Nigerian Archbishop Begins a ‘Mission’ to The Episcopal Church (USA)
by Dr. D ~ May 13th, 2007
Nigerian Anglican Archbishop Akinola began a new mission in America by installing Martyn Minns of Virginia as a ‘missionary’ Bishop over a new diocese for conservative Episcopal congregations in the USA. Michelle Boorstein of the Washington Post reported it with the following:
A powerful Nigerian Anglican archbishop defied top church leaders yesterday by coming to Northern Virginia and installing as one of his bishops a local minister who recently broke with the U.S. church after accusing it of being too liberal.
The festive ceremony thrilled those who believe the U.S. church has become too permissive but highlighted divisions that threaten to crack the Anglican Communion.
Both the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori asked Archbishop Akinola not to come and pleaded with him not to start what they consider to be a schism.
Archbishop Akinola said that he initially started the missionary diocese in order to accommodate Nigerian Anglican churches in the USA who found the Episcopal Church to be far too liberal. More than a third of the 34 congregations in the new group are ethically Nigerian. The Archbishop was quoted as saying:
At the emergency meeting of the Primates in October 2003 it was made clear that the proposed actions of the Episcopal Church (appointing gay Bishops & gay marriage ceremonies) would “tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division on this and further issues …
It is my heartfelt desire – and indeed the expressed hope of all the Primates of the Communion – that The Episcopal Church will reconsider its actions – and make such special measures no longer necessary. This is the only way forward for full restoration into fellowship with the rest of the Communion. …
Until then we have no other choice than to offer our assistance and oversight to our people and all those who will not compromise the “faith once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
Read Dr. Albert Mohler’s take on the matter. He ends his article with the following observation:
Archbishop Akinola came to the United States as, among other things, a missionary to a land that desperately needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tragically enough, his visit was necessary because far too many of our churches and denominations need to be evangelized as well.
Comments:
Yes Dr. Mohler I believe that you are correct. Also should Archbishop Akinola’s action be considered schismatic? I don’t believe so since he is standing up for the orthodox teachings of the church. It is the liberal Bishops in the Episcopal Church (USA) that are changing the teachings and doctrines of the church and therefore departing from the faith. They are the true schismatics, Presiding Bishop Schori et al. *Top
