Nigeria's Anglican Archbishop Speaks to the Church of England

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15350

The Archbishop of Nigeria speaks to the Church of England
By Chris Sugdenwww.anglican-mainstream.net
December 21st, 2011

L to R: Bishop John Ellison, Mike Penny, Rev David Holloway, Canon Andy Lines, Dr Joy Holloway, Rev Hugh Palmer, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Brian O'Donoghue. Not in the picture Rev Paul and Mrs Christine Perkin, Rev Robert de Berry, Canon Dr Chris Sugden

At the Church of Nigeria's first ever all Nigeria Conference for teaching and spiritual renewal, the Divine Commonwealth Conference, the Primate, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh stressed the importance of the presence of those from the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (UK and Ireland) in Church of England who stood for the faith that the missionaries brought to their church in the nineteenth century.

He said "We value your presence and your friendship. On our part we will do our best to connect with you in England."

In the last few years the Church of Nigeria has been shunned and occasionally vilified for its orthodox stance on central matters of Christian faith and practice by those who are seeking "progressive Africans" to work with on their social agenda. The Church's orthodox stance has been patronised as due not to any convictions about the truth of the Bible but the pressures of their Islamic context.

The Archbishop continued. "We have no hatred for anybody in the UK, USA or Europe, nor for Muslims even when they kill and harm us. Our only desire is to live in peace and serve God. We do not think it right for anyone to harm anyone. It is not human to do that, not only ungodly. "

This was significant since within a few days of the beginning of the conference a bishop had been chased from his cathedral which along with all the Christian churches in the town was burnt down. Those Christians who were "immigrants" from southern Nigeria all returned south.

The Archbishop said that when he and his church saw good people come to them they were highly encouraged. "We have very fond memories of CMS Missionaries. We cannot forget that God sent them to us and gave us the Bible. We are now giving it back to you."

He recalled that some of the early missionaries who came to West Africa died, either on the high seas, or from malaria. Some never married. And all of this because of Africa. He said his church was grieved that the children of the people who suffered and died to bring the bible to them have disinherited their inheritance.

He continued: "Great Britain is what it is because of the Word of God. The USA is what it is because of what Britain gave her. When people abandon their roots, they are bound to fall into terrible error. You are our friends, brothers and sisters. This demonstrates that we are all one family."

His choice of words is most revealing. The DIVVCON Conference Statement had strong words to say about the neo-colonial attitude of Prime Minister David Cameron:

"We were shocked by the recent statement from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable David Cameron, to the effect that his Government would aid only those countries that adhere to 'proper human rights'. It is clear that his true agenda is to force the normalization of homosexuality and gay marriage as a 'human right'. While acknowledging the sacred worth of every human being we reject this erroneous notion as contrary to God's intention for humankind and harmful to those he claims to protect. Another implication of this is that the 'Commonwealth of Nations' is still being treated as a body of unequal partners, where, because of economic status, some nations are still vulnerable to manipulation. "

In sharp contrast Archbishop Okoh called us friends, brothers and sisters. He saw us as equals, not as those seeking his endorsement or co-operation as part of a western agenda. This equal non-colonial relationship is a fruit of the gospel because all parties are subject to the Lord and the gospel, not to an ideology.

The Divine Commonwealth Conference will be an annual event and is open to all who stand with the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008.

Canon Chris Sugden is a canon of Jos in the Church of Nigeria,

-----------

Chris Sugden
Anglican Mainstream www.anglican-mainstream.net

British Muslims Support UK PM's Call for Christian Britain

http://adrianwarnock.com/2011/12/muslims-support-camerons-idea-of-the-uk-as-a-christian-nation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AdrianWarnocksUkEvangelicalBlog+%28adrianwarnock.com%29

Muslims support Cameron’s idea of the UK as a Christian nation

December 20, 2011

The British Prime Minister’s recent obvious statement that Britain is at root a Christian nation has caused the normal uproar among the aggressive secularists. These people are fast trying to turn this nation into an atheocracy where atheism rules with as much brute force intellectually as any religious dictatorship. Their opposition to Cameron’s words is not a great surprise. What is perhaps more surprising to those who don’t understand the allegiance poeple of any faith are increasingly feeling for each other is the support of one of the UK’s leading Muslims:

Muslim Council of Britain member and imam from Leicester, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra told the BBC “It’s very seldom I get excited by what our prime minister has to say and this is one of those times. As Muslims we also believe in the Bible. We believe in the teachings of Jesus. Not only that, but in the teachings of all the biblical prophets, including Moses in the Torah. So this is something that we feel is absolutely in tune with the Muslim thinking. We have to base our behaviour according to scripture, God’s revealed message.”For a long time Muslims have been trying to express this idea, that for us as Muslims Islam is not just a religion but a way of life. To divorce politics from religion is not something we are able to do, we cannot leave our religion at home or in the mosques, it comes with us wherever we go. So it’s refreshing to hear the prime minister say Christians should do the same. I agree Britain is the best country for Muslims to live in, at least in Europe.”

More at BBC News – David Cameron on Christianity – views.

Church Times: UK PM's "Christian Values" Call Welcomed

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=122311

PM’s ‘Christian values’ call welcomed

by a staff reporter

KT BRUCE

A LECTURE by the Prime Minister in defence of Britain as a Christian country has been broadly welcomed. In a speech to Oxford clergy in Christ Church, Oxford, last Friday, David Cameron argued against the trend towards a neutral, secularist culture. “The Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today. Values and morals we should actively stand up and defend. “The alternative of moral neutral­ity should not be an option. You can’t fight something with nothing. Because if we don’t stand for some­thing, we can’t stand against any­thing.” Among the moral values that he praised was universal equality: “When every human being is of equal and infinite importance, created in the very image of God, we get the irrepressible foundation for equality and human rights, a foundation that has seen the Bible at the forefront of the emergence of democracy, the abolition of slavery, and the emancipation of women — even if not every Church has always got the point!” The effect of these values was to create a tolerant society: “Those who say being a Christian country is doing down other faiths simply don’t understand that it is easier for people to believe and practise other faiths when Britain has confidence in its Christian identity. Many people tell me it is much easier to be Jewish or Muslim here in Britain than it is in a secular country like France. Why? Because the tolerance that Chris­tianity demands of our society provides greater space for other religious faiths, too.” Mr Cameron listed other values that he defined as Christian: “responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility, self-sacrifice, love, pride in working for the common good, and honouring the social obligations we have to one another, to our families and our communities”. It was not enough, though, merely to be tolerant of others, he said, and repeated a remark first made in February: “Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and a much more active, muscular liberalism. A passively tolerant society says to its citizens: as long as you obey the law we will just leave you alone. It stands neutral between different values. “But I believe a genuinely liberal country does much more; it believes in certain values and actively pro­motes them. We need to stand up for these values. Yes, they are Christian values. And we should not be afraid to acknowledge that. . . We should all stand up and defend them.” Mr Cameron concluded by en­cour­aging the Church to be involved in this defence. “I believe the Church — and indeed all our religious lead­ers and their communities in Britain — have a vital role to play in helping to achieve this. I have never really understood the argument some people make about the Church not getting involved in politics. “To me, Christianity, faith, reli­gion, the Church, and the Bible are all inherently involved in politics, because so many political questions are moral questions. So I don’t think we should be shy or frightened of this.” He included Dr Williams in this: “I certainly don’t object to the Arch­bishop of Canterbury expressing his views on politics. Religion has a moral basis, and if he doesn’t agree with something, he’s right to say so.” But he warned: “He shouldn’t be surprised when I respond. Also, it’s legitimate for political leaders to say something about religious institutions as they see them affecting our society, not least in the vital areas of equality and tolerance. I believe the Church of England has a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our communities. But, to do so, it must keep on the agenda that speaks to the whole country.” Responding to the lecture, the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, said: “There was no doubt­ing the Prime Minister’s conviction that if you don’t stand for something, you can’t stand against anything. This is what the Churches have always said to the nation, and it was good to have this support from the heart of political life. “The Prime Minister . . . affirmed the crucial role of the Church in both serving and shaping society. He demonstrated clearly that the gen­erosity, compassion, and desire for social justice which lies at the heart of the Christian faith, and of other faiths, is both a gift and a responsi­bility. We gladly take up the chal­lenge.” The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, awarded Mr Cameron “two cheers for a brave and serious speech”. He did, though, “wince a little” at Mr Cameron’s conclusion. And he questioned a speech that dwelt on the resonance of the King James Bible without tack­ling its content. The full speech Leader comment Letters Media Question of the week: Do you agree with Mr Cameron that Britain is a Christian country?