The decision of the General Synod of the Church of England through its vote on Wednesday, 15th November, 2023, approving prayers of blessing for same sex couples, once again reinforces the fundamental error of the Church of England in endorsing principles that run contrary to the fundamental truth of the Scripture which affirms marriage as only between man and woman; male and female (Genesis 2:18-24 cf. Matthew 19:5).
From the historic formularies of Anglicanism, Bishops are called to defend the Church against error, Sadly here a thin majority successfully drowned out the voices of those who remain faithful to our primary calling as Bishops, to embrace grievous error and sin.
Surely the passion with which these Bishops of the Church of England pursued this vote, could have been better directed at re-evangelising the country and the world at large in fulfillment of the mandate of mission in the 21st century.
It is incongruous and palpably disingenuous for Bishops to claim that they are not changing the doctrine of the church on marriage, while simultaneously commissioning prayers and blessing for gay couples in the Church.
The artifice inherent in this posture not only compromises long-established doctrine but also undermines the integrity of our calling as Bishops to call sinners to repentance and holiness of life.
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) salutes the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity who stood firmly on Scripture as the authority for the Church in theology and worship and offer our fellowship in seeking to glorify God in the assurance that truth will ultimately prevail over falsehood, just as
just as Light is destined to always overcome darkness (John 1:5).
We appear to be in the end time when many in the Church are opposed to”…the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), and when many who claim to be members of the body of Christ will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Again, we reaffirm our solidarity with those courageous Bishops, Clergymen and lay members who have chosen to walk the narrow path of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, praying that, the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2).
The LORD be with you.
The Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, MA, BD, MA (Ed.), DD
Archbishop, Metropolitan & Primate of the Church of Nigeria
