SPECIAL EDITION Vol 6: November 2011
Church Newsletter
For the Body of Christ - Exhorting, Lifting up and
sharpening each other as iron sharpens iron "For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood----------"Eph 6:12-18
REJOICE A NEW DAY HAS COME!!!
What You Will Find In this Issue:
PRAISE THE LORD!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! Oh PRAISE THE LORD!!!
This is a spexial issue dedicated to celebrating and spreading the word about the newly created Missionary Diocese of the Trinity (MDT) of the Angilcan Church of Nigeria in North America. We have waited long and hard for your mercy oh Lord and you have done what only you can do.
For all who joined us each week to lift up the formation of the new Diocese of the Trinity through our weekly prayer and food for thought congratulations. Our prayers have been answered.
For others that are reading about this issue for the first time. We are happy to have you on board. Join the celebration.
"This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes" Psalms 118: 23
We give glory to the Lord that at last this day has come that we can celeberate this new diocese that has been long in the making and many a tmes seemed like a pipe dream. Through all the ups and downs the brethren kept faithful and at the apponited time God has done what ony He can do.
For indeed the Church is the body of Christ and He is the only foundation the Church has. We stayed upon the faith and teaching displayed by the apostles in the early Church as they waited and prayed about the exxpansion of the Church.
Now as it was then, it was the Lord Himself that orchestrated the various events and brought in the various people required to make it all happen.
Now the Diocese is in place. As a little child we will have to grow and we ask everyone reading this newslettter to join in prayer for this young diocese. Pray for the Bishop and other Church leaders and for the finances of the Diocese.
Here is some information about the diocese
Diocesian Bishop: Bishop Amos Fagbamiye
Diocesan Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana
Diocesan Website
Diocesan structure
The Diocese is divided into zones each having a clergy zonal coordinator. More details will soon be avaiable at the website.
Locating a congregation
Work is being done to have a comprehensive list on the website. Check from time to time and whenever you are travelling from one town to the other so you can join others in fellowship and worship.
Diocesan Demographics
The diocese is made up of clergy and congregants from all parts of the globe. It is multiracial and multinational as the whole body of Christ is.
News and Report
Diocesan News you need to know and let others know about:
We are providing you with the two pieces of information below to keep you abreast of some of the teething problems and the misconceptions some have about MDT so you do not get carried away with the misinformation but know the truth.
If you have heard that there was a rift between CANA and MDT, that is not a true fact and the two reports will make it all plain. Be sure to read the two in their entirety.
A)
MDT responds to report from Church of England Newspaper – MDT is a multi-racial based mission in North America:
The newly approved & created Diocese of The Trinity is a mission outreach of the church of Nigeria and an affiliate of CANA and mission partner with ACNA. Contrary to the assertion and report by a UK based new media The Church of England Newspaper and an online based news media http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/growing-pains-for-acna-the-church-of-england-newspaper-nov-4-2011/ , the mission of the new diocese as stated on its website (www.missionarydioceseofthetrinity.org) clearly states MDT is set out “To build a Christ-centered, multicultural, multiracial, Bible-based church that believes in the apostolic teaching and, sensitive to human needs”. Not all members of MDT are from Nigeria. Missionary Diocese of the Trinity (MDT) is a cluster of Churches in North America and Canada, and an offshoot of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion and an affiliate of Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). It is an evangelical and church planting mission that also joins Confessing Anglican movements to sustain the sanctity of Anglicanism and its rich heritage, as well as the apostolic teaching and practice, and the faith as handed over to us by the Apostles.MDT is made of various nationalities. The new diocese is not designed or created for Nigerians only. The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has always had a mission outreach in North America serving its people and other nationalities. To approve the creation of MDT is to further strengthen the work of the ministry and support CANA and ACNA. Not only was a new diocese - Missionary Diocese of The Trinity approved at the 10th session of the general Synod of the church of Nigeria, 2 additional CANA bishops were consecrated and one American born Bishop accepted as part of the house of Bishop of the Church of Nigeria while he will continue to serve in North America. All the new bishops will remain members of the college of Bishops of ACNA. It is of importance to note that representatives or delegates of ACNA attended the 10th Session of the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (as observers) and also participated in the consecration and acceptance of new bishops. This is a clear sign of positive relationship between the two provinces. Church of Nigeria supported the creation of ACNA. Though CANA is a constituent member of ACNA (Mission outreach of the Church of Nigeria), and AMIA & ACIC are mission partners, each of these groups continued to maintain their affiliation to their respective home dioceses. The Church of England newspaper reported “Questions also remain unanswered as to why Nigeria continues to hold on to its American operations after Kenya, West Africa, Uganda and the Southern Cone turned their churches and clergy over to the ACNA.” This information is inaccurate and cannot be substantiated. All the bishops of the different groups remained bishops of the 2 houses of bishops. They continue to maintain their affiliations to the home dioceses that appointed and consecrated them as bishops. As indicated by the missionary Bishop of CANA in one of his communications; the church, the bishops and the clergy of CANA continue to maintain dual citizenship. They are members of ACNA through CANA and Church of Nigeria. All other mission partners did not give up their affiliations to the home dioceses. MDT will continue to work along same route.There is no iota of doubt that the Church of Nigeria supports ACNA and will continue to do so in the face of creation of MDT. Bishop Amos of MDT continues to maintain cordial relationship with ACNA and CANA. He is a member of the college of Bishops of ACNA and house of Bishop of the Church of Nigeria.Rather than been distracted by rumor and unfounded media report, Bishop Fagbamiye encourages churches and mission to remain focused on what God has called us to do in North America..
