Help Bishops Succeed, Adeleye Tells Laity, Priests At Consecration
THechurch of Nigeria ( Anglican Communion) has consecrated two new Bishops for Mbamili and Oke- Osun Dioceses. They are Ven. Obiora Uzochukwu for Mbamili Anglican Diocese and Ven. Oluwagbemiro Ayodele Fabuluje for Oke- Osun Anglican Diocese.
Speaking at the consecration service at the All Saints’ Cathedral Church, Onitsha, Anambra State, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Calabar, Most Rev. Tunde Adeleye, admonished the laity and priests to help their Bishops succeed. He said the Bishop is a human being and may depend on them for counsel. So, they should help by being available and offering wise counsel.
Speaking on the topic, “How to help the Bishop to succeed,” Adeleye enjoined the congregation, particularly the priests and laity, to pray for their Bishops.
In his view, if they were praying for their Bishop, they would never abuse him or speak ill of him. The preacher lamented that some priests are problematic in their dioceses and make things difficult for their Bishops, especially when they did not choose them to be the Bishop.
Adeleye noted that a Bishop might not always be right, but one should never abuse him because God has anointed him.
So, instead of castigating their Bishop, they should go to God in prayer. He urged them to be useful to their Bishop and allow him to use them for God’s work.
The Bishop of Calabar Diocese charged the laity and priests to be patient, obey the church and not argue to belittle their Bishop or speak to him carelessly. He warned the priests against allowing the laity to teach them to disobey their Bishop, as they would be digging a professional grave for themselves, if they did so. “Don’t follow people to disobey your Bishop because you are holding his licence,” he said.
The Rt. Rev Obiora
Uzochukwu takes over as the Bishop of Mbamili from the Rt. Rev Henry Okeke, who translated to the Diocese of Ideato, while the Rt. Rev Oluwagbemiro Ayodele Fabuluje succeeds the late Bishop Foluso Taiwo as Bishop of Oke- Osun Diocese.