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CANA's US Missionary Operations in accord with Nigerian Anglican Province
New Diocese of the Trinity Reflects CANA's growth in the US not intrusion by Nigerian Archbishop, says Minns
CANA/ACNA relationship is firm
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
November 7, 2011
A story in the Church of England newspaper suggesting a chill had descended over relations between the Church of Nigeria and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in the wake of the creation of a diocese for Nigerians in America by the Church of Nigeria is false, VOL has been told.
"I serve at Nigerian Archbishop Nicholas Okoh's request on the leadership team of a national Church conference called the Divine Commonwealth Conference. We are working very closely together. The new diocese in CANA - The Missionary Diocese of the Trinity - is something that has been discussed for a while as a way of giving more structure and visibility to our Nigerian clergy. It is an integral part of CANA and directly under my authority," CANA missionary Bishop Martyn Minns told VOL.
"George Conger, author of the article, has got it all wrong, CANA continues and is flourishing."
"I sit in the college of bishops of CANA and ACNA and there is no chill," said recently consecrated CANA bishop Julian Dobbs.
"There is no foundation to think that a 'culturally-based diocese' indicates anything but growth for CANA. We are planting new churches, ordaining new deacons and priests and fully engaged in Christian mission across the country. It is a fiction to say there is any friction or turmoil between CANA and ACNA. We're in full Gospel partnership with each other," noted Dobbs.
On 12 October 2011, Bishop Minns released a letter to CANA clergy announcing the formation of the Diocese of the Trinity. At the September meeting of the General Synod, the Nigerian Church "decided to permit the establishment of dioceses within CANA, under the leadership of the CANA Missionary Bishop, in order to strengthen our missionary focus and provide enhanced support for local clergy and congregations, especially for Nigerian Anglicans living in North America."
Bishop Amos Fagbamiye was named the missionary bishop of Trinity Diocese.
These actions were "subject to the enactment of necessary canonical provisions within the Church of Nigeria's constitution and canons and also the relevant by-laws and protocols of CANA," Minns added.
Bishop Fagbamiye will continue to be a CANA bishop and also a bishop in the ACNA. Minns stated, "He will bring considerable gifts of leadership to the new diocese and has a solid commitment to declare the life transforming message of Jesus Christ as the foundational platform of his ministry."
The CANA leader noted that while "church structures are important and can be useful ... what is most important is that we continue with the work of witness and discipleship and reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Mission must always drive and shape our structures, not the other way around."
On 15 April 2011, Bishop Fagbamiye met with 40 clergy and lay leaders to discuss the formation of a missionary diocese. The purpose of the diocese was to "build a Christ-centred, multicultural, multiracial, Bible-based church that believes in the apostolic teaching, and is sensitive to human needs."
At no time is the creation of the Trinity Diocese "an unwelcome surprise." It is not "a retrograde step" nor does it indicate a "lack of trust." The Church of Nigeria is doing nothing separate from CANA. Any new structure supports both CANA and the ministry of ACNA, Minns explained.
"This is all in complete accord with how CANA and ACNA work together. Every new ordained deacon, priest and formation of a diocese has to go through an existing Anglican jurisdiction, ACNA grows through its local diocese and jurisdictions. We are all working off the same page with the same script for the greater glory of Almighty God", Dobbs concluded.
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