B)
Please read the following from CANA that sheds more light. Be sure to correct any misunderstanding you may come across in conversations with others. Reemeber the body of Christ is one and the Anglican communion is also one.
CANA's US Missionary Operations in accord with Nigerian Anglican Province
New Diocese of the Trinity Reflects CANA's growth in the US not intrusion by Nigerian Archbishop, says Minns
CANA/ACNA relationship is firm
A story in the Church of England newspaper suggesting a chill had descended over relations between the Church of Nigeria and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in the wake of the creation of a diocese for Nigerians in America by the Church of Nigeria is false, VOL has been told.
"I serve at Nigerian Archbishop Nicholas Okoh's request on the leadership team of a national Church conference called the Divine Commonwealth Conference. We are working very closely together. The new diocese in CANA - The Missionary Diocese of the Trinity - is something that has been discussed for a while as a way of giving more structure and visibility to our Nigerian clergy. It is an integral part of CANA and directly under my authority," CANA missionary Bishop Martyn Minns told VOL.
"George Conger, author of the article, has got it all wrong, CANA continues and is flourishing."
"I sit in the college of bishops of CANA and ACNA and there is no chill," said recently consecrated CANA bishop Julian Dobbs.
"There is no foundation to think that a 'culturally-based diocese' indicates anything but growth for CANA. We are planting new churches, ordaining new deacons and priests and fully engaged in Christian mission across the country. It is a fiction to say there is any friction or turmoil between CANA and ACNA. We're in full Gospel partnership with each other," noted Dobbs.
On 12 October 2011, Bishop Minns released a letter to CANA clergy announcing the formation of the Diocese of the Trinity. At the September meeting of the General Synod, the Nigerian Church "decided to permit the establishment of dioceses within CANA, under the leadership of the CANA Missionary Bishop, in order to strengthen our missionary focus and provide enhanced support for local clergy and congregations, especially for Nigerian Anglicans living in North America."
Bishop Amos Fagbamiye was named the missionary bishop of Trinity Diocese.
These actions were "subject to the enactment of necessary canonical provisions within the Church of Nigeria's constitution and canons and also the relevant by-laws and protocols of CANA," Minns added.
Bishop Fagbamiye will continue to be a CANA bishop and also a bishop in the ACNA. Minns stated, "He will bring considerable gifts of leadership to the new diocese and has a solid commitment to declare the life transforming message of Jesus Christ as the foundational platform of his ministry."
The CANA leader noted that while "church structures are important and can be useful ... what is most important is that we continue with the work of witness and discipleship and reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Mission must always drive and shape our structures, not the other way around."
On 15 April 2011, Bishop Fagbamiye met with 40 clergy and lay leaders to discuss the formation of a missionary diocese. The purpose of the diocese was to "build a Christ-centred, multicultural, multiracial, Bible-based church that believes in the apostolic teaching, and is sensitive to human needs."
At no time is the creation of the Trinity Diocese "an unwelcome surprise." It is not "a retrograde step" nor does it indicate a "lack of trust." The Church of Nigeria is doing nothing separate from CANA. Any new structure supports both CANA and the ministry of ACNA, Minns explained.
"This is all in complete accord with how CANA and ACNA work together. Every new ordained deacon, priest and formation of a diocese has to go through an existing Anglican jurisdiction, ACNA grows through its local diocese and jurisdictions. We are all working off the same page with the same script for the greater glory of Almighty God", Dobbs concluded.
END
As you can see, there is no daylight between CANA and MDT. Though MDT is a direct diocese of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. It was designed by and born out of CANA specifically for that purpose and is in full coorperation with CANA and ACNA (another body that also have direct relationship with the Nigerian mother church). All three have direct links with Nigeria and with each other and were set up to meet various goals of the Anglican church to ensure the Church in North America is healthy and strong and able to weather the various issues paguing other denominations in the USA.
Hymns/Chorus and Psalms
In accordance with Psalms 118: 23 This was the LORD's doing; It [is] marvelous in our eyes. 24 This [is] the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Chorus
Thank You Jesus Thank You Jesus
Thank You Jesus
Thank You Jesus
Hymn
Now thank we all our God
With Hands and hearts and voices
Who womdrous things has done
In whom His world rejoices
Who from our mother's arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And Still is ours today.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given
The Son and Him who reigns
with them in highest Heaven
The one eternal God
Whom Earth and Heaven adore
For thus it was is now
And shall be evermore.
Psalm
Meditate on this Psalm and praise the Lord for His goodness- (NKJV) Psalms 150:1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!