Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-lrf7s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-29T20:29:21.707Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and the Challenges of Missionary Diocese

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2022

George C. Asadu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

For some years now the Anglican Church in Nigeria has been contending with the problems arising from the creation of missionary dioceses. Many retreats for the bishops in the missionary dioceses have been held from late 2000 to date, in an effort to find solutions to the problems, yet the problems have continued unabated. The situation provokes concern and interest in public discourse and intellectual circles. This study examines critically the problems of missionary dioceses and the effects of such problems on the workers and their families therein using a historical approach and both primary and secondary sources. The findings show that some of the missionary dioceses were created with poor funding and facilities as there was no adequate preparation for their creation. The study therefore recommends that the Church of Nigeria should support the missionary dioceses to stabilize.

Keywords

AnglicancommunionchallengeschurchdiocesemissionaryNigeria
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Anglican Studies , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , May 2023 , pp. 70 - 86
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

1

George C. Asadu, Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.

References

2 G.C. Asadu, ‘Problems and Prospects of Missionary Diocese of the Anglican Communion in Igboland, unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2017.

3 S.N. Adiele, ‘The Phenomenon of the Missionary Diocese in the Anglican Communion East of the Niger’, in S.N Adiele, The Niger Mission Origin, Growth and Impact 1857–1995 (Aba: ISAECO Press, 1996), p. 238.

4 P.J. Akinola, ‘The Church of Nigeria Today’, a Key Note Address on a New Vision of the Church of Nigeria presented to the General Synod in Abuja, 2000, p. 4.

5 B.C. Diara, A.B. Okoli and B.C. Nche, ‘The Evangelistical and Developmental Importance of Creation of Anglican Diocese in Igboland’, Research on Humanities and Social Sciences 4.18 (2014), pp. 105-12.

6 A. Antai in an interview with the TRINICO Magazine, a publication of Trinity Theological College Umuahia, 2015, p. 35.

7 I.R.A. Ozigbo, Igbo Catholicism Onitsha Connections 1907–1984 (Onitsha: Africa Fep Publishers, 1985), p. 32.

8 C.N. Uba, ‘Christian Missionary Penetration of the Nigerian Emirates: The Medical Work Approach’, in O.U. Kalu (ed.), West African Religion, Vol. XX, Nos. 1 and 2 (Nsukka: University of Nigeria Press, 1983), p. 6.

9 N.N. Inyom, ‘Church Planting and Church Growth’, a paper presented to the 2008 Church of Nigeria All Anglican Clergy Conference at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2008.

10 1988 Lambeth Conference, https://www.anglicancommunion.org/resources/document-library/lambeth-conference/1988/resolution-44-evangelism-in-the-anglican-communion.aspx

11 C. Moneke, ‘Lambeth ’98 Section Reports (Part One)’, Anglicana, Magazine of the Church of Nigeria-Anglican Communion 2 (1999), p. 18.

12 B.C. Nwankiti, The Lambeth Conference and the Growth of the Anglican Communion (Owerri: Springfield Publishers, 2000), p. 71.

13 Adiele, ‘The Phenomenon of the Missionary Diocese’, p. 246.

14 B.C. Nwankiti, The Growth and Development of the Church of Nigeria (Owerri: Ihem Davis Press, 1996), p. 12.

15 S. Okubanjo, ‘Creation of Missionary Diocese in the Northern Nigeria and South East of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)’, in C.O. Taiwo, Joseph Abiodun Adrtiloye: The Visionary Primate (Lagos: CSS Limited 1999), p. 118.

16 C. Moneke, ‘Ideato Diocese on the Tripod’, Anglicana, Magazine of the Church of Nigeria-Anglican Communion 5.1 (2000), p. 14.

17 Adiele, ‘The Phenomenon of the Missionary Diocese’, p. 237.

18 O.U. Kalu, ‘In the Field: Pattern of Missionary Expansion’, in O.U. Kalu (ed.) The History of Christianity in West Africa (Hong Kong: Sing Cheong Printing, 1980).

19 Adiele, ‘The Phenomenon of the Missionary Diocese’, p. 238.

20 O.S. Udezo, ‘The Church’s Service Ministry: Basic Issues in Mission Strategies in the Last Forty Years (1966–2006)’, in I.K. Okoye (ed.), Mission and Evangelism: Theological Essays in Honour of the Most Revd. Maxwell S.C. Aniekwunwa (Awka: SCOA Heritage System, 2007), p. 68.

21 Adiele, ‘The Phenomenon of the Missionary Diocese’, p. 249.

22 Akinola, The Church of Nigeria Today, p. 4.

23 Archbishop M.S.C. Aniekwenwa, oral interview conducted by O. Adetiloye, The Theologian Magazine 15 (2010), p. 11.

24 Bishop Sothenes Eze, oral interview, 2017.

25 G.N. Chukwunonye, ‘Synod Presidential Address’, at the One Day Synod of the Diocese of Oru held at the Emmanuel Cathedral, Mgbidi, 2009, p. 16.

26 Chukwunonye, ‘Synod Presidential Address’, p. 16.

27 Archdeacon Pius Chukwu, oral interview conducted on 17 June 2016.

28 Bishop Isaac Nwaobia, oral interview conducted on 17 February 2016.

29 D.C. Okeke, ‘Gospel on the Niger: A Review of the Niger Mission’, in I.K. Okoye (ed.), Mission and Evangelism: Theological Essays in Honour of the Most Revd. Maxwell S.C. Aniekwunwa (Awka: SCOA Heritage System, 2007), p. 25.

30 A.C. Eze, ‘The Place of Clergy Wives in Rural Church Ministry’, The Theologian Magazine 15 (2010), p. 60.

31 J. Onuoha, ‘Presidential Address’, delivered at the Synod Session of the Diocesan Synod of Arochukwu/Ohafia, 2009, p. 36.

32 Ezekiel Nnamani, oral interview conducted on 11 November 2015.

33 D.N. Olinya, ‘The Divine Project Called Eha-Amufu Missionary Diocese’, The Mission Voice Newsletter: A Publication of the Missionary Diocese of Eha-Amufu, 2010, p. 2.

34 N. Oti, ‘Any Clergy without Theological Training Is Quack’, The Theologian Magazine: A Publication of Trinity Theological College, Umuahia, 4.1 (2015), p. 12.

35 Archdeacon B. Okechineke, oral interview conducted on 11 January 2017.

36 Canon Ben Adibe, oral Interview conducted on 1 September 2015.

37 Chkwudi Oruche, oral interview conducted on 11 November 2015.

38 Canon Erick Ude, oral interview conducted on 2 July 2017.

39 C. Onyegbule, ‘Oral Interview with S. Duru and C. Izuogu’, in Trinicol Magazine: A Publication of the Student Union Government of Trinity Theological Collage, Umuahia (2014), pp. 25-83.

40 O. Okereke, Unstoppable Man (Port Harcourt: Adeyemi Press, 2015), pp. 77-83.

41 Okereke, oral interview conducted on 12 November 2015.

42 J. Iwebuka, ‘Non-Payment of Clergy Stipends Worries Primate’, Good Knight Magazine, 77 (2013), p. 8.

43 Bishop Emmanuel Nyitse, oral interview conducted in 2018.

44 Olinya, ‘The Divine Project’, p. 3.

45 Archbishop Okoh, address to the General Synod captured by Moneke in Good Knight Magazine, 2012, p. 2.

46 S.O. Sowale, A Handbook for Church Administration (Osogbo: Fatiregum, 2011), p. 83.