Lydester

SOS
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Attributed to Edmund Burke and to John F Kennedy in a 1961 speech.
It is a great blunder by the current leadership of the Church of Nigeria to contemplate dissolution of Anglican Diocese of The Trinity, ADOTT encompassing parishes in USA and Canada.
The Diocese was created over twelve years ago certainly through the guidance of Holy Spirit like other decisions the church makes.
I wonder if the leadership sought the Face of the Lord at all before making the despicable decision to scrap ADOTT.
It is unheard for a Diocese to be dissolved just by papal like declaration. Creation of Dioceses must be differentiated from creation and dissolution of States or Local Government Areas in Nigeria particularly.
The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has as extant Constitution. Appropriate understanding is that Priests and the Laity make the Church and not Primate with his Priests only.
A good Shepherd must be thoughtful about the flock. The leader must respect the fundamental right of every constituent member or each group member. The situation was never as polarized during the tenures of past Primates especially our own Archbishop Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye. Adetiloye was a leader per excellence. He took the gospel to every nook and corner of Nigeria, created new Dioceses all over and raised Diocesans without discrimination.
Politics within the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion is now much worse than that in the secular world. With underpinning motives, General Synod can convened by compromised Dioceses of a Province or two. It is amazing that our people stand apathetic when some caucus meetings are held and take deplorable decisions.
Problem started in ADOTT when Rt Rev’d Kayode Adebogun who is not a preference emerged as Diocesan out of four Suffragan Bishops in North America. A resolution that is unconstitutional was worked out to dissolve the sprawling Diocese. ADOTT in America and Canada is to revert to Church of Nigeria North American Mission under a coordinating Bishop in Aba Nigeria. Rt Rev’d Kayode Adebogun, a Diocesan is now being demoted for no just cause to become a missioner reporting on another Bishop. If incident dissolution of ADOTT is allowed, it will be a very bad historical precedent. Attempt can be made to play the same joke in any diocese at home. We believe however that the Church of God will continue to move forward and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it.
The decision to dissolve ADOTT appears to have been borne out of various vested interests without recourse to the Church Constitution, Aims and Objectives for setting up the Dioceses in North America ab initio. There is certainly no regard to the Labours of the founders and relentless efforts of those making the Church to grow in North America.
Missions and Missionary Dioceses are normally created as precursors for upgrading to full fledged Dioceses. It is therefore anomalous to think of reducing a vibrant Diocese to a status of a Mission.
There are certainly numerous members like me who would just refuse to swallow the bitter pill being administered. It is hoped a process of breaking up the whole Church of Nigeria is not being initiated.
The Primate is therefore strongly advised to rescind the dissolution forthwith and avoid ultimate ripple effects.

Dr M A Kolawole Ojo
Freehold NJ