Church of Nigeria
Encyclopedia
The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican
church
in Nigeria
. It is the second-largest province in the Anglican Communion
, as measured by baptized membership, after the Church of England
. It gives its current membership as "over 18 million", out of a total Nigerian population of 140 million.
Since 2002 the Church of Nigeria is organised in 10 ecclesiastical provinces. It has rapidly increased the number of its dioceses and bishops from 91 in 2002 to 122 (as at May 2007). The administrative headquarters are located in Abuja
.
Its primate
is Archbishop The Most Revd. Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh.
was, though, only established in 1842 in Badagry
by Henry Townsend
. In 1864 Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba
and former Slave, was elected Bishop of the Niger. Lagos became a diocese of its own in 1919.
Leslie Gordon Vining
became Bishop of Lagos in 1940 and in 1951 the first archbishop of the newly inaugurated Province of West Africa. Vining was the last Bishop of Lagos of European descent.
On 24 February 1979, the sixteen dioceses of Nigeria were joined in the ecclesiastical province of Nigeria with Timothy O. Olufosoye, then Bishop of Ibadan, becoming its first archbishop, primate and metropolitan. Between 1980 and 1988, eight additional dioceses were created. In 1988, J. Abiodun Adetiloye became the second primate and metropolitan of Nigeria and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) was founded.
In 1989 the Diocese of Abuja was created on the area of the new capital of Nigeria with Peter Akinola
as first bishop.
The 1990s was the decade of evangelization for the Church of Nigeria, starting with the consecration of mission bishops for the mission dioceses of Minna, Kafanchan, Katsina, Sokoto, Makurdi, Yola, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Egbado und Ife. Between 1993 and 1996 the primate founded nine dioceses; Oke-Osun, Sabongidda-Ora, Okigwe North, Okigwe South, Ikale-Ilaje, Kabba, Nnewi, Egbu and Niger Delta North. In December 1996 five more mission dioceses in the north; Kebbi, Dutse, Damaturu, Jalingo und Oturkbo. In 1997 and 1998 four more dioceses were established; Wusasa, Abakaliki, Ughelli and Ibadan North. In 1999 the Church of Nigeria added 13 new dioceses; four in July (Oji River, Ideato, Ibadan South and Offa), eight in November (Lagos West, Ekiti West, Gusau, Gombe, Niger Delta West, Gwagwalada, Lafia and Bida) and Oleh in December. So within 10 years there were 27 new regular dioceses and 15 mission dioceses created. The Archbishop of Canterbury declared the Church of Nigeria to be the fastest growing church in the Anglican Communion.
In 1997 the Church of Nigeria was split into three ecclesiastical provinces:
In 2000, Archbishop Peter Akinola succeeded Archbishop Adetiloye as primate of the Church of Nigeria. One of his first actions as primate was to get together 400 bishops, priests, lay members and members of the Mothers' Union to elaborate a vision for the Church of Nigeria under the chairmanship of Ernest Shonekan
, a former President of Nigeria. The vision elaborated was:
The program of action included among others additional translations of the liturgy, establishing a lay fundraising team, establishing a legal support to ensure freedom of religion and worship, establishing theological colleges and universities, internet access for all dioceses, training evangelists, priests and their wives, social welfare programs, hospitals, secondary schools, literacy courses and setting up cottage industries.
In 2002 the Church of Nigeria was again reorganised, this time in 10 ecclesiastical provinces.
In 2005, as one of the goals of the Vision of the Church of Nigeria, the church-owned Ajayi Crowther University
in Oyo
was granted license to operate as a private university in Nigeria on 7 January 2005.
The primates of the Church of Nigeria are:
, has become prominent in recent years as a leader of conservatives within the Anglican Communion. After the 2003 ordination of a noncelibate gay man, Gene Robinson
, as a bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire
of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA), he threatened that it might split the Anglican Communion.
As a first step, the church declared itself in "impaired communion" with the ECUSA on 21 November 2003. In September 2005 the Church of Nigeria reworded its constitution to redefine, from its point of view, the Anglican Communion. No longer would it be "Provinces in communion with the See of Canterbury
" but instead "all Anglican Churches, Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the ‘Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church’".
Since one of Akinola's demands, the expulsion of the ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada
from the Anglican Communion, is considered unlikely (or even impossible), some commentators saw this rewording as a portent of a forthcoming attempt by conservatives to set up a rival Anglican Communion. On November 12, 2005 the church entered into a "Covenant of Concordat" with the Reformed Episcopal Church
and the Anglican Province of America
, two groups outside the Anglican Communion
which do not recognize the ECUSA.
