Nigeria creates new missionary dioceses
Posted: 02 Nov 2006 @ 00:00
TEN NEW BISHOPS were consecrated in the Anglican Church of Nigeria on
Sunday, in a ceremony that marked the creation of nine new missionary dioceses.
The new bishops were consecrated in Abuja Cathedral, at a service attended
by more than 3000 people. The Primate of All Nigeria, the Most Revd Peter
Akinola, presided. The previous day, he had also presided at the inauguration
of the first of the missionary dioceses, Kubwa, which is carved out of the
diocese of Abuja, of which Archbishop Akinola is bishop.
All the new dioceses will have been inaugurated by tomorrow. When Archbishop
Akinola became Primate in 2000, there were 76 dioceses and 76 bishops; there
are now 91 bishops, in three provinces.
The new dioceses have been planted in areas that are considered to be
"hostile and insecure for evangelism", reported Peter Onwubuariri from Abuja
for the Anglican Communion News Service. He said: "The present Primate, at a
recent public meeting, hinted that the possibility of the dioceses swelling to
100 before he retires cannot be ruled out.
"Whatever the motive, most Nigerians have welcomed the development as
favourable to taking the gospel to the unreached."
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