The retired Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Rev’d Joseph Akinfenwa, has charged newly consecrated bishops of the Church to uphold the dignity of their episcopate and always speak truth to power.
He gave the charge in his sermon during the order of the ceremonial for the consecration of four bishops-elect and the opening Holy Communion Service of the 15th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria.
The event, hosted by the Diocese of Remo, was held on Tuesday at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.
Akinfenwa urged the new bishops to see their elevation to the episcopate as a call to greater service, responsibility and stewardship rather than personal honour or ecclesiastical status.
The retired bishop told them that the episcopate was “not a trophy,” “not a medal” and “not a crown,” but “a trust, a responsibility and stewardship,” adding that their lives would henceforth become a sermon to the people they had been called to lead.
He, however, advised the Church not to rest on the achievements of the past but to press forward into the future with renewed vigour, vision and missionary zeal.
According to him, the opening of the General Synod was an appropriate occasion for the Church to reflect on its past achievements while seeking what God wanted it to accomplish next.
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He said, “The General Synod is the highest legislative and decision-making body of the Church of Nigeria, with responsibility for shaping the laws, governance and policies of the Church.
“The significance of this gathering goes beyond legislation. I urged the Church to use the occasion to renew its commitment to the expansion of the kingdom of God.
“Thank God for yesterday. We celebrate what God has done, but we must press forward into what God wants to do next. The Church must march on with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.”
He congratulated the four newly consecrated bishops: The Right Reverend Godwin Yakela, Bishop of Markudi; The Right Reverend Kingsley Ogbonda, Bishop of Uyo; The Right Reverend Julius Oyediran, Bishop of Ekiti-Oke; and The Right Reverend Olayemi Fatusi, Bishop of Awori.
He said their journey to the episcopate, which began with their election at the Episcopal Synod at the University of Port Harcourt in July, had now been consummated.
Akinfenwa stressed that the occasion should not be seen merely as a celebration, explaining that their consecration meant being set apart for the service of God and His Church.
The retired bishop said the new bishops would now be under intense public scrutiny because of the expectations associated with the episcopate and the standards outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
He said they would be watched in the way they spoke, treated their wives and children, related with clergy, handled disagreements, managed money and responded to criticism.
“They will watch how you behave when you are angry. They will watch how you behave when nobody is watching you.In other words, now your life, your whole life will become a sermon indeed. And now your conduct will preach louder than the pulpit.”
He also cautioned them against careless behaviour, unnecessary familiarity, public quarrels, political manipulation, financial impropriety and unguarded statements.
“A bishop must be approachable, but not become cheap. A bishop must be humble, but not weak. A bishop must be accessible, but must retain the dignity of the office of bishop,” he said.
Akinfenwa said the Church of Nigeria had entered a season requiring urgency, noting that the country’s Anglican Church had moved from being largely a receiving church to becoming a missionary-sending church.
He described the development as one of the great opportunities God had given the Church and urged its leaders to sustain the missionary mentality.
“We must become a Church and diocese that gives, a Church that goes, a Church that leads, a Church that takes responsibility for the expansion of God’s kingdom,” he said.
He called on bishops to identify new frontiers, expand the kingdom and pursue fresh initiatives capable of advancing the work of the Church.
He said the question on their lips should change from, “who will come and help us?” to “Lord, who are you sending us to go and help?”
The retired bishop also charged the Church to remain an agent of change by being prophetic in its engagement with government and society.
He insisted that prayer should not replace civic responsibility, saying the Church must continue to pray for Nigeria but must also think, act and, when necessary, speak truth to power.
Akinfenwa commended the Primate of the Church of Nigeria for speaking out on a matter concerning an election in one of the states, describing the intervention as courageous.
“I felt proud as an Anglican; our leader has spoken, he’s fearless. We must speak. When the people cry, the Church must not merely say, ‘Let us pray.’ Yes, let us pray, but after we pray, let us ask, ‘Lord, what do You want us to do?’ Prayers must lead to action. Faith must produce works,” he said.
The four new bishops were presented to the congregation by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, on Tuesday at Ikenne-Remo.