In October and December 2006, several churches in Virginia declared themselves out of communion with the ECUSA due to their opposition to the ordination of Robinson and the election of Presiding Bishop
Katharine Jefferts Schori
and joined the Church of Nigeria through the Convocation of Anglicans in North America
, a mission originally started by the Church of Nigeria to support Nigerian Anglicans in the United States. It now mostly consists of non-Nigerian, theologically conservative American Anglicans, and has two American bishops; (Bishop Martyn Minns
and a suffragan bishop, David Bena), who are simultaneously bishops of the Church of Nigeria. In March 2007, CANA announced plans to elect additional American bishops in September 2007. These actions do not have the consent of The Episcopal Church and have engendered litigation over property that has yet to be resolved. They have also raised tensions between The Episcopal Church and several other provinces of the Anglican Communion.
s for disaffected traditionalist Anglicans by saying that although it welcomed ecumencial dialogue
and shared moral theology
with the Roman Catholic Church, the current GAFCON structures already meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of conservative Anglicans in Africa.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It is the second-largest province in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, as measured by baptized membership, after the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. It gives its current membership as "over 18 million", out of a total Nigerian population of 140 million.
Since 2002 the Church of Nigeria is organised in 10 ecclesiastical provinces. It has rapidly increased the number of its dioceses and bishops from 91 in 2002 to 122 (as at May 2007). The administrative headquarters are located in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
.
Its primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
is Archbishop The Most Revd. Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh.
History
Christianity came to Nigeria in the 14th century through Augustine and Capuchine monks from Portugal. The first mission of the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
was, though, only established in 1842 in Badagry
Badagry
Badagry is a coastal town and Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is situated between Metropolitan Lagos, and the border with Benin at Seme...
by Henry Townsend
Henry Townsend (missionary)
Henry Townsend was an Anglican missionary in Nigeria. Ordained in England in 1842, Townsend set off for Sierra Leone, landing there that same year. After working there only a few months, he was transferred to the Yoruba mission....
. In 1864 Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
and former Slave, was elected Bishop of the Niger. Lagos became a diocese of its own in 1919.
Leslie Gordon Vining
Leslie Vining
Leslie Gordon Vining was an Anglican bishop and the first Archbishop of the West African province.-Life:He attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge and completed his studies in 1910. He started out as an assistant curate and later chaplain to British forces during world war 1. After the war, he became...
became Bishop of Lagos in 1940 and in 1951 the first archbishop of the newly inaugurated Province of West Africa. Vining was the last Bishop of Lagos of European descent.
On 24 February 1979, the sixteen dioceses of Nigeria were joined in the ecclesiastical province of Nigeria with Timothy O. Olufosoye, then Bishop of Ibadan, becoming its first archbishop, primate and metropolitan. Between 1980 and 1988, eight additional dioceses were created. In 1988, J. Abiodun Adetiloye became the second primate and metropolitan of Nigeria and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) was founded.
In 1989 the Diocese of Abuja was created on the area of the new capital of Nigeria with Peter Akinola
Peter Akinola
Peter Jasper Akinola is the former Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria. He is also the former Bishop of Abuja and Archbishop of Province III, which covers the northern and central parts of the country....
as first bishop.
The 1990s was the decade of evangelization for the Church of Nigeria, starting with the consecration of mission bishops for the mission dioceses of Minna, Kafanchan, Katsina, Sokoto, Makurdi, Yola, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Egbado und Ife. Between 1993 and 1996 the primate founded nine dioceses; Oke-Osun, Sabongidda-Ora, Okigwe North, Okigwe South, Ikale-Ilaje, Kabba, Nnewi, Egbu and Niger Delta North. In December 1996 five more mission dioceses in the north; Kebbi, Dutse, Damaturu, Jalingo und Oturkbo. In 1997 and 1998 four more dioceses were established; Wusasa, Abakaliki, Ughelli and Ibadan North. In 1999 the Church of Nigeria added 13 new dioceses; four in July (Oji River, Ideato, Ibadan South and Offa), eight in November (Lagos West, Ekiti West, Gusau, Gombe, Niger Delta West, Gwagwalada, Lafia and Bida) and Oleh in December. So within 10 years there were 27 new regular dioceses and 15 mission dioceses created. The Archbishop of Canterbury declared the Church of Nigeria to be the fastest growing church in the Anglican Communion.
In 1997 the Church of Nigeria was split into three ecclesiastical provinces:
- Province One, consisting of the dioceses in the West, headed by Archbishop Adetiloye who remained Primate of All Nigeria
- Province Two, consisting of the Eastern dioceses, headed by Ben Nwankiti, Bishop of Owerri as archbishop
- Province Three, consisting of the Northern dioceses, headed by Peter Akinola, Bishop of Abuja, as archbishop.
In 2000, Archbishop Peter Akinola succeeded Archbishop Adetiloye as primate of the Church of Nigeria. One of his first actions as primate was to get together 400 bishops, priests, lay members and members of the Mothers' Union to elaborate a vision for the Church of Nigeria under the chairmanship of Ernest Shonekan
Ernest Shonekan
Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan is a British trained Nigerian lawyer, industrialist, politician and traditional chieftain. He was appointed as interim president of Nigeria by General Ibrahim Babangida on 26 August 1993. Babangida resigned under pressure to cede control to a democratic government...
, a former President of Nigeria. The vision elaborated was:
- "The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) shall be; bible-based, spiritually dynamic, united, disciplined, self supporting, committed to pragmatic evangelism, social welfare and a Church that epitomizes the genuine love of Christ."
The program of action included among others additional translations of the liturgy, establishing a lay fundraising team, establishing a legal support to ensure freedom of religion and worship, establishing theological colleges and universities, internet access for all dioceses, training evangelists, priests and their wives, social welfare programs, hospitals, secondary schools, literacy courses and setting up cottage industries.
In 2002 the Church of Nigeria was again reorganised, this time in 10 ecclesiastical provinces.
In 2005, as one of the goals of the Vision of the Church of Nigeria, the church-owned Ajayi Crowther University
Ajayi Crowther University
- External Links :**...
in Oyo
Oyo, Nigeria
Oyo is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria, founded as the capital of the Oyo Kingdom in the 1830s and known to its people as 'New Oyo' to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' ) which had been deserted as a result of rumors of war. Its inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people...
was granted license to operate as a private university in Nigeria on 7 January 2005.
The primates of the Church of Nigeria are:
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Timothy O. Olufosoye | 1979–1988 |
| J. Abiodun Adetiloye | 1988–1999 |
| Peter Akinola | 2000–2010 |
| Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh | 2010– |
Conflicts within the Anglican Communion
The former primate of the church, Peter AkinolaPeter Akinola
Peter Jasper Akinola is the former Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria. He is also the former Bishop of Abuja and Archbishop of Province III, which covers the northern and central parts of the country....
, has become prominent in recent years as a leader of conservatives within the Anglican Communion. After the 2003 ordination of a noncelibate gay man, Gene Robinson
Gene Robinson
Vicki Gene Robinson is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson was elected bishop in 2003 and entered office in March 2004...
, as a bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire
Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America , covers the entire state of New Hampshire. It was originally part of the Diocese of Massachusetts, but became independent in 1841. The see city is Concord...
of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA), he threatened that it might split the Anglican Communion.
As a first step, the church declared itself in "impaired communion" with the ECUSA on 21 November 2003. In September 2005 the Church of Nigeria reworded its constitution to redefine, from its point of view, the Anglican Communion. No longer would it be "Provinces in communion with the See of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
" but instead "all Anglican Churches, Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the ‘Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church’".
Since one of Akinola's demands, the expulsion of the ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
from the Anglican Communion, is considered unlikely (or even impossible), some commentators saw this rewording as a portent of a forthcoming attempt by conservatives to set up a rival Anglican Communion. On November 12, 2005 the church entered into a "Covenant of Concordat" with the Reformed Episcopal Church
Reformed Episcopal Church
The Reformed Episcopal Church is an Anglican church in the United States and Canada and a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America...
and the Anglican Province of America
Anglican Province of America
The Anglican Province of America is one of a number of "Continuing" Anglican churches in the United States. This church considers the Episcopal Church in the USA to be heretical, thus it maintains a church separate from that body in order to follow what it considers to be a truly Christian and...
, two groups outside the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
which do not recognize the ECUSA.
In October and December 2006, several churches in Virginia declared themselves out of communion with the ECUSA due to their opposition to the ordination of Robinson and the election of Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
Katharine Jefferts Schori
Katharine Jefferts Schori
Katharine Jefferts Schori is the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States. Previously elected as the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, she is the first woman elected as a primate of the Anglican Communion...
and joined the Church of Nigeria through the Convocation of Anglicans in North America
Convocation of Anglicans in North America
The Convocation of Anglicans in North America is an Anglican body in the United States primarily comprising Anglican and Episcopal churches that have disaffiliated from the Episcopal Church in the United States of America . CANA was initially a missionary initiative of the Anglican Church of Nigeria...
, a mission originally started by the Church of Nigeria to support Nigerian Anglicans in the United States. It now mostly consists of non-Nigerian, theologically conservative American Anglicans, and has two American bishops; (Bishop Martyn Minns
Martyn Minns
The Right Reverend Martyn Minns is the Missionary Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America . Prior to becoming bishop, he served as rector of Truro Church in Fairfax, Virginia, in the United States.-Background:...
and a suffragan bishop, David Bena), who are simultaneously bishops of the Church of Nigeria. In March 2007, CANA announced plans to elect additional American bishops in September 2007. These actions do not have the consent of The Episcopal Church and have engendered litigation over property that has yet to be resolved. They have also raised tensions between The Episcopal Church and several other provinces of the Anglican Communion.
Ecumenical relations
In October 2009, the Nigerian church's leadership reacted to the Vatican's proposed creation of personal ordinariatePersonal Ordinariate
A personal ordinariate is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church enabling former Anglicans to maintain some degree of corporate identity and autonomy with regard to the bishops of the geographical dioceses of the Catholic Church and to preserve elements of their distinctive Anglican...
s for disaffected traditionalist Anglicans by saying that although it welcomed ecumencial dialogue
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and shared moral theology
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
with the Roman Catholic Church, the current GAFCON structures already meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of conservative Anglicans in Africa.