs and
people buy such houses depending on how much they can afford. The advantages in both cases are different and significant.
In Nigeria we are free to design and construct whatever we want, and this adds colour to the variety of buildings there are. It also
gives a lot of freedom to our architects in the use of their imaginations.
The situation has become one in which buildings are now idols. This is always a possibility. Man has always faced the
temptation of worshipping what he with his own hands has made. The second commandment warns against just that:
"You must not make a carved image for yourself, nor the likeness of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in
the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them in worship; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the
children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me."
(Ex.20:4-5)
By the time of Isaiah the problem had become so bad that men made wood and worshipped wood.
"All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant to their own shame.
Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit him nothing?
He and his kind will be put to shame;
craftsmen are nothing but men.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and infamy.
The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.
The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of a man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.
He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
It is man's fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions and makes a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me, you are my god."
They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so that they cannot see,
and their minds closed so that they cannot understand.
No-one stops to think,
no-one has the knowledge to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
(Isaiah 44:9-20)
They did this deliberately, ignoring history and refusing to learn from what had happened in the wilderness when 23,000 were
killed for idol worship. Idol worship has a peculiar ability to make man drunk with power, drunk with alcohol, drunk with
self-praise, with praise-singers, psychophants, gossips, women and the like. Man has a problem of always worshipping what he
with his own hands has made.
This temptation must be understood to be wide in its influence, as it affects everybody and everything. The evangelist will boast
of how wonderful and great his ministry has become and he will invite everybody to come and see what the Lord is doing with
him. At the same time, however, what he himself is doing with the Lord must be noted and praised: this is so much so that
without him the ministry cannot continue; without him miracles cannot happen. He himself becomes almost the object of the
church service, or crusade or seminar; he is called names - more names than Jesus ever had - and he acquires titles that are
useless when he is dead. The same temptation goes for the pastor who calls everybody to see how he has spent so much effort
in constructing the church, the vicarage, the church hall, the parish, the archdeaconry, the diocese and so on. Good as these
constructions may be, the people are left spiritually unbuilt and biblically unconstructed.
As far as the people in the world are concerned, their condition is perfectly understood: they are purely idol worshippers. But for
the church and for the chosen people of God the danger of idol worship must be pointed out for what it is, and the ways in which
God has dealt with his people over the years in history must be taken very seriously in order to avert spiritual exile. It is easy and
possible to take idols out of the Temple, but to take idols from the hearts of men is the struggle of all spiritual journeys. Spiritual
exile is the mother of all exiles.
The prophet Zechariah lived and worked in the sixth century B.C., at about the same time as the prohet Haggai. By this time the
Israelites, God's chosen people, had been in exile for 70 years, but had now come back to their own land, and to Jerusalem.
Sometimes when church workers go to a new job they expect to find the Vicarage built, furnished and painted, and everything
prepared so that all the worker has to do is to "enjoy" and to give orders. Such expectations show a total lack of understanding
of the job! In the same way, some at least of the returning exiles probably thought that once they got back to their own country
everything would be easy, life would be without problems, and they could enjoy themselves. That was not the case. They
therefore began asking not only "Why did the exile happen?", but also "Why is life difficult for us even now?" This was the
situation which Zechariah addressed.
Zechariah, we are told, was descended from Iddo, one of the priestly houses mentioned by Nehemiah in his record. Zechariah
himself may well have been a priest as well as a prophet. In any case, he was deeply concerned with the holiness of God, and
with the peoples' relationship with this awesome God. It was Zechariah's own devotion to God which led to his deep concern for
the people - a concern which showed itself in community action. People who have a strong devotion to God get involved with
community action. If your devotion is weak you will be afraid of community action. If your devotion is strong your community
action will point people beyond yourself to God. Zechariah was a priest but he was so devoted to God that from the Temple he
moved out to the community: he began to talk about justice, righteousness and wholeness.
Zechariah began to explain to the people that the past had lessons for them to learn; in the present they must be purified,
strengthened and transformed both as individuals and as a society; and then, and only then, there is held out to them the hope
of a glorious future.
Zechariah looked at his people's history. Remember that if you do not take history seriously, you will repeat the mistakes of your
fathers! The Israelites had been in exile for 70 years: this is what disobedience can do. We too need to repent seriously. If we
do not repent, we will remain spiritual exiles, rejected and unwanted. You can remain where you are today and be exiled from
Jesus Christ. The most miserable person is someone who, because of pride, anxiety, malice, envy or deliberate sin, is in
self-exile.
The children of Israel were asking what their fathers did to deserve this sort of punishment. Zechariah's answer - to them and to
us - is: if you do what your forefathers did, you too will continue to be in exile because God hates sin. It is your responsibility to
return to God. You belong to God, and God wants to use you, to bless you, to make you a light to the nations. If you refuse, it is
your choice that you go into exile. If, however, you return to God he will cause your enemies not only to be afraid of you but he
will give you victory. If, on the other hand, you do not return to God your enemies will deal with you and make you slaves, and
you continue in your self-imposed exile. Therefore return to God!
The Israelites had returned to their land, but they had not returned their hearts to God. Living conditions were bad: there were
no city walls, the Temple had been destroyed, life was tough and they felt very insecure. We need to ask ourselves: is our
reliance on other nations, on other people, on the economic or political situation, on ourselves - or on God? The prophet was
critical of those who affirm their trust in God by word of mouth only while their actions are to the contrary. The basic lesson for
the Israelites as they remembered their past, struggled with their present, and looked towards their future, was God's call to
return and the promise of physical and spiritual restoration:
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." (Zechariah 4:6)
Not by military power; not by political power; not by the "power" of academic study; not by the power attributed to wealth and
possessions; not by the oppressive power of status; not by personal influence or charismatic leadership, not by any force,
strength, influence, power or might under the sun - but only by the Spirit of God. Only if the people repent and turn back to God
with their whole heart, mind and will, and only if that faith affects the way they live their lives, as individuals, as a community, as a
society and as a nation, only then can spiritual and physical exile be avoided. If, however, anything else is given top priority in
our lives, if any other consideration comes before the consideration of the word of God, then that one thing has become our god,
our idol, and we are on the road to exile and destruction.
