African Bishop Conference Concludes with Reconfirmation of Anglican Faith

The first ever African Anglican Bishop Conference held from 26th October to 1st November with the theme “Africa comes of Age - an Anglican Self -Evaluation” has come to an end. The meeting seemed to be a great success and proved to be fruitful. Not only did the African Anglicans come together to share the Church’s common goal of saving Africa from disease, poverty and violence in close cooperation with the government and world leaders, but also they declared their clear stance towards homosexuality in the warring Church.

Amid the schism over homosexual clergy ordination, the Anglican Churches worldwide are in fear of a painful rift between the conservative and liberal wings. While the Windsor Report, which was published by the Lambeth Commission represented the central body of the Anglican Communion in London, it was accused of avoiding the main issue of the theological discussion on homosexuality. The African bishops, however spoke boldly against the wrong practices of the Western Churches.

On 28th October, the Conference issued a statement calling on liberals to “move beyond informal expressions of regret for the effect of their actions to a genuine change of heart and mind”. African bishops are looking for a complete halt in the blessing of same-sex “marriages” and also the ruling out of future consecrations of homosexuals.

They signalled that a complete divide will result from the Western Church if they fail to do so, “...it indicates that they have chosen to ‘walk alone’ and follow other religion.”

In addition, an important decision was made, which was to end the theological training for African clergy in Western institutions. The African bishops see Western theology as having been twisted away from the orthodox Bible teachings, especially on the issue of homosexuality.

Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola suggested that the proposal will be made to build new theological institutions to train its priests on theologies consistent with the African culture. The closing statement of the conference stated, “We need well-resourced, highly rated and contextually relevant theological institutions that can engage intelligently with our peculiar challenges from an African perspective.”

In face of the challenging prospectus for the relationship between the Global South and the West, an encouraging scene was marked as the guest speaker from America addressed the conference. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bishop, Rev. Bob Duncan, addressed the conference on behalf of 10 dioceses, 1,000 parishes, and 1,200 clergy across the Unites States - all of which are orthodox and faithful Anglicans, he promoted.

Under a heavy applause from 300 bishops of Africa’s 20 provinces, Rev Duncan said, “There are tens of thousands for whom I speak, who are at one with you in Africa, for whom our North American Primates do not speak.”

The following is the closing statement issued on 1st November, by the Primate of All Nigeria and Chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, The Most Revd Peter J Akinola, on behalf of the African Anglican Bishop Conference:

Communiqué from the African Anglican Bishops’ Conference

The First African Anglican Bishops’ Conference held at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria from 26 October - 1 November, 2004 with the theme: “Africa comes of Age - an Anglican Self-Evaluation” hereby issues the following communiqué:

1. The participants from all over Africa and other Partners, as well as the Ecumenical partners noted that this conference has come at a critical time and commended the AABC Design Group for making this possible.

2. The conference noted that the Anglican Church in Africa has indeed come of age and gone beyond the stage of mission “from the West to the rest”, to that of mission “from everywhere to everywhere” and must therefore seek to work for the transformation of our continent by making the proclamation of the gospel in its fullness, and making it relevant to fight against poverty, HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other health concerns, corruption, conflicts and human rights abuses.

3. Church leaders should engage in dialogue with our political leaders to identify the opportunities and strategies for maximising Africa's vast but grossly misappropriated and under-utilised resources by investment in profitable ventures and sharing of resources through linkages between African nations as New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) is already doing.

4. The Church must take active interest in working for the political maturity of Africa, the empowerment of women, youth and children and other disadvantaged groups, through relevant education and adequate gate-keeping of our cherished values now under attack from unbridled media values.

5. The Church should enter into a creative phase of building relationships between Christianity and communities of other faiths for the purpose of fostering better understanding, respect and peaceful co-existence, without compromising the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

6. The time has come for the Church in Africa to address the pitfalls in our present theological and western world-view education, which has failed to relate with some of the socio-political and economic challenges and Christian faith in Africa. We need well-resourced, highly rated and contextually relevant theological institutions that can engage intelligently with our peculiar challenges from an African perspective.

7. The Anglican Church in Africa should reach out to Christian minorities and the unreached peoples wherever they are, as an integral part of our caring ministry to the global community of Christians, by affirming and providing them with spiritual and material support.

8. The conference reiterates our Biblical position on the ongoing controversy on human sexuality: God created us male and female and we cannot sacrifice truth for any revisionist agenda which leans on a faulty understanding of Christian unity. We note with approval that the Windsor Report calls for a moratorium on the ordination, election and consecration of any candidate to the Episcopate who is living in a same gender union and the blessing of same-sex unions. We are committed to the united future life of the Anglican Communion, one that is rooted in truth and love and faithfulness to the gospel of Christ, according to the Scriptures.

9. We are grateful for the presence of the representatives of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes at this historic gathering. We salute their boldness, courage and faithful witness and acknowledge them as our partners in mission in the United States of America. We grieve with those who are alienated within their own Province because of their stand for the historic faith and order of the Church. We pledge them the full weight and support of our ministries. We pray God's favour on the Network as we look forward to many new and creative partnerships for the Gospel in the coming years.

10. The Anglican Church in Africa is poised to collaborate with other partners in progress such as our various governments and voluntary organisations to emancipate our continent from the long night of ethnic conflicts and wars and to work to usher in the new dawn of democracy, peace and reconciliation, social and economic reconstruction in an atmosphere that is devoid of the injustices and oppression that have bedevilled our progress.

11. This conference is concerned about the violent situations in Daffur in Sudan, Iraq and Israel/Palestine that has resulted in multiple loss of lives. The conference, while acknowledging the peace mediatory role of the Governments of Nigeria, Egypt, Libya and the international community, prays that the current agreement signed by both parties in Sudan as well as the peace moves in Iraq and Israel/Palestine will result in lasting peace in these areas.

12. We give thanks to Almighty God for this historic meeting, and pledge ourselves to ongoing fellowship, mutual support and shared witness in the continent of Africa. To this end, we will meet every five years, twice before the Lambeth Conference.

The Most Revd Peter J Akinola, CON, DD
Primate of All Nigeria and Chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa