wfn.org | [ACNS] Church of Nigeria covenants with two North American

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 4075     |     NIGERIA	|     17 NOVEMBER 2005

Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) announces a covenant with two
North American church bodies

The Church of Nigeria has released the following two press statements:

Covenant Between The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and the
Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America.

In an historic moment, as part of the realignment of global Anglicanism,
on November 12, 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Most Rev. Peter J.
Akinola, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most
Rev. Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal
Church, and the Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, Presiding Bishop of the
Anglican Province of America, entered on behalf of their three Churches
a Covenant Union of Anglican Churches in Concordat.

The purpose of the covenant of concord is to work together in the common
cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pledging to each other their mutual
cooperation, support, discipline and accountability. Recognizing that
all three Churches share a common heritage of faith and order within the
Anglican tradition, they are united by saving belief in Jesus Christ as
the Way, the Truth and the Life, and by their commitment to the Faith
once delivered, based on the irrevocable Holy Scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments as the final authority for faith and life.

It was agreed that ministers of these Churches, subject to the
respective regulations within the jurisdictions, may be eligible to
exercise pastoral ministry in each Church. Archbishops and bishops of
the Churches in concordat may also be invited to conduct episcopal
duties within the other jurisdictions with the blessing of the
appropriate provincial authorities.

The three Churches have united specifically for joint mission in North
America. Archbishops Riches and Grundorf welcomed the Church of
Nigeria's CANA initiative. They assured Archbishop Akinola that,
wherever possible, individual congregations of all three jurisdictions,
within proximate geographic locations, would work closely and
cooperatively together to demonstrate their commitment to one another
and their desire to witness to a consistent Biblical, Evangelical and
Catholic expression of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Covenant Union of Anglican Churches in Concordat among The Church of
Nigeria (Anglican Communion) The Reformed Episcopal Church, and The
Anglican Province of America.

Whereas the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Reformed
Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America share a common
heritage of faith and order within the Anglican tradition; be it
understood that:

Article 1: The Churches, recognizing the fact that they are working
together in the common cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pledge to
each other, their mutual cooperation, support, discipline and
accountability.

Article 2: Wherever possible, individual congregations within proximate
geographic locations will work closely and cooperatively to demonstrate
their commitment to one another and their desire to witness to a
consistent Biblical, Evangelical and Catholic expression of faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Article 3: As evidence of our union in Christ and the Common Standards
of the faith existing among the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion),
the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America, a
delegation of ministers and laity may be sent to attend each other's
Provincial and General Synods or Councils. As a further demonstration of
our union, bishops of the Churches may attend each other's episcopal
meetings with the expectation that they will be invited to speak but not
cast votes.

Article 4: The Ministers of the Churches may, subject to the respective
regulations of the Churches, be eligible to exercise pastoral ministry
in each Church. Archbishops and Bishops of the Churches in the concordat
may also be invited to conduct episcopal duties with accountability,
discipline and the episcopal blessing of the local appropriate
provincial authorities.

Article 5: Communicants of the Churches may be received into the other
Churches on presentation of letters of transfer, or their equivalent.

Article 6: It is also our declared intention to initiate a process that
will permit us, in due course to enter into an agreement of full
communion with a clear and common understanding of all of its
implications.

The miracle of CANA continues!

>From the Primate of all Nigeria, Archbishop Peter J. Akinola:

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Earlier this year we announced CANA - a mission of the Church of
Nigeria, a Convocation for Anglicans in North America. We see this as a
creative way to provide pastoral and episcopal care for those alienated
by the actions of ECUSA. As we said in our letter of April 7th, 2005,
"Our intention is not to challenge or intervene in the churches of ECUSA
or the Anglican Church of Canada but to provide safe harbour for all
those who can no longer find their spiritual home in those churches."
While CANA is an initiative of the Church of Nigeria it is our desire is
to welcome all those who share our faith and vision for the Church.

In September 2005 at its 8th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria made
the necessary constitutional changes to permit the formal establishment
of the Convocation in the USA and we have just completed the necessary
legal framework to establish CANA as a recognized Anglican Church
structure in the USA. Abraham N. Yisa, Esq., Registrar of the Church of
Nigeria will serve as chairman of the board of trustees, Chief Gboyega
Delano of Chicago will serve as secretary and Mrs. Patience Oruh of
Maryland will serve as treasurer. I am profoundly grateful for their
willingness to serve and look forward to adding additional members to
the Board as our work expands

We are beginning a process of formally incorporating clergy and
congregations into CANA and we will shortly be selecting and
consecrating episcopal leadership to oversee further growth and
development and enable us to more effectively respond to the pressing
needs within the USA. We are working closely and cooperatively with the
Anglican Communion Network and others who are committed to orthodox
Anglican faith and practice. It is our hope to find more creative ways
to strengthen our common witness as we seek to remain faithful to our
Gospel mission. One example is our recently adopted Covenant agreement
with the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America.

In the first miracle of CANA Jesus transformed a disaster into a
glorious celebration and it is our desire to see God use CANA again to
transform the crisis in the Communion into an occasion of great
blessing.

For further information about CANA please contact the Rev'd Nathan Kanu,
Oklahoma City, CANA Interim Communications Officer,
odinathnfe@sbcglobal.net

Editors Note:

The Reformed Episcopal Church and The Anglican Province of America are
Churches that are not in Communion with the See of Canterbury.

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