The Israelites, however, complained because of the state of the country and they thought that God had left them. Zechariah
simply says, "Return to God". God has not abandoned you; you have abandoned God. Today some people are disillusioned,
and resort to prayer houses, search for miracles and magic, and follow other such practices. God wants you simply to return to
him. You must be ready to forsake sin: it is the sin which is the problem. When we fail to have mercy and compassion, when we
fail to forgive and to pay tithes; in fact, when God is not our priority, the end result will be disastrous. If God can take his special
children and put them into exile, God can surely punish anybody who continues in sin. Be careful! You and I should forsake our
iniquities and return to the Lord. If you are going to return to the Lord you must return with all your heart and under God's
conditions (Zechariah 6:15; 3:10).
How does a person return to the Lord? It requires brokeness, complete repentance and a determination never to do again what
you did before. It means letting go of all the things you have held on to and trusted. A total return is a necessity. You must
return to the word of God, read the word of God and meditate upon it, even when you feel tired. When you feel weak, kneel
down and pray and listen, and the Lord will give you a message. What you preach, you must practice. Return to God completely
with all your heart, all your family and all your ministry.
This was Zechariah's message. Put first things first! Return to God first, and then buildings and prosperity will follow. God first
has to break down all pride and self so that you become humble, and ready to appreciate the blessings of God. Even the
material prosperity we pursue will waste away unless we genuinely return to God. Material prosperity has never brought spiritual
prosperity. When God gives a blessing he gives it without regrets. When you do not genuinely return to God you will not know
peace; Satan and every vice will plague you, no matter what you do. If you use God's church as a means of enhancing your
material prosperity you will also go into exile. Jesus warned that on the last day, many will say, "We did ... in your name", and
God will say, "Get away from me, you worker of iniquity", because your aim was not the same as the aim of God. The aim of God
is that you return to the Lord so that others will return to the Lord, so that those others will bring others to return to the Lord, and
they will bring others ... and the mission continues.
The theme of repentance runs right through the message of Zechariah. Repentance means more than just saying that you are
born again: it concerns every part of life. For example, you may be born again, but you need to repent about giving your second
best in matters of church or even taking casually the things and commands of God, and also going late to church. Or there may
be something so deep down that is known only to you and to God alone: you must repent.
The children of Israel knew all about fasting and praying, but God was saying that he was not happy (Zechariah 7:4-14). They
were fasting, but it was for show, to show that they were religious. What is your purpose in fasting? Some of us have been
fasting for many years but with no effect. There are some fasts that are not pleasing to the Lord. Do not think that because you
have fasted and prayed the Lord must answer! No! Do not even get others to fast on your behalf! No fasting and praying is of
any use if Christ is not the Lord of your heart and if you have not returned to him with all your heart. Look at the oppression and
the sin surrounding your life. The Lord is angry because you are disobedient. If you want to know a child of God you know him
by obedience to God (Zechariah 6:15). Disobedience to God is a hallmark of Satan. Problems actually start when people stop
listening to God and spend time listening to sycophants, praise singers, gossips and to themselves. Fasting is rubbish if you do
not live in righteousness. To claim, "I prayed about it and I told God ...." makes no sense on its own. The point is: are you
willing to do what God says about it? Listen and hear what God is saying about it. He may be asking you to do what you are
refusing to accept. Discerning what God wants you to do may be the answer to your prayer, but you will perceive this only when
you listen to God.
If you are going to fast in a way which is pleasing to God, God must be Lord of your heart, and when God is Lord of your heart,
then you will behave as God wants (Zechariah 7:9). When something is wrong do not say that it is right, and vice versa. God is
a just God, a holy God. Whatever you do, let it be right, pure and true. There must be justice and mercy. If you say you are
fasting and praying but a member of your own immediate family is in pain, suffering, or living in poverty and you are doing
nothing about it, you are not fasting. Your focus must shift from yourself to Sudan, Liberia, Zaire, and Rwanda, to all areas of the
suffering world, to all the needy, and you must identify with these peoples in your fast and prayer and mission. If your attitude to
one another is not right, you are not fasting. This is why the children of Israel went into exile. If you live a life of mercy and
compassion, it shows that God is Lord of your life. When you are not merciful, it shows that you do not know God. Do not
oppress the poor and the widow. Remember that widows are very vulnerable as they have no husband, no status and no
income. Do you remember the widow in your congregation, or the one who lives next door? Look out for the fatherless children;
God created them and loves them. God wants us to show love to these people. Consider the foreigners, the poor, the weak and
the helpless. Any fast that is going to be acceptable to God must be in accordance with Zechariah 7:8-10; it must renew your life
and change your life - otherwise you will be wasting your time. Every year you fast and pray, but if you hold malice in your heart,
you will go into spiritual exile sooner rather than later. Keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God.
And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: `Administer true justice, show mercy
and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think
evil of each other.' But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made
their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through
the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. `When I called, they did not listen, so when they called, I would not
listen', says the Lord Almighty. `I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land
was left so desolate behind them that no-one could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.'" (Zechariah
7:8-14)
When you refuse to listen to God, God will make your land desolate. Consider what is happening in our country: there are
Christians and churches all over the land, but where are the results? God cannot bless sin - the land will be desolate because
the Lord is angry and you have refused to repent. Avoid a life of sin now, for the sake of your future and the future of your
children. The Lord is angry with us in Jos. What he said to the children of Israel he is saying to us. Shall we continue to make
the Lord unhappy? No! Let us repent now and return to the Lord.
