Anglican cabals enforcing bishops based on tribalism, Primate Ndukuba laments

Anglican cabals enforcing bishops based on tribalism, Primate Ndukuba laments

 

 

The Primate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba, has voiced dissatisfaction at the manner in which some highly important members of the church handle the problem of bishops’ election and translation.

Ndukuba stated his concern during the Church’s Standing Committee meeting in February, which was held on Wednesday at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral in Kubwa, Abuja.

While expressing his deep concern over some bishops who constitute themselves as cabals in the church, he also placed a three-year moratorium on the translation of Bishops within the church.

He said, “some developments are very worrisome. A situation in which dioceses or influential people, both bishops and laity will insist bishops be elected among the indigenes of the diocese is a development we must address.

“Where the person elected has been handpicked or known is not godly. The episcopal synod must be led by God to choose a servant of God who must be best suited for the growth of the church in that diocese”he added.

The cleric also noted that the church is abusing the chance to transfer bishops to locations where there are openings.

He stated, “Whenever a bishop is consecrated and enthroned in a diocese, he wears the episcopal ring that symbolises his marriage to the church of God in serving that diocese. The prerogative of the translation from one See to another belongs to the Church. And not to the demands, campaign and lobbying of the bishop who wants to go a greener pasture or diocese.

“Whatever you need to build the church of God is already provided by God in the diocese where you are. A situation in which some bishops constitute themselves into a cabal for episcopal election is sin. It is sin against the holy spirit and not discerning the move of God.

“Such persons must repent. If a bishop is needed for a place, even when he does not want to go, he can still be translated by 2.3 majority of the votes of episcopal synod,” he added.