The Diocese of Okene, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has clarified its position on a reported ban on the immediate burial of departed relatives, saying its recent Synod resolution was not intended to impose a blanket prohibition on immediate burials.
The Diocese, in a rejoinder dated September 12, 2026, said reports that it had “banned immediate burial and set a two-week minimum timeframe” were misleading and amounted to a misrepresentation of Resolution 10 of the First Session of its Sixth Synod.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Synod was held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Obeiba-Ihima, from August 7 to 9, 2026.
According to the Diocese, the actual resolution was that “a minimum period of two weeks be allowed” to enable members to prepare befitting burial programmes for their departed parents.
It added that members should be assured that no evil consequence would follow the embalming of the remains during the period.
The clarification comes after reports published on September 10 stated that the Diocese had barred members from burying departed relatives immediately and required a minimum two-week period before burial arrangements could be concluded.
Explaining the rationale behind the resolution, the Diocese said it was pastoral rather than punitive.
It said many of its members have children living in the diaspora who require sufficient time to make preparations and travel home to give befitting burials to their aged parents.
The two-week period, it added, would also enable the Bishop and other diocesan officials to participate in burial programmes without clashes with existing diocesan or church activities.
The Diocese stressed that it “did not ban immediate burial” where the children of the deceased are “truly incapacitated”.
It, however, clarified that the Bishop and clergy would not be compelled or held responsible if church schedules did not permit them to attend or participate in such immediate burials.
The Diocese said the resolution was also intended to dispel fears and superstitions surrounding embalming.
It said the policy was aimed at promoting “honour and dignity for the departed”, rather than creating hardship for bereaved families.
The Diocese further asserted that it is an autonomous legal entity with the authority to take resolutions concerning the affairs of its churches and the wider community.
It assured members that it remained committed to their welfare and would not institute policies designed to create hardship.