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NIGERIA: Anglican Archbishop of South East Asia lashes Western liberals
News from Nigeria
Onitsha, Sept 14, 2005- 'I am not going to let my pulpit to be defiled by people who don't accept the gospel."
That was the blunt message conveyed on September 12, by the visiting Archbishop of South East Asia, Yong Ping Chung, when he addressed the plenary session of the 8th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
He was referring to a section of the Anglican Communion particularly the American and Canadian Churches and lately the Church of England, who condones and approves homosexual marriage.
Speaking on the topic 'The Changing Phase of the Anglican Communion' Archbishop Yong Ping Chung told Synod delegates that the Anglican Communion was in a mess because "we have lost the direction and we have listened to the lies of the devil."
"I have no problem relating to your Archbishop, I think he is very orthodox. If you want to preach in my province I will allow you as long as you are from Nigeria. But if it is from America I have to check. Even from England now ... I may have to check. I am not going to let my pulpit to be defiled by people who don't accept the gospel, he said. "
Stating that the Western Church had derailed from the missionary movement of the 7th century, which was the vintage of the Anglican Communion, Yong Ping warned that 'many churches have lost that vision especially those older Churches and they are persuading others to go the same way."
Proffering a guide towards correcting the falsehood being perpetuated by pro-gay churches, the cleric identified 'affirmation, foundation and mission' as central to the restoration of the holistic gospel.
On affirmation, he said, "This is what God says to everyone who is faithful. It is God saying you are mine. We are all God's people."
The foundation is Jesus Christ, said the Archbishop who is also the Bishop of Sabah. He added, "God gave us his Son and it is in his Son we have our salvation and in what his Son taught, what is in the Holy Scriptures is all the truth contained."
On mission, the Archbishop stated that unless one is drawn into a relationship with God, mission and evangelism is impossible. He therefore challenged Africa, South American and Asian Churches under the aegis of the Global-South of the Anglican Communion to lead the spiritual reawakening of the Church.
Ahead of the third meeting of the Global South meeting billed for Alexandria, Egypt in October, he stated that 'South-South is not about homosexuals. South -South is about God, it is about mission, it is about what God can do through our people, using our people."
He said, "The Global South will stand firm and articulate our real voice into that sinking ship of the Anglican Communion."
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