The Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu spoke recently at a press briefing. Much of the briefing concerned his church’s stance on homosexuality. About the relationship of the CoN to the Anglican Consultative Council, Ordu had this to say:
On the fate of the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, who took appointment as Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), Ordu said the archbishop did not consult the primate of the church before taking up the position.
“The position of the Primate is that since a good number of those who are part of the ACC are in support of the gay rights movement and all that, a Nigerian Bishop, knowing the position of the national church here, ought not to accept a position in that body, because doing so will mean that we have all keyed into whatever negative posture these other ones are holding,” he said.
From the April announcement of Idowu-Fearon’s appointment:
The person specification for the role of Secretary General indicated that the next incumbent should “assist the Communion to become even more faithful to, and engaged in, God’s mission of reconciliation.
“The successful candidate will be a committed Christian, a person of deep faith and prayer, a visionary ambassador for Christ and his Church, a bridge-builder to effect healing amongst the churches of the Anglican Communion, a creative and imaginative thinker, and an inspirational leader who will help to renew the witness and effectiveness of the Communion, its structures, and its programmes.”
See also:
- Canterbury’s June “Response to the Church of Nigeria on Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon” and
- “Appointment of the Most Revd Josiah Idowu-Fearon as the General Secretary of the ACC: The stand of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)”
Posted by John B. Chilton