The Book: The Resilient Church by John Uzoma, Ph.D

FOREWORD

This book reflects the erudition and passion of the author as a reputable Theologian, Evangelist, Church Historian and a Progressive Mind who wants the best for God, for the Church and the Society, especially in the Akwa-Cross area of Nigeria. Chronicling the struggles of Christianity and the people in the area from pre-colonial era till date, the pastorate conflicts, the civil war and aftermath as well as missionary endeavours and setbacks, Ven. Dr. Uzoma relives the people’s spiritual journey and challenges, leaving them with concrete recommendations on how Christianity can further penetrate, endure and grow among the indigenous population of the people. Indeed, the Akwa-Cross people are a major segment among the larger minority ethnic groups in Nigeria but blessed by God with immense human and natural resources, which if well managed can position or reposition the various sub-ethnic communities therein to achieve the peace, development and spiritual transformation they need through the gospel of our Lord Jesus’ Christ. That is what will indeed justify the huge sacrifices made by the early missionaries who struggled to bring the light of the Gospel and its appendages like schools, hospitals etc to the good people of Akwa-Cross.I strongly recommend this book as a thorough and beneficial study for Christians worldwide. Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo F. AsajuBishop Theologian of Anglican Church of Nigeria,Professor of Theology and former Vice-Chancellor ofAjayi Crowther University,Oyo.

INTRODUCTION

The Anglican Church in the South Eastern States of Nigeria herein referred to as ‘Akwa-Cross’ has had a chequered history. Five main Protestant denominations namely; Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Qua Iboe and Baptist brought Christianity to this region in various forms from 1846 A.D onwards. Rev. Hope Waddell of The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) Mission and his team were the first to set foot in the Niger Delta Region through the Calabar axis, followed ten years later by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) with Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and the Niger Mission. By 1889 Anglican Churches were established in the present Akwa-Cross area. Right from inception, many factors have conspired to make sure the Anglican Church does not take root and thrive in this area. These include; The Niger Delta Pastorate Conflict; The Missionaries’ Delimitation Agreement; The Nigerian Civil War and the resultant Abandoned Property Decree and many other socio-political factors. Calabar and Uyo Missionary Dioceses were created in 1990 to give the necessary push towards entrenching the Church in this sub region. Though they have not achieved the same kind of phenomenal growth that other denominations in this area or Anglican Churches in adjourning states are associated with, the Church continues to break new grounds. This Book therefore examines and analyzes the history and travails of the Anglican Church in this area from the days of no visible presence to the time of enormous increase in missionary activities, the relapse and recent push to grow the Church. The title of the Book reveals a Church that bounces back to relevance despite the challenges it has encountered and still encounter. The recognition of these factors that shaped the Anglican Church in this region and her continued existence, I believe, qualifies her as a Resilient Church. The reader is given a well-founded hope for the future: God remains faithful in every circumstance and fulfils his promise to remain with his Church always. No doubt more still need to be done and the prospects exploited for greater entrenchment of the Church in this region and the efforts of present Church Fathers in growing the Anglican Church in this region appreciated. The Anglican Church came to the Niger Delta area through the Niger Mission Expedition led by Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther in 1857 which had Onitsha as their first point of settlement. However, the first attempt at proselytizing the Niger Delta area of Nigeria is said to be the initiative of the King of Bonny, William Dappa Pepple . He had earlier applied directly to his personal friend while in London, Revd. George Henry McGill of Christ Church, Watney Street, Middlesex, for missionaries to evangelize his people. His application was however said to have been redirected to the CMS, leading to the planting of the Anglican Church in Bonny in 1864. It is equally on record that the mission established then did not make much impact until Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther was brought into the Niger Delta Mission in Bonny and gave it the needed impetus. Thus, Niger Delta Anglican Mission had its rooting in five principal Communities namely; Bonny (1864), Brass (1868), Opobo (1873), Kalabari (1874) and Okirika (1878). It was from these coastal regions that the Anglican Church expanded into the land of Ndoki, Ngwa, Ibibio, and Efik, Ikwerre, Etche, Ekpeye, Ogoni and Eleme, etc. The Niger Delta Diocese in the beginning covered part of the present Imo, Abia, entire Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa and Rivers States. It gradually reduced in size as dioceses were created out of it. Calabar and Uyo Dioceses eventually were created culminating efforts at entrenching the Anglican Church in this area. Revd. Hope Waddell of the Scottish Mission had earlier arrived in Calabar in 1846 and started a prosperous mission among the Efiks. Samuel Bill of the Qua Iboe Mission came to the region in 1888. The Primitive Methodist Church made their entrance 1870 with Revd. R.W Burneth and Henry Ross. Apart from these Protestant Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and Pentecostal Churches are all operating and thriving in this region. As time went on, many of the Missions prospered except the Anglican Church which suffered myriads of problems that threatened her existence right from inception. Obviously, a critical analysis of some of these factors will enable us appreciate the efforts of present Church Fathers in growing Anglican Churches in this region. No doubt more still need to be done and the prospects exploited for greater entrenchment of the Church in this region.The Anglican Church in Akwa-Cross has been a child of circumstances. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) made contact with the natives like missionaries of other denominations. Why did they give up the baby Churches they planted to rival groups? Was Bishop Crowther’s famed ecumenical large heart exploited to the detriment of the Anglican mission in this area? The Nigerian civil war of 1967 – 1970 and its hangover of abandoned property saga seem to have affected only the Anglican Church. Other Churches survived and even forcefully took over Anglican properties. Is anything being done or can anything be done to correct this anomaly and forestall a recurrence. What factors make it difficult for ‘indigenes’ to embrace and own Anglican Church in this area as have been the case of other missions? Can the Anglican Church be really said to be growing in this area? If so why are the Calabar and Uyo Dioceses not able to reproduce themselves in this zone since their inauguration in 1990 as dioceses? What are the challenges still hindering the realization of the purpose for which they were created – vibrant missions, Church planting and evangelism? These questions and issues call for scholarly attention.This Book aims at tracing the arrival of the Anglican Church to the Akwa-Cross area of Nigeria and outlining the challenges encountered in this endeavour that may account for her slow growth in the past one hundred years of existence. The following underpins the objectives;Outlining the extraneous and direct events that impinged or affected the present status of the Church in this area. Uncovering the foundational errors by the founding fathers and recommending ways of correcting same in order to position Anglican Church in the Akwa-Cross area on the path of indigenization and sustained growth. The ecumenical affiliations of the Anglican Church and the benefits of the same are analyzed with regards to the experiences of the Church in this area. This Book aims at providing information and records that could give the needed Psychological healing to the Anglican Church in this area as questions of why the Church is still seen as ‘new’ despite being in existence for over one hundred years are answered.Recommendations to guide future development of the Anglican Church in the Akwa-Cross area of Nigeria are also made. The “Akwa-Cross” is the region that was known and called South Eastern Nigeria from 1967. It was later in 1987 divided into Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State; hence the acronym “Akwa-Cross”. It hosts the Calabar Diocese and Uyo Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) which is the fulcrum and limit of the study. We examined the Anglican Church in Akwa-Cross over a hundred years’ period (1917 – 2017) using Historical and Sociological methods to bring out the travails of the Church. This Book provides the missing link between dreams and actualization of ministerial goals. Armed with this information, Church leaders can take more pragmatic step in Church growth and development while avoiding the mistakes of the past.Thought provoking recommendations that could guide Anglican Church leaders in their ecumenical relationship in view of the experience of this region are also made.The psychological hangover of the post civil war abandoned property saga as well as the “Delimitation