The Anglican bishop of Otukpo and the Assistant Director of Studies of the Church of Nigeria’s Senior Clergy Advanced Management Course, The Rt Revd David K. Bello has called on the clergy to always put into practice what they learn in their ministerial formation.
Preaching at the Passing out Service for the 2020 session of the Course, Bishop Bello enjoined the graduands, in the words of St Paul (Col. 3:16-17), to let the word of God be in them as the word of God is wisdom. They were asked apply what they learnt so that the people will be blessed by their ministries. While urging them to continue learning, he lamented that many clergymen who acquired formal education fail to apply or transmit their knowledge to others. They neglect teaching ministry, relegating it to the less educated, when it should be prioritized over preaching ministry. He also urged them to guard their actions as actions speak louder than voice. They should particularly shun arrogance and resist the temptation to project themselves instead of Jesus Christ especially when their ministries begin to flourish.
The Course, which held from Monday, January 13 to Friday, January 24, 2020, is the 14th since it started in 2011. It drew about 140 senior Anglican clergymen from across the nation, including from the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity, USA. The 2-week intensive course, with the theme: “Anglican Pastoral Ministry in the 21st Century”, was organised by a Faculty of 4 resourceful bishops: Rt Rev’d Dr Samuel O. Sowale (The Bishop of Ilesa -Chairman/Director), Rt Rev’d David K. Bello (Bishop of Otukpo – Assistant Director), Rt Rev’d Dr Samuel K. Eze (Bishop of Ukwa) and Rt Rev’d Dr. Blessing C. Enyindah (Bishop of Ikwerre – Secretary), with Ven. Dr Nnamdi Ik Okpuno (Desk Officer for Training at the Primate’s Office, Abuja) who were all fully resident for the programme. There were also other visiting Resource persons made up of bishops, clergy and laity.
The Course, which was officially declared Open by the Primate of all Nigeria, Most Rev’d Nicholas D. Okoh, represented by the Archbishop of Bendel Province, the Most Revd Dr Friday Imaekhai, through the Rt Rev. Augustine Ohilebo, started with a Holy Communion Service, celebrated by the Rector of the Ibru Centre, the Ven. Dr Princewill Ireoba and the Centre’s clergy and featured daily Holy Communion and other services (officiated by the participants), Bible Studies, lectures, tutorials, etc., all geared towards equipping the ministers for effective ministry, the Anglican way. The lectures focused mainly on management covering different areas of management (with Anglican bias) such as Church administration and management, Conflict and Dispute resolutions and management, Financial management, Time management, Office Organisation and management, Human Resources Management, Health management, Goal Setting, Computer Literacy/ICT, etc.
The Anglican parishes of Ughelli Diocese, as well as St Peter’s Chapel, Ibru Centre had the privilege of benefiting in the ministries of the senior clergymen as they were sent to minister in the churches on Sunday, 19th January.
The programme ended with a special Closing Service which featured a final Charge by the Course Director and presentations of Certificates of Participation, signed by the Primate and the Course coordinator, to the participants. The participants also made some presentations to the Ibru Centre.
I think it’s very important that our senior clergy should be encouraged to continue advance learning towards discharge the calling as I noticed that some of the clergy and few bishops are shying away from this aspect of their ministry to an extent denying the church the full benefit of the word of God.