Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, has admonished members of the Christian community to always seek peace among themselves during crises to achieve their major goals.
Ndukuba gave the admonition recently at a reconciliation, rededication and thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral Church of St Michael, Esie in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, where a three-year-old crisis in the Igbomina Diocese of the church was resolved.
The crisis, according to Tribune Church News sources, started in 2020 as a result of a misunderstanding between the bishop, Right Reverend Emmanuel Adeoye, and the congregation in the diocese.
The primate, who was represented by Justice Abraham Georgewill of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, who is also the Chairman of the Church of Nigeria Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force, counseled members of the diocese to be at peace with one another for the progress and development of the church and the country.
While thanking members of the diocese for allowing peace to reign, Ndukuba said, “Progress and development cannot thrive in an atmosphere where there is war and rancour.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the history of the church because you have allowed the crisis to be settled by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force. I want to appeal to the congregation in Igbomina Diocese to embrace peace so that the church can move forward.”
Earlier in his sermon entitled; The Beauty of Christianity, focus on Purpose”, Right Reverend Olajide Adebayo, Bishop of Igbomina West Diocese, said that conflict is a common phenomenon in human existence, adding that it is caused by insufficient resources, insufficient knowledge and insufficient understanding among the parties.
“When conflicts occur, they should be nipped in the bud immediately, otherwise they will burn us and damage our relationship because it is a spoiler and damages things,” he said.
He counseled people to learn to forgive others, adding that “we should focus on one purpose -advancing the kingdom of God.”
Chairman of the Peace Implementation Committee of Igbomina Diocese, Dr Shola Afolabi, said that the resolution of the crisis was a new beginning in the diocese, adding that “we have just given birth to a new baby and we are christening the baby today.
Afolabi expressed gratitude to the Primate, the Taskforce on Alternative dispute resolution of the church, the elders and others who ensured that the crisis was resolved amicably.
The bishop of the church, Right Reverend Emmanuel Adeoye, said that reconciliation has been achieved, adding, “This is the beginning of spreading the gospel in the diocese.”
The bishop announced the appointment of Mr Tunji Oyeyipo and Dr (Mrs) Biola Adimula as the new Church Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor respectively.
Dignitaries at the event included Most Reverend Israel Amoo, Bishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Kwara.
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