ANGLICAN BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF EVO CONDEMNS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, has restated that the Church of Nigeria condemns same sex marriage, homosexuality and lesbianism.

He also said the Church of Nigeria has an “impaired relationship” with churches in Western countries that have lent their support to same sex marriage and other vices condemned by the bible.

Ordu spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday at a press briefing to herald the third session of the third synod of the diocese scheduled for July 29 to August 2 at the Chapel of Grace and Knowledge, Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School (ACMGS), Elelenwo.

He noted that while the Church of Nigeria was part of the global Anglican community, it would not have communion with other churches in the community that take steps that were contrary to the provisions of the Bible.

His words: “We truly are still part of the Anglican world. There is something about the Anglican Church; we are a biblically-based church; matters of the scriptures, matters of the faith, no true Anglican compromises with them.


“So, a few years ago, we discovered that some sections of the church, particularly, in the Western world began to toy with some sensitive aspects as regard the spirituality and doctrine of the church; and the Church of Nigeria, you know, took their position on those issues, particularly the issue of human sexuality.

“Even apart from the stand-point of the scripture, on the strength of culture, we are first and foremost Africans, Nigerians and we come from different cultures, traditions.

There are certain things that even our cultures abhor. Our firm position on those things is strengthened much more by the position of the scripture that they are evil. So, we cannot on one hand be preaching against other evils of society, of the average community and we are upholding another evil because of a distorted position or understanding of some persons.

“So, the position of the Anglican Church, for instance, on this matter of homosexuality, lesbianism and the rest of them is that it is against scripture and any arm or part of the church worldwide that advocates it, is breaching the provisions and tenets of the scripture and we cannot be in any form of relationship with such an arm of the body of Christ until proper positions are taken or reversed by those who advocate such.

“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has what we locally here, back home in Nigeria, define as ‘an impaired relationship’ with any other province, that is a National Church or part of the Anglican world that supports or advocates or champions this evil that the scriptures condemn, which now they said men are free to marry fellow men; women are free to marry fellow women and all that.
 We are saying God abhors it; please, change your posture on this and come back to the original biblical position of God on these issues; and if you are not ready to do that, we too cannot be in communion with you. That is the position of the church.”

On the fate of the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, who took appointment as Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), Ordu said the archbishop did not consult the primate of the church before taking up the position.
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“The position of the Primate is that since a good number of those who are part of the ACC are in support of the gay rights movement and all that, a Nigerian Bishop, knowing the position of the national church here, ought not to accept a position in that body, because doing so will mean that we have all keyed into whatever negative posture these other ones are holding,” he said.

He added that while the church was not happy that the archbishop took up the appointment, he was not aware if he would be sanctioned.

Ordu also took a swipe at Nigerian leaders, stating that most of them take the people for granted.

His words: “Sometimes, we ask ourselves: Are there leaders in this country? These our leaders go to other countries and see how things are done properly. But they fail to replicate those good things here. Instead, they tell us it is the same everywhere in the world. We know this is not true.

“When many of them (leaders) wish to come to power; during the campaigns, they tell us all the wonderful things they intend to do. But soon after they are sworn in, they lose focus. Then the government and state continue to run in a state of confusion

“When leadership has no preference or taste for excellence and integrity, then anything goes for that leadership.

“In Nigeria, we see a leadership that is selfish, self-centred, lacking in focus, lacking in understanding of the essence of governance. If we had a good leadership in the country, we cannot be talking about probes, empty treasury, decayed or non-existent infrastructure, non-payment of salaries, etc.”

He said the church has a role to play in re-directing the focus of leadership in the country, adding that the theme of the synod, ‘Recapturing the Spirit of Excellence and Integrity in Service: the Daniel Example’ was to assit le3aders at all levels to remain focused on service delivery to the people.
“Just coming out of a major election in the country which has brought new leaders at all levels, one way we, as a church, can help the new leaders is to contribute to the furtherance of life by drawing the attention of our newly-elected leaders to the area where God is actually interested in,” he said.

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