The Archbishop of All Nigeria, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has consecrated three new bishops for the largest province of the Anglican Communion. On 26 April 2015 the primate of Nigeria laid hands on the Ven.Moses Bukpe-Tabwaye, appointing him Bishop of Gwagwalada; the Ven. Johnson Nwaohalama Ekwe, appointing him Bishop of Niger West; and the Ven. Isaac Iwabi Oluyamo, appointing him Bishop of Ijesha North.
Following the service at All Saints Cathedral Onitsha, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, (pictured) welcomed the new bishops to their sees and urged them to be shepherds not only of the state’s Anglicans, but of all Christians in the Southeastern Nigerian state. They had been consecrated as bishops of the catholic church and had a duty to all believers, he said.
In his consecration sermon, the Bishop of Akoko, the Rt. Rev. Gabriel Akinbiyi, lamented the decline of public morality across Nigeria: “When you look into the world what do you see. Today there seems to be no difference between the church and the world even though the Bible said that we are in the world but are not of the world. There seems to be no difference in the actions of the church and the world with acts of dishonesty, fornication prevalent among other vices.”
He urged the bishops to be in the world, but not of it — using their ministries to bring all people into right relationship with God. Citing Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (4:1-16) he told the new bishops they must be a wholesome example for their flock. “You are challenged to live in such a way that will not bring any disrepute to the Episcopacy.”
The celebrant at the service, Archbishop Okoh, also thanked the governor for his kindness noting he had invited the House of Bishops to his official residence for dinner before the service.
