A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 40TH ANNUAL COUNCIL OF BISHOPS HELD AT WESLEY CATHEDRAL, UWANI, ENUGU FROM 11TH – 16TH JULY, 2023
THEME: CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH (JUDE V.3)
PREAMBLE: The Council, having prayerfully discussed, analyzed and deliberated on the theme of the 2023 Conference and other salient national issues as they affect the Church Communiqué: and Society, rose with the following
> That the theme for the 2023 Annual Council of Bishops was timely, precise, and apt considering the potential danger that the presence of false prophets, teachers and their strange doctrines pose to the Church and society in contemporary times. The Council in session, therefore, calls on all Christians, particularly, Methodist faithful to rise up to the challenge of defending the faith of the Church in times of need. Members are enjoined to devote more time to the study of the Scripture and prayers so as to be properly armed for the battle of defending the Faith, noting that authentic faith often reflects in Christ-like behaviour. will be upd
The Council, consequently, prays that God creates in the hearts of all Christian people the anxious spirit that burns with the great desire to defend the Faith that was once delivered to the Church by the Apostles, and also calls on the Faith Community to wake up from her The dogmatic slumber in defense of the Faith in times of A need.
Secondly, Council in Session congratulates His Eminence, Dr Oliver Ali Aba JP, on his election and successful investiture as Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, and assures him of her unflinching support and loyalty as he leads the Methodist people in Nigeria and beyond.
Further, Council in session congratulates the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his successful inauguration and the smooth take off of the new Administration, and urges him to be magnanimous in victory and initiate a clear- cut process of healing the wounds in the hearts of many Nigerians through a sincere process of reconciliation, national unity and integration.
On the other hand, Council congratulates the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Barr. (Dr) Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on his election and inauguration as the Executive Governor of the State. The Council Provide consequently advices the Governor to the dividends of democracy to the people. Council also notes with concern the spate of insecurity in the entire Country,
particularly, in the Eastern region; and calls on the three tiers of Government to find a lasting solution to it so that the people can go about their businesses peacefully.
> However, Council frowns at the current spate of moral decadence and the decline in the moral and ethical values of our contemporary society as expressed in digital and cyber crimes amongst other ills: and decried it as an existential threat to our “Africaness.” Consequently, the Council in session calls for National Ethical Renewal; so as to restore and revive our cherished and age-long ethical principles and values.
Moreover, while acknowledging some of the hitches, alleged discrepancies and complaints about the conduct and eventual results of the 2023 General Elections, the Bishops in Council salute the courage of the aggrieved contestants in the Elections who have chosen the way of Peace by going to the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the process and outcome of the election through legal redress; and calls on the Judiciary to objectively look at the merits of each case in her decision-making process.
> Furthermore, the Bishops in Council acknowledge the various efforts of the Federal Government in her attempt to curb the various violent crises across the Country that have maimed and sent many Nigerians to their early graves; and calls on the government at the centre to be more proactive in handling the issue. Consequently, the Council enjoins the government to look into the idea of the formation of State Police so as to reduce the spate of the incessant killings of harmless Nigerians by the alleged insurgents, militants and terrorists.
On the current wave of hardship and the rate of unemployment amongst our teaming youths, which have resulted in many of the young people dying on the high seas and the deserts in their attempts to cross over to Europe and other parts of the world in desires for greener pasture; Council calls on the three tiers of Government to frontally confront the issue and create a conducive environment for job creation and employment opportunities.
Lastly, the Bishops in Council while applauding the decision of the Federal Government on the removal of the petroleum products subsidy, admonishes the Goverment to develop a heart of milk-like kindness by putting up some implementable palliatives so as to reduce the current hardship of the ordinary Nigerians.
*His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, JP
Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria
