Speaking on “All Anglican Clergy Conference Port Harcourt 2021,” Primate of the church, The Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who declared the conference open admonished the clergy to contend for the faith. Citing Paul, who instructed Timothy to deal responsibly with the influences of apostates that threatened the Church at the time, the Primate urged the clergy to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, which he explained is important for personal life and public ministry, so that they would not fall into the same errors.
“Apostle Paul returned to the basics of God’s Word, to keep the Church on track. We need to return to basic discipleship and Bible study and the fundamental orthodox teaching of the Word of God. Like Timothy, every clergy of this Church must endeavour to engage in deepening the faith of our members through intentional discipleship and wholesome teaching of God’s Word as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. A faithful minister of Christ must pass the truth of God’s Word to others without distortion,” he said.
Ndukuba said the dynamics and paradigm of ministry in the Church of Nigeria have shifted from monarchical to diaconal, which entails that the ministry cannot be fulfilled without ‘doing the work of an evangelist.’
“There is no room for complacency nor maintenance mentality. You must become missional in your approach to ministry, by simply doing mission right where you are.” He warned against some conducts unbecoming of Anglican clergy, including using un-Anglican habits/wears, copying strange doctrines and practices, careless sharing of pulpit, inordinate ambition, simony, scheming inter diocesan transfers and adulterating the Anglican spirituality. He urged them to ‘stay within the Anglican heritage and the BCP’ and as well, endeavour to develop themselves and also build up their families in godliness.
The Anglican head used the occasion to announce the establishment of a National Board for Ministry and Welfare, which will work out the minimum standard expected in the practice of ministry and welfare of ministers in the Church of Nigeria. He also inaugurated a seven-man-team for the continuing education of the senior clergy in the areas of ministry and leadership.
The team consists The Most Rev. Dr. Blessing Enyindah as Coordinator; The Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Odutemu; The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jwan Zhumbes; The Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Williams Aladekugbe; The Ven. (Dr.) Nnamdi Okpuno; The Ven. Dr. Princewill Ireoba and The Ven. Titus Alkali. The Calvary Compass, magazine of the House of Clergy of the Church of Nigeria was also launched during the conference.
The All Anglican Clergy Conference holds every four years. Those who attended this year’s event included 30 Bishops, some eminent Anglican laity, the Mayor of Port Harcourt City and clergy wives of the hosting Diocese of Niger Delta North, among others.
Source: TheGuardian
