The primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, the Most Revd. Dr. Henry Ndukuba, has listed some conditions necessary for the lifting of the moratorium placed on the creation of new dioceses in the Church of Nigeria.
This was stated in his address to the 14th General synod of the Church holding at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Nnewi Diocese.
According to him, the Moratorium on the creation of Dioceses was renewed during the 13th General Synod, held in Abuja, which was necessitated by the fact that many of the Missionary Dioceses are struggling to sustain their Missions and operations. Many are suffering lack of regular salary as well as inability to carry out their Diocesan Projects and improve on the welfare of their workers.
The primate further stated that while the challenges still remain, there is need to review the situation with a view to seeing the possibility of creating some new Dioceses in the deserving areas, for the purpose of Mission and growth of the Church of God.
He clearly stated the following guidelines and conditions among others that will be discussed at the ongoing meeting;
1. No new Diocese shall be created out of rancour, quarrel, disputes or ambition of some individual or agenda;
2. The fundamental due process and Constitutional requirements shall be followed through a resolution passing through the relinquishing Diocese;
3. The viability of the new and relinquishing Dioceses in Funding, sustainability and Mission must be guaranteed;
4. Provision a fully-furnished and equipped Bishops court;
5. Having a well-built Church that will serve as Cathedral or Pro-Cathedral as the Headquarters of the Diocese and a Functional Diocesan Secretariat;
6. Procurement of an appropriate vehicle for the Bishop to be parked in the Residence of the Archbishop of the Province from which the Diocese will be created;
7. A deposit of the sum of Fifty Million Naira into a designated Church. A surety of Twenty Million Naira for Three to Five years paid in to a designated Account of the Church of Nigeria for Missionary Dioceses and such other conditions as the General Synod may wish to put after due inspection by such committees as may be constituted for that purpose;
8. The General Synod may approve a periodic lifting of the Moratorium from one General Synod to another so as to monitor and give guidance on the creation of sustainable Dioceses in the Church of Nigeria [Anglican Communion].
Currently, the Church of Nigeria has 14 Provinces and 161 Dioceses.