Our national condition seems similar to that described by Zechariah, and the factor which, above all, we have in common with the
Israelites seems to me to be our complaining. Almost nine out of every ten Nigerians are complaining about the national
condition; in fact the complaints far outweigh any hope of restoration. We complain even when we should be grateful. We have
so swallowed the negative description of our nation, which the international media has put out, that it has affected our national
life. While the situation may indeed be very bad and seemingly hopeless, we have a God who cannot be confined by human
conditions and situations. Sadly, the church has adopted the complaining attitudes of the world, and is almost dependent on
what the world says before she can move. There is so much complaining of a lack of money when it comes to evangelism, of a
lack of money for church work, a lack of money for anything that has to do with God, the church and God's mission. It is not
because there is no money; it is also not because God has no people who can give the money; but, sadly, it is because the
people have chosen to believe the world and not God. God, however, promises his full restoration of his people, his chosen
ones, and he will do it: "`Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
Let me state categorically that I have no doubt in my mind that it was God who called me to be a priest in holy orders. I am also
convinced that God led men to elect me specifically to tend the flock of God in the Diocese of Jos. Therefore I am accountable to
God in my place of primary assignment, which is Jos. God will not require me to account for America, for Europe, or even for
Africa; I will account for Jos. It is one of the tactics of Satan to shift our focus from what we have done as individuals, from what
we can do, and from what God is doing and will do, and instead to show us the kingdoms of the world, and how impossible it is for
us to change the world. Satan further puts magnifying lenses before us, and triples the image of the problems around us, with
the one single aim of sending us to discouragement and despair, and making us give up totally. The truth is, as Zechariah puts
it, that God will use individuals, such as Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor, and God will do it: he will surmount the
problems; he will change individuals and circumstances; there will be revival, renewal and regeneration, "`Not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
There is no doubt that Zechariah was a man of deep devotion to God. The work of this prophet shows that he must have
studied, and was familiar with, other prophets like Amos, Micah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, and with the Torah. He spent a lot of time
studying the word of God and meditating upon the messages of God. This attitude formed the base from which he followed God
in a difficult situation. It is also clear that he followed God closely, and kept in mind the history of God and his people, using past
experiences as guide-posts on his journey of faith. Therefore he would tolerate no idols and he insisted that the knowledge of
the word of God must lead to action, and that every action must conform to that word of God. This determination and zeal could
not have been popular in his time. I want quickly to add that this kind of determination, zeal and commitment is not popular in our
time either! If you walk closely with God you will have a vision from God. But if you have no vision you will have no mission and
you accomplish nothing. A vision is a message from God, and usually concerns what you must do.
God is still looking for individuals like Zechariah the prophet, Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor, who will believe him
and whom he can use, regardless of the economic situation or circumstances, or even of the world condition or the state of a
nation. God wants just that one person, young or old, male or female, who will be resolute, single-minded and focused on God to
change the situation where he or she is. It may be tiny little things like someone who will keep an environment clean, maintain
order in school, a sexton in church, an honest lawyer, an incorruptable judge, a serious evangelist, a committed missionary, a
strong farmer, a soldier, a policeman, an ordinary citizen - the list is endless. God is looking for that one person who will believe
wholeheartedly and trust him sufficiently to be used to change the community. That person must have a very strong devotion to
God; that person must believe in the Holy Spirit of God; that person must believe in the power of God; that person must throw off
all despair and hopelessness; that person, whoever that person is, must be prepared to live for God and to die for his faith. God
will do it; he has done it before; he will do it again, "`Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
A story was told of an international trade-fair organised by Satan. The whole world was there; every country on the face of the
earth was represented. Satan and all his demons displayed all their goods, their wares and their abilities. The witches who fly at
night were there; those who operate during the day were also there. The demons that operate through technology, such as
computers and television, and those whose speciality is in the church alone were there. That trade-fair was one of a kind! Satan
was so overwhelmed by the interest of the world in the commodities he displayed that he chose to give the nations of the world all
the items on credit, to be paid for later in life, whether they were credit worthy or not. There was only one item he did not give
out: that item was discouragement. Several nations wanted it, but he would not give out that commodity for obvious reasons.
Satan therefore has kept discouragement to himself, unleashing it on people and nations, and on churches everywhere, with the
sole aim of making people helpless and hopeless to the point where they will give up following God entirely. The remedy for
discouragement is to have faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ who defeated Satan publicly on the cross of Calvary, and
made a public show of the lies of Satan.
Another of Satan's tactics today is to introduce money problems and to place a price tag on everything everywhere. Money has
become so important and I am afraid that it has become more important than people and is even becoming more important than
the mission of God. I say this with fear not for myself, but for the future of the church, because money is a god, an idol; a god
and an idol that can easily be worshipped and even glorified. When this happens, the church will be exiled and whilst in exile she
will not know peace; she will disintegrate, lose her authority and her sense of mission altogether. The church will then be
struggling, and above all she will be hijacked by money and money-brokers who will dictate the pace and the speed of the church
through human manipulation and scheming. This will be done deliberately, for whatever reason, and for goals that only God will
reveal in eternity. There is no doubt that money is needed to buy a Bishop's car, build a Bishopscourt, buy land for churches,
print books, transport people and so on, but my conviction is this: money must not be the determining factor in our loyalty to God
and in our obedience to the mission of the church. In all matters affecting the church, therefore, all items and considerations
must be weighed in the light of God's word and placed within God's list of priorities, because God's people and God's work are
not kept or controlled by, nor are they dependent upon, the economy of the world. God's plans and purposes will be executed
"`Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
I want to appeal to all Christians to rededicate themselves to God individually, and collectively as a church, so that we can
provide a united front against all evil from within the church and from outside. When the church is corrected from within she will
definitely produce a corrected society. The church is also a mirror of the society; a poor state of affairs in the society reveals
itself in the church too. Let us therefore be determined like Zechariah to be changed inwardly and to let our inward change
affect whatever we are outwardly. If we believe God through Christ and believe his word we will make a difference because God
will then accomplish his word and promises in our lives and do great and mighty things which we have never heard nor seen.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek
me with all your heart." (Jer.29:11-13)
Let me mention once again the need for us to proclaim the message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all people
everywhere, I am impressing this upon our Diocese for us to know that we are called to move out, not to be static but to be on
the move all the time until the whole Diocese is reached with the gospel and the mission of the gospel.
