Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

We give thanks to God for His abundant grace and mercies upon His Church, as we gathered in holy assembly at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, for the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria. We were greatly enriched through worship, prayer, the study of God’s Word, and deliberations on the affairs of our beloved Church.

The theme of our meeting, “The Bond of Peace: The Core of the Life and Ministry of the Church” (Ephesians 4:3), speaks directly to the heart of our faith and communal witness. In a world riddled with division, strife, and spiritual decline, the Church is called to be the embodiment of Christ’s reconciling love. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3), reminding us that our life and ministry must be anchored in peace, love, and unity.

As a Church, we recognize that our strength lies in our oneness in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed that His followers “may be one” (John 17:21), calls us to a deeper commitment to peace and reconciliation. As Christ reconciled us to God, we too are called to be agents of reconciliation in a fractured world. This means reaching out to those with whom we disagree, seeking to heal wounds caused by misunderstanding or conflict. In our churches, let us cultivate an atmosphere of forgiveness and understanding and refuse to allow bitterness, rivalry, or discord to take root in our midst.

In our diverse contexts, it is easy to allow differences—be they cultural, theological, or social—to create rifts among us. However, we are reminded that our unity is not based on uniformity. Rather, it is the result of our shared faith in Jesus Christ, who is our peace. As members of the Church of Nigeria, we are called to celebrate our diversity while pursuing the common good and the mission of Christ. Let us strive to understand one another, listen actively, and engage in constructive dialogue that fosters unity.

We will also need to value and utilise what we have in common. Our dioceses and parishes are encouraged to make use of our resources, especially the worship, devotional and study materials.

As a Church, we reaffirm our commitment to the core doctrines of our faith, holding fast to the truth of the gospel in a time when false teachings and worldliness threaten our spiritual integrity. We must stand firm in upholding biblical values, ensuring that our faith is lived out in holiness, righteousness, and justice.

The focus of our ministry in the Church of Nigeria remains: Mission and Evangelism, Intentional Discipleship and Family Focused Ministry. Every member has a role to play in advancing the mission of the Church, whether through evangelism, community engagement, social justice, or faithful stewardship.

We also recognize the socio-economic challenges facing our nation. The Church must continue to be a voice of hope, advocating for justice, peace, and good governance. We encourage all believers to reflect Christ’s love in their daily lives, being peacemakers in their families, work-places, and communities.

Our dioceses and parishes are encouraged to engage in agro-Industries. Apart from strengthening food security, this will help in creating job opportunities, revamping Agriculture, increasing commercial enterprises and feeding other industries. Furthermore, dioceses are encouraged to set up health facilities for delivery of quality health services.

The family, as the foundational unit of society, plays a crucial role in promoting peace. We urge Christian families to be centres of love, understanding, and godliness. Parents must raise their children in the fear of the Lord, teaching them the values of patience, forgiveness, and respect for others.

We are taking the necessary steps to actualize the creation of new dioceses in the Church of Nigeria. The three Supra Regions in the Church of Nigeria, (Supra West, Supra North and the Joint Council of Provinces East of the Niger) have, under the leadership of some of our fathers, started assessing in order to recommend possible areas that can be created as full-fledged dioceses.

In response to the huge success of the 2024 Joshua Generation International Youth Conference (JGIYC) and the enumerated opportunities in the digital space, the JGIYC is set to train and empower 5000 young people in digital skills within the next three years, that will enable them to become self-dependent economically and employable. The JGIYC needs to be self-sustaining and so, a team has been constituted to organise fund raising events across the country. They will be moving to our dioceses and parishes. We need your support in this youth mission. The next edition of the Joshua Generation will be held from April 28 to May 2, 2025. A portal will be opened between March 1 and April 20 for registration. Let us continue to pray for God’s manifestation and moves in the lives of our young people.

In light of the widespread moral decline and increasing cases of abuse in Nigeria, it is imperative for our dioceses and parishes to actively utilize mission-owned primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions as key instruments for raising children and youths in both learning and character. The Church must, therefore, strengthen and expand its educational mission, making these institutions more accessible, affordable, and effective in shaping the future of Nigeria youths in learning and character.

We need to remind you of the two Statutory Collections, namely, St. Matthias Day Collection which is taken on the last Sunday in February every year in order to support the Missions and Ministry of the Church and the Advent Sunday Collection, dedicated to the development of the Church of Nigeria Conference Centre in Pyakasa Abuja. We encourage all of us to support this noble course and build the work of God’s Kingdom by promptly and faithfully remitting the total collections on those Sundays.

We appreciate in no small measure, the Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja and his amiable wife, Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Oko-Jaja, all the Clergy, their wives and the faithful of Niger Delta Diocese who laboured tirelessly to ensure that the meeting was a huge success. We also appreciate the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for his immense and magnanimous support, both for the hosting of the Standing Committee and the Church of Nigeria.

In conclusion, we call on every member of the Church of Nigeria to embrace the bond of peace. Let us walk in love, serve in humility, and labour together for the glory of God. May we be a Church known by our unity in Christ, commitment to the truth, and faithful witness in the world.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Yours in the Lord’s Service, 

Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, MA, BD, MA (Ed.), DD.

Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria.

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