Anglican bishop urges action against hardship, insecurity

The retired Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Church, Joseph Akinfenwa, has charged the four newly consecrated bishops of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, to protect the dignity of the episcopate and make their lives a reflection of the gospel.

Akinfenwa also decried the level of hunger, insecurity and other forms of hardship in the country, urging church leaders not to shy away from speaking truth to power and holding the nation’s leaders accountable.

The retired bishop said he was unsure whether the nation’s leaders were reading the news reported by the media daily, adding that the situation in the country would have been better if they did.

Akinfenwa stated this on Tuesday while speaking at the ongoing 15th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria and the consecration of four new bishops at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne Remo, Ogun State.

The clergyman said that, in addition to praying for the nation, church leaders must be ready to speak up to ensure that those in authority are held accountable and prioritise good governance above other interests.

The newly consecrated bishops are Godwin Terso Yakela, Bishop of Makurdi Diocese; Kingsley Ogbonda, Bishop of Uyo Diocese; Julius Oyediran, Bishop of Ekiti-Oke Diocese; and Oluyemi Fatusi, Bishop of Awori Diocese, Ogun State.

He said, “Beloved, the church must continue to pray for this great nation. Prayer does not mean abandoning our responsibility as citizens. The church must pray, the church must think, and when necessary, the church must speak truth to power.

“I was elated when our Primate spoke out about what was being done some months ago concerning a state where an election was to take place. I felt proud as an Anglican; our leader has spoken. He is fearless.

“We must speak! In your various locations, speak against ills and call the attention of people to what they should be doing. Whatever happens, our democracy depends upon citizens who are willing to speak.

“The church must not become a zombie or be afraid. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. We must be able to tell those in authority when they are doing well and when they are doing wrong. We must also be able to tell them when things are not what they should be.

“That is part of our prophetic calling. Nigeria is a nation of extraordinary resilience. We endure, we improvise, we survive, we keep moving. But resilience must never be used as an excuse to ignore suffering.

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“There is hardship in the land. There is hunger in the land. There is unemployment in the land, and, when you talk about insecurity, there is so much of it in the land. There is anxiety about the future. Many families are struggling to meet basic needs.

“When people tell us that they are suffering, we must not dismiss their testimony. The church must listen to the cry of the people, and the church must speak on behalf of the people.

“When the people cry, the church must not merely say, ‘Let us pray.’ Yes, let us pray, but after we pray, let us ask, ‘Lord, what do You want us to do?’ Prayers must lead to action. Faith must produce works.”

He urged the new bishops to see their elevation not as a reward or status symbol but as a call to greater service, responsibility and stewardship.

Quoting John 9:4, Akinfenwa said the church must celebrate its past achievements while remaining focused on the future.

“Thank God for yesterday. We celebrated what God has done, but we must press forward into what God wants to do next. The church must march on with renewed vigour and enthusiasm,” he said.

Akinfenwa congratulated the newly consecrated bishops, saying their journey to the episcopate, which began with their election at the Episcopal Synod at the University of Port Harcourt in July, had reached its culmination.

“From today, dear brothers, you are no longer simply Archdeacons or members of the clergy. You are bishops of the Church of God.

“Consecration means that something has been set apart for God. You are not being consecrated for personal honour. You are not being consecrated for ecclesiastical status. You are not being consecrated so that people can add ‘My Lord’ to your name. You are being consecrated for the service of God and His church,” he said.

Performing the consecration, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Henry Ndukuba, charged the new bishops to be true shepherds and seek the growth of the church in their new offices.

Ndukuba later prayed that God would help the clergymen succeed and serve the church and humanity faithfully.