To the glory of God two major mission outreaches were conducted during the last year: one in Nasarawa Eggon and the other in
Langtang Archdeaconry. These missionary endeavours were the toughest we have ever had. We had serious encounters with
Satan and his agents, but God gave us victory in all things. Four new churches were born in Nasarawa Eggon and at least two in
the Langtang area. Since then, however, new churches have been born throughout the diocese. Some of these congregations
were as a result of church planting, like Emmanuel Church, Rockhaven, Jos, and St.Matthias, Abbatoir, Jos. Others, mainly in
the rural areas, have begun as a direct result of primary evangelism.
We want to thank God for the lives of all who labour for evangelism and for the mission of the gospel: those who have gone out
with us; those who are labouring right now in the field; and those who have contributed gifts and financial support for the Great
Commission. May the Lord himself reward you.
"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 Cor.15:58)
We have received yet another vision concerning Riyom and Bassa Local Government areas. We have sent the Rev.G.E.Choji
as a pioneer missionary covering the whole of Riyom Local Government. It shall be his responsibility to make disciples, to raise a
leadership and to train the followership to repeat what we have taught him. Similarly, we have posted Rev.I.Yusufu and his wife
to Bassa Local Government area. We urge the church to pray for these pastors and for the people of those areas.
There is a great need for workers in the vineyard. Jesus, in Luke chapter 10, described the workers as "labourers for the
harvest". This is in contrast to the executive religious leaders, academic pharisees and debating lawyers. What is needed for
the harvest is not flowing gowns, long arguments and talk shows, but labourers, workers in the field. My experience so far in the
episcopacy has shown that many people who have expressed a desire to join the ministry want to work, but only in the cities. A
simple analysis shows that 50% of the entire clergy of Jos Diocese are in Jos city servicing about 30 churches and schools, while
the remaining 50% are grappling with nearly 200 churches in rural and remote areas of the states, in addition to continuing the
task of mission and evangelism. By this analysis we have reached the conclusion that we will accept and train new workers only
if they are willing and ready to be labourers and to work in the rural areas of our Diocese.
We have, by the same degree, had to review part-time and non-stipendiary training and ordination. It is a pity that some people
understand this style of ministry romantically with no serious preparedness for adverse conditions. The apostle Paul, after
whose example we have adopted the non-stipendiary ministry, did not understand it in this way. He was not a burden to any
church, yet he laboured more, suffered more and founded more churches than anyone else, and it was all at his own expense.
Those who want to join the non-stipendiary ministry should therefore take their cue from the apostle Paul, and from those whom
we have trained already and who are faithfully serving the Lord as labourers with us in the Diocese of Jos.
Furthermore, we have decided that between January and June next year every clergyman will again spend two weeks working in
a rural area where there is no resident pastor. This time, however, we are also inviting members of the laity to undertake a
similar exercise. All those who are interested in furthering the work in the Lord's vineyard in this way should come to our office,
submit their names and the dates when they will be available, and they will be posted to a particular location.
God is doing his work in our diocese and we must take seriously the message of the prophet Zechariah and keep our focus on
God. We must always remember what God has done for us in the past, we must recognize what he is doing now, and we must
trust him for what he will do with us, in us and for us in the future. He has promised and he will never fail. "`Not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord".
TAKE-OVER OF MISSIONARY SCHOOLS
I belong to the generation that was still in school when the Mission Schools were taken over by Government. With the privilege of
hindsight I have much pain as I see what obtains today in the lives of young people and in the society in general. When the
schools were taken over by Government, the regular morning devotions and prayers were no longer said. The regular closing
prayers in the afternoons were no more. The regular spiritual, moral and character checks were also thrown out. At that time
the teachers and children were happy that these were all out, as they were free and were now new government property with no
worry about schools fees, no worry about maintenance of buildings, standards, or morality, and no worry about the importance of
spirituality.
It is now thirty years since this happened. Before it happened most children were from pagan homes or from families of
non-committed Christians, but what these children did not receive at home they received at school. They had religious teaching;
they had character training and moral upbringing - all in the school. These things cannot be quantified in terms of their end
result, nor priced correctly in terms of naira. With the government take-over of schools children from these backgrounds lost
everything. What they did not receive by way of upbringing at home, they also did not receive in the school. As a result,
immorality has taken over; the number of drop-outs has sky-rocketed; respect for the law has been lost. The list of negatives is
as long as you can imagine. Today we are reaping the consequences of this great neglect.
I am therefore appealing to all who care about the future and to all who have concern for Nigeria, to beg the Government to
return mission schools. This is not because we want a return of mission schools for its own sake, but because the type of
education and training provided by these schools formed the foundation upon which we have been built and it was the bedrock
of a moral, sane and just society. If this appeal is not heeded and we continue in the way we are going, some of us will pay for it
very dearly at a time when we are helpless, weak and even incapable of defending ourselves. My desire for a return of these
schools is borne out of the concern and conviction that we can also develop and contribute to the dreams and aspirations of the
present leadership by doing our bit through the development of a total, all-round education for the child.
POLITICS
It is gratifying to see the growing rise of interest in politics as shown by the majority of the populace. It is my observation that it is
the majority poor who turned out in large numbers during the last Local Government elections. We congratulate those who were
elected to offices and we further congratulate those who lost and wish them success next time. I do not know much about politics
and how they work, but I am very interested in who leads me and my people. Let me make plain certain convictions which I
indicated earlier at the Easter "Christian Association of Nigeria" (C.A.N.) Rally.
First: The Christian Association of Nigeria is not a political party and has not been registered as such. Therefore C.A.N. does
not intend to field a political candidate; in fact C.A.N. has no candidate and will not have a candidate. However, God has his
candidates and God will confirm the choice of his candidates through his people. To the best of my knowledge there is no one
Christian political party. The interest of the common people, I believe, is to find a God-fearing leader, from whichever party, so
long as he is the peoples' choice and so long as he will serve God. Therefore I strongly appeal to Government and to all the
political parties to caution politicians against manipulating and imposing unpopular candidates on the majority of the masses, as
this seems to produce a reaction which inclines towards violence. The majority of the people are poor and are suffering, and
many people have become impatient and would explode in anger for flimsy reasons. I therefore appeal for restraint on the part
of any of the affluent rich and powerful who may have ambitions or assumptions that wealth can provide political power, lest the
poor electorate be tempted to react in anger. I further urge all people of Plateau State to exercise restraint and caution in spite
of the prevailing circumstances.
Secondly, I want to appeal to Christian people not to take money from politicians. I say this knowing that things are indeed hard
and that living conditions are difficult. However, my conviction is that our salvation in Jesus Christ cannot be bought with money.
As Christians we were purchased by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is far beyond anything that money can
achieve or buy. Following this is the fact that your vote as a Christian is your God-given right, freedom, opportunity and power to
participate with God to elect leaders in the society. Therefore do not sell your vote; do not negotiate it for anything or mortgage
it for whatever reason. If you do, however, sell your vote I want to appeal to you to forget about asking the church to pray
afterwards when things turn sour!
Thirdly, I want to appeal to Christians in politics not to use insults or character assassination of opponents (or of anybody for that
matter) as a means of gaining followership. It is unbiblical to slander anybody for whatever reason. If you do not approve of a
person's candidature, please simply let the ballot box decide.
I want to plead with the Government and people of Nigeria to work together and see to it that our programme for the transition to
civilian rule is successful.
PASTORAL PUBLICATIONS COMMISSION (P.P.C.)
The Pastoral Publication Commission has an invaluable role to play in the ongoing work of evangelism, and in discipling church
members. The need not only for Prayer Books, but also for good devotional materials and for Bible study guides and teaching
aids is urgent. Those who profess faith in Christ must be taught, if they are to continue to grow and to be built up in him. If we
do not continue to teach the people they will fall by the wayside and we shall have failed in our task. If, however, we teach
faithfully and fruitfully, those whom we teach will then in turn go out to teach others (2 Tim.2:2).
The P.P.C. was therefore established with the following aims and guidelines:
1. The Pastoral Publications Commission of the Anglican Diocese of Jos shall be responsible for the publication of such materials
as shall seek to spread God's Word, to teach God's people, and to build up the Body of Christ, the Church.
2. Priority in publication shall be given to those works which fulfill the requirements of 1. above, meet the local need, and are
deemed to be viable.
3. The materials to be so published shall be recomended by the P.P.C., and evaluated by the editorial unit, publication unit and
marketing unit. The final decision rests with the P.P.C..
4. No income of the P.P.C. shall be used for any other project; the monies shall form a revolving capital to be used for the work of
the P.P.C.alone.
5. Contributors and authors shall derive no personal financial gain from works published by the P.P.C..
The members of the Executive Commission of the P.P.C. are: Chairman: Rt.Rev.B.A.Kwashi; Members: Rev.Canon E.S.Egbunu
(Secretary); Rev.Canon O.Ajayi; Rev.Canon S.Miner; Dr.M.Mogekwu; Mrs.H.Gofwen; Dss.Susan C.Essam (Treasurer).
The P.P.C. has now produced the Prayer Book in English and in Hausa as well as the Lent study guide, "Living for Jesus"; the
six-monthly "Cycle of Prayer"; the "Four Steps to Spiritual Growth" and "Baptism?" leaflets (in both English and Hausa); the study
book "Called to Serve"; and "Passion for God's Kingdom" (by Canon E.S.Egbunu). On 3rd May this year we held a Dedication
and Fund Raising for two new books: "Sermons and Meditations" and "The Mission of Evangelism" both by Benjamin A.Kwashi.
Hausa translations of "The Mission of Evangelism" and "Called to Serve" are in process, and other publications are planned,
including further Bible study guides and devotional materials. We give God the glory for all that has so far been achieved, and
we strongly urge every person in this diocese to read and to use these publications.
We sincerely thank all who have contributed towards this venture, especially the organizations "Feed the Minds" and "Trust in
Christ", both of whom have made grants to us, and others churches and individuals both here and in England who have donated
generously. Our thanks go especially to our printers: to Mr.J.Bitrus for "Called to Serve", and to Chief A.O. Ehindero and his
staff for all other publications. They work untiringly and produce materials which are of a consistently high standard. Their
generosity as they participate with us in this work is greatly appreciated. This commitment, together with the fact that no writer or
editor receives any royalty or payment for his or her work, enables us to keep prices to a minimum.
GRATITUDE
We wish to express our sincere thanks to all who have helped the church in any way, and have contributed to the growth of the
diocese and to the furtherance of God's kingdom. The Barnabas Fund in England and various individuals both here and
overseas are contributing to the cost of training some of our Christian Institute students, and some of our pastors who are doing
further courses. Kasco Scientific Agency have also run special computer courses for our clergy and staff. May the Lord reward
you all.
Individuals and churches have donated generously to provide a video camera and equipment for the Diocesan Media Unit, as
well of course as continuing to contribute to the Diocesan Bishop's car and the Bishopscourt building. The willing and energetic
work of those who have organised these collections and purchases is deeply appreciated.
With the growth of new churches, congregations in many places are looking for land and materials for building. Again, we thank
those who have given buildings, land and money for this purpose, especially the Aaren Eggon, Mr.B.Angbazo, who has donated
a large piece of land and who is an enthusiastic supporter of the work of evangelism being done amongst his people.
