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I can't help thinking that if Peter Akinola were leading the Anglican Church of Canada, our pews would be full; we'd be building more churches, not trying to close 'em down consolidate parishes; and faithful ministers and congregations wouldn't be forced out for objecting to theological revisionism. The same goes for the Episcopal Church.
In his ministry, Archbishop Akinola emphasises evangelism above all else, and it shows. The Church of Nigeria has grown fantastically since he became primate in 2000—from 76 dioceses to today’s 130 dioceses and bishops.
His bishops pastor to nearly 20 million practising Anglicans. That compares with an official tally of 25 million in the Church of England, but a paltry one million of these are churchgoers. Dr Akinola points out that the US Episcopal Church has fewer than two millon worshippers, served by 200 bishops. "If I had the means of supporting them I would have 200, 300 bishops," he says. "We are growing. There are many reasons why we are growing. We believe we have no option but to take the command of Christ very seriously."
In Nigeria, Anglicans cannot build churches or consecrate bishops fast enough. In North America, the situation is quite the opposite.
The Canadian and American churches wither on the vine as leaders push their pro-homosexual agenda. Two Canadian parishes have offered to bless same-sex couples, only weeks after the General Synod vote refusing to authorise such blessings. The respective diocesan bishops and our primate have apparently gone AWOL. So much for “leadership” at home.
Abp Akinola and other Global South primates have been cautioning wayward North American leaders for almost ten years, but their counsel has fallen on deaf ears. Says Akinola:
On Gene Robinson: “The problem is Ecusa and the Western church’s way of seeing and handling Scripture. Gene Robinson is just a symptom … When you are ordained into the ministry of the gospel of Christ a minister is supposed to be a wholesome example to the whole flock. When you have chosen a particular way of life, a particular orientation, you can only be an example to your own little clique. That in itself negates your ordination. So we have been on this now for so many years, so many meetings, so many committees, task forces, pronouncements, communiques, all to no avail. It is like the harder we work, the more difficult it is. So we have broken communion with The Episcopal Church, not just Nigeria but many provinces in the Global South. Our life together is not what it used to be”
On Church unity: “The condition of having communion together is for The Episcopal Church to return to where we were by giving up its agenda … Our unity will never be at the expense of truth, of the historic faith.”
On the Episcopal Church: “Has The Episcopal Church ever listened to anyone? They have not listened to the Lambeth Conference, to the Primates communiques. Who’s kidding who?”
Likewise, the Anglican Church of Canada. No wonder he is prepared to stay home during Lambeth 2008.
I found this video of Abp Akinola speaking with Ruth Gledhill riveting. It is wonderful to see a primate with such passion for God’s Word and God’s call.
Congratulations and thanks to Ms Gledhill for the interview and videos. They are a real service to the Anglican Communion. We in the West hear such vilification of Abp Akinola, and it is refreshing to hear him speak for himself.
Read more here and here. Two more videos are posted here and here.
