The retired Bishop of the Ibadan Anglican Diocese and former Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ibadan, the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Akinfenwa, has charged four newly consecrated bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to protect the honour of their episcopate as they officially assume office.
Archbishop Akinfenwa gave the charge while preaching at the consecration service led by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba.
He noted that the public would watch and be on the lookout for how the bishops conduct themselves throughout their years in the episcopate and across all spheres of their lives.
“Now your life will become a sermon indeed, and now your conduct will preach louder than the pulpit, so please, protect the honour of the episcopate,” he said.
He further cautioned the newly consecrated bishops against allowing the increasing number of bishops in the Anglican Church of Nigeria to become a reason for “diminishing the dignity of the office of the Bishop.”
“Don’t water it down by attitude, appearance, or what we do. Let us not make the episcopate ordinary by our conduct. Let us not destroy the awe and respect attached to the office of the Bishop through careless behaviour, unnecessary familiarity, political manipulation, financial impropriety, and unguarded speech.”
“A bishop must be approachable but not become cheap, must be humble but not weak, must be accessible but must retain the dignity of the office of bishop, must listen to the people but also be capable of standing alone when it is required. Above all, a bishop must belong to Jesus Christ before he belongs to the institution,” he added.
The service, held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, was attended by Anglican Archbishops, Bishops and their wives, Clergy, Laity, Legal Luminaries and other dignitaries.
The four newly consecrated bishops are the Rt. Rev. Dr. Godwin Tersoo Simon Yakela of the Diocese of Makurdi; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsley Ogbonda of the Diocese of Uyo; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Julius Oyediran of the Diocese of Ekiti Oke; and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Olayemi Fatusi of the Diocese of Awori.