In connection with evangelism we cannot fail to mention our ongoing gratitude to the Great Commission Movement: we value their
co-operation and the use of their equipment. The film equipment has been used for three years by the diocesan Film Ministry
team, who have been supported by each of the three main Jos churches in turn. We thank St.Piran's church, St.Luke's
Cathedral and St.Paul's Church for their faithfulness in this regard, and we thank Mr.Kingsley Njoku and Miss Naomi Fanto for
their work. The Film Ministers' report has been received by us, and is being studied.
ADMINISTRATION
Our concern for evangelism is not restricted to Jos Diocese! We are grateful for opportunities to preach and teach in other parts
of this country as well as overseas. Our concern in this regard has led us to release the Rev.Canon D.Yakubu and his wife to
work in the Diocese of Kafanchan. Similarly, the Rev.Canon D.DanMallam and his wife have returned to Kaduna Diocese.
In recognition of their missionary endeavours and their untiring work amongst the people of our churches, it was our pleasure on
New Year's Day to prefer three of our clergymen as Canons: the Rev.Canon V.G.Sanda, the Rev. Canon A.B.Lamido and the
Rev.Canon O.O.Ajayi. We congratulate them and their wives.
We also congratulate those who were ordained as priests last year: Rev.Joel Mban Ayuba; Rev.James A.P. Bankole; Rev.Gyang
E.Choji; Rev.Ayuba Chuka; Rev. Audu P.Dabang; Rev.Dr.Joseph D.Emmanuel; Rev.Yakubu Gimba; Rev.Tanimu Jeze;
Rev.Benjamin C.Opara; Rev. Gabriel Sedemogun; Rev.Jeremiah L.Wadak; Rev.Ramdi R.Wonole; Rev.Sunday Yakwoi; Rev.Jwan
B.N.Zhumbes.
The Rev.M.Ogbodo and the Rev.B.Nyisana retire this year. We thank them for their service and we wish them and their wives
God's continued blessings in the future.
VISITORS
During the past year we have been delighted to welcome various visitors to the diocese. The Rev.Canon Ken Okeke has taken
over from Miss Diana Witts as the C.M.S. Regional Secretary for West and Southern Africa and the Sudan. Towards the end of
last year he made his first visit to Nigeria in this capacity, and he spent some days with us in Jos. He was most interested and
also encouraged by what he saw, and we thank the Lord for our continued association with C.M.S. and for their own contributions
to God's work in this diocese.
Also last year we welcomed Miss Sally Brydon, an undergraduate from England, who spent some three weeks with us, and early
this year we enjoyed a return visit from Mrs.Julie Park (from U.S.A.). Such visits provide a valuable opportunity for us to learn
from one another, and also to strengthen the links between the different part of the world-wide Anglican Communion.
PROVINCIAL NEWS
In September last year the Fifth General Synod of the Church of the Province of Nigeria was held at Archbishop Vining Memorial
Church, Lagos, and subsequently a One-Day Provincial Synod took place in January. The Provincial Standing Committee met
again in April 1997 at Owerri. The Communiques from these meetings are appended to this Charge.
We congratulate those who were consecrated Bishop on 30th September 1996, and we similarly congratulate the newly
established dioceses and wish them God's guidance and blessing. They new Bishops and dioceses are:
The Rt.Rev.G.H.Pepple - Niger Delta Diocese; The Rt.Rev.I.Ugede - Otukpo Diocese; The Rt.Rev.Y. Lumu - Dutse Diocese; The
Rt.Rev.D.A.Yisa - Damaturu Diocese; The Rt.Rev.T.Samari - Jalingo Diocese; The Rt.Rev.E.Akanya - Kebbi Diocese. The
Rt.Rev.D.O. Elenwo was translated to the new diocese of Niger Delta North.
We praise Almighty God for his continued protection over us all, and we particularly thank him for saving the lives of the
Rt.Rev.D.O.Elenwo and the Rt.Rev.E.K.Mani from accidents and attacks during the past year.
LAMBETH CONFERENCE
Every ten years a conference is held for all the Bishops in the world-wide Anglican Communion. The Bishops and their wives
assemble at Lambeth Palace at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The next conference is due to be held from 18th
July to 9th August 1988. The conference fee for the Bishop and his wife is ,2,500.00, and this together with all travel (including
air fares) and expenses is estimated to total ,5,000.00. Despite the good intentions recorded in the minutes of our Diocesan
Board meeting as far back as 26th November 1994, this money is yet to be raised!
WOMEN'S WORK
We want to congratulate the women and wish them a lot of success in all their endeavours. The women of our diocese have
come to the point where they are not just ministering alongside or beside the men, but they are ministering in their own right as
women called by God. We give God all the glory and we praise him for the quality and dymanic leadership of the women of our
diocese. I urge you to pray for "Ebony Black, Mary Sumner", Mrs.Gloria Ladi Kwashi, that she may grow in grace, steadfast in
faith, and may increase in wisdom.
The Zumuntar Mata, one of the outreach arms of the women has been a tremendous blessing in the work of evangelism. Their
visitations to Babale, Ganawuri, Shiwer and other parts of our diocese have yielded fruit. We pray that God will uphold them and
keep them safe as they journey from place to place encouraging believers and sharing the gospel with others.
One of the major achievements of the women during the past year has been the production of their beautiful, unequalled, royal
blue and white Mothers' Union wrapper. It has found acceptance in the Province and beyond. The design and production have
been very carefully and prayerfully done to meet international standards. Again, we congratulate the women and we praise God
for the President of the Women's Guild and Mothers' Union, for the initiative and courage to undertake a venture of this nature at
a time like this. We sincerely congratulate the committee that worked tirelessly for the production of this wrapper and we thank
God for them, for making this dream become a reality.
I want to conclude this section by mentioning the football match between the Eschatological Team, led by the Bishop, the
Rt.Rev.Benjamin A.Kwashi, and the Mothers' Union / Women's Guild Team. I understand that the women have protested and
rejected the official result of 2 -1 against them. I hereby pronounce an episcopal result of 2 goals to 1 in favour of the
Eschatological Team. The women should take solace in God and hope to win next year!
CONGRATULATIONS
We sincerely congratulate all who have gained distinction or promotion, or who have received God's blessings in one form or
another during the past twelve months. We praise God for all that he is doing amongst us, and we pray that we may be faithful
stewards of what has been entrusted to us.
OBITUARY
During the past few months a number of our members, friends, clergy and church workers have died. Engr.L.Mwansatt was
instrumental in opening several of our Jos churches and he gave himself instintingly to the work of evangelism.
Rev.Toma Dogo Dung was an Army Chaplain who came from this diocese, was ordained here and was looking forward to coming
back to work with us, when his life was cut short in a car accident.
Mrs.Teresa Ajose's sudden death is a great loss to the diocese, and particularly to the Mother's Union and Women's Guild, of
which she was such a staunch member. Her wisdom, godly counsel and prayer support were valued by many.
We had just finished Mrs.Ajose's Funeral Service when we received the news of Rev. Elisha Useni Shekwolo's death.
Rev.Shekwolo was an experienced teacher and headmaster, as well as a pastor. He served first in Yerwa Archdeaconry, and
was then appointed as the first Principal of St.James' Christian Academy, Lafia. His humility, his willingness to serve and his
steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus Christ form an inspiring testimony. He is sorely missed.
We also mention particularly the death of Mrs.Ruth Kuyue Inyom, the mother of the Bishop of Makurdi, and we give thanks for
her life.
We thank God for these and all other faithful servants, and to the relatives of all who have died we extend our sympathy and
condolences.
Let us rise for a minute's silence.
May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace.
Amen.
CONCLUSION
The ills in our nation, in the world, and also within the church are many. The majority of people complain; many are discouraged;
others put their trust in people or in the gods they themselves have made. There is one way forward, and only one way.
Individually and collectively we must totally rededicate ourselves to God and put our whole trust in him alone. If we genuinely
repent and obey God then God promises us renewal, restoration and victory.
Earthly power ends, human resources pass away, money finishes, possessions rot, and might fails. Those who trust in these
things will weep and lament because they are in exile far from the City of God. But "on that day, whether in summer or in winter,
running water will issue from Jerusalem ... The Lord will become King over all the earth; on that day he will be the only Lord and
his name the only name." (Zechariah 14:8a,9) This will be so, because it is
"`Not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit',
says the Lord."
Amen
+Benjamin Jos May 1997
Appendix I
THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION): FIFTH GENERAL SYNOD
COMMUNIQUE
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) held her 5th General Synod at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Oba Akinjobi
Road, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos State between Wednesday 11th September to Sunday 15th September, 1996.
The Synod was attended by 450 delegates and officials comprising the Bishops, the Clergy and the Laity from the 53 dioceses
and was presided over by the Archbishop and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev.J.Abiodun Adetiloye. The Synod
hereby under the guidance of the Holy Spirit issues the following communique.
1. CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
(a) In accordance with the theme "As the waters cover the Sea" and in the light of the high moral and spiritual decadence of our
nation today, Synod calls on Christians to engage in a concerted effort of mission and evangelism until the knowledge of God
covers our land as the waters cover the sea.
(b) The Church rejoices at her tremendous growth since the inauguration of the Province of Nigeria on February 24th 1979, with
Archbishop Timothy Olufosoye, of blessed memory, as the first Primate and with the succession of the Most Rev.J.Abiodun
Adetiloye, the Anglican Church has witnessed a tremendous growth in membership and an increase in the number of dioceses.
Today, there are 53 dioceses in Nigeria. The General Synod congratulates Nigeria which is now acclaimed as the fastest
growing province within the world-wide Anglican Communion.
(c) In view of this tremendous growth, the need to create more provinces within Nigeria has been recognised and efforts are
being made to bring this desirable objective to fruition.
(d) The Church of Nigeria hereby offers her right hand of fellowship to all Christian Churches in Nigeria and urges all Christians
to carry aloft the light of Jesus so that righteousness may exalt our Nation.
(e) The Church urges all Nigerians to respect the fundamental right of their fellow citizens to freedom of worship and therefore
deprecates all acts of violence based on religious intolerance and fanaticism.
2. OUR NATION, NIGERIA
(a) The General Synod views with distress the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth. The Synod regrets that Nigeria's
reputation within the comity of nations is at its lowest ebb and urges the Federal Government of Nigeria to spare no effort in
redeeming the image of Nigeria, the largest black nation in the world.
(b) The Synod noted with dismay the frequent incidents of assassinations, arson and armed robberies which have made lives
and properties unsafe. A Government deserves the loyalty of its citizens only when such citizens can live decently in peace and
tranquility.
(c) Distressed at the continuing fall in the standard of education in the country and considering the possible negative effects of
the on-going dispute between government and the University Lecturers, the Church of Nigeria hereby offers to mediate between
the Federal Military Government and the Lecturers.
(d) Noting the dilapidation and deprecation of infrastructure in Nigeria, Synod deprecates the lack of maintenance-culture in
Nigeria resulting in the terrible state of road disrepair, epileptic electicity supply resulting in frequent black-outs and the bane of
industries, schools, churches and private homes.
Telephone services are deficient in the extreme. Synod therefore calls for an end to the monopoly of NITEL, NEPA and other
parastatals.
(e) The need for urgent return to democratic rule can no longer be over-emphasised especially with the threat of sanctions
hanging over Nigeria. Out of thirty-six years of independence, the military have ruled for about 25 years, leaving the economy in
ruins, and the political arena in utter confusion.
The Synod therefore prays for the early release of all political prsoners now in detention and that political parties be registered
without favouritism so as to give the electorate the opportunity to make their choice without hindrance and to inspire confidence
in the general public.
(f) The success of Nigeria Olympic Team in Atlanta '96 Olympic Ganmes has been a bright silver lining in cloud. Our success
proves that Nigeria is endowed with talents waiting to be tapped and channelled to the glory of our Nation. The Synod
congratulates the Nation, the athletes and their coaches.
(g) Despite all the problems now confronting our great Nation, the Synod strongly believes that with fervent prayers, there will be
light at the end of the tunnel through God's intervention.
3.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
(a) The Synod recognises that fundamental human rights are enshrined by the United Nations and the Organisation of African
Unity. Human Rights are no longer considered the internal affairs of any nation.
Synod therefore urges all nations of the world to jealously guard fundamental human rights in their territories and take
appropriate actions for this purpose.
(b) Synod believes that the advanced nations of the world should rally to the aid of poorer nations and grant debt-relief to such
nations.
The governments should be changed through the ballot box and not through the barrels of guns and all nations of the world are
urged to discourage coups d'etat and should not grant them recognition whenever and wherever they occur.
(c) The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) prays for peace and goodwill to prevail throughout the world and that God's
bounties be managed properly to eliminate hunger, disease and illiteracy.
Ven.S.B.Akinola Ven.S.S.O.Sodipe
General Secretary Clerical Secretary
The Most Rev.J.A.Adetiloye
Archbishop of Nigeria
Appendix II
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION), HOLDEN IN CHRIST CHURCH,
OWERRI FROM 16TH-20TH APRIL, 1997
COMMUNIQUE
Preamble
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in its continued mission to hold and maintain the Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and
Discipline in the Church of Christ and the society as a whole, cognisant of the role of the Church in bringing about happiness to
the citizenry and conscious of the need to ensure that the society is just, fair, peaceful and progress-inducing for spiritual and
economic growth and development, met at Christ Church, Owerri from 16th to 10th April, 1997 and hereby issues this
communique.
1. Hospitality: The Church of Nigeria is grateful to the Government and people of Imo State for their heart-warming hospitality and
specially thanks His Excellency, the Military Administrator of Imo State, Col.Tanko Zubairu, for being a wonderful host.
2. Progress of the Church: As we approach the year 2,000 we note with satisfaction the effort of the church in keeping aloft the
banner of Christianity in Nigeria. As a result of our progress, the Church has decided to create three Provinces within the
Church of Nigeria with three Archbishops under one Primate. The provinces will take effect from September 1997.
The Church has also approved the creation of three new Dioceses of Abakaliki, Wusasa and Oji River.
3. The Economy of the Nation: Although there is laudable effort on the part of the Government to improve the economy, we still
regret that this effort has not succeeded in alleviating the suffering of the masses. The cost of living is still too high. The recent
mass retrenchment of workers in some states has worsened the unemployment situation in the country. Retired workers are not
being paid their gratuities and pensions as and when due and this has brought untold hardship to many families. The value of
the naira, although steady, continues to be low.
However, we note the magnificent effort of the Federal Military Government through the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in
maintaining several facilities in the country and urge that this effort be redoubled. Government should take immediate steps to
prevent the shortage of petrol and petroleum products in the country.
4.Education: We have expressed our dismay on previous occasions at the falling standard of education in the country. Matters
have now degenerated to the level where secondary school students can no longer express themselves orally or in writing in the
official language of the country.
We are dismayed that science and mathematics are no longer properly taught due to lack of adequate laboratories and qualified
teachers. We warn that these subjects are of profound importance in the modern world.
We are therefore compelled to demand that some former voluntary agency schools be handed back to their former owners and
that more private schools be allowed to exist.
We urge the governments of Nigeria to regard themselves as partners of voluntary agencies and private proprietors in providing
education in the country and to continue not only to supervize all schools within their jurisdiction but to pay grants-in-aid in
respect of all pupils.
We urge the Government to stem the tide of frequent closure of Universities which has adversely affected the quality of university
education in the country and to adequately fund universities in the country.
5. Discrimination against non-indigenes: We urge all governments in the country to encourage all Nigerian citizens to feel at
home in all parts of the country. We therefore wish to discourage the recent practice in some states of retrenching
"non-indigenes" from their services. Any discrimination based on ethnicity or place of origin is immoral and should be
discouraged.
6. TRANSITION TO CIVIL RULE PROGRAMME: we note that two Local Govenment elections have so far been held during the
administration of General Sanni Abacha - one under the Zero party system and the other contested by the five registered
centrist political parties.
We urge all lapses observed in these elections be prevented in future elections.
We recognise that Nigeria cannot be an island unto herself and urge all Nigerians to take note of the views of the United Nations,
the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African Unity regarding respect for human rights during this period of transition to
civil rule. We urge all public officers, Military or Civilians, who are keen on contesting an election to resign their posts and join a
political party of their chioce long enough to avoid any untoward conclusion that they exploited their public offices to their own
political advantage.
7. The Church of Nigeria will continue to pray for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria and will continue to thank God for His
bountiful blessings.
8. The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) calls on all its members and the faithful to continue to adhere to the teachings of
Christ following the Anglican tradition and thus refuse to directly be associated with the proliferation of churches particularly
those which veer away from established Anglican tradition.
Ven S.S.O.Sodipe Chief (Mrs.)O.A.Wilde
Clerical Secretary Lay Secretary
Ven.S.B.Akinola
General Secretary
The Most Rev.J.A.Adetiloye
Archbishop, Metropolitan & Primate
The Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion)
DIOCESE OF JOS
THE BISHOP'S CHARGE
delivered to
THE THIRD SESSION OF
THE SIXTH SYNOD
at 10.00 a.m. on
Friday, 23rd May, 1997
in
St.Piran's Church, Jos
by
THE RT. REV. BENJAMIN A. KWASHI
(Bishop of The Rt.Rev.Benjamin A.Kwashi
Bishop of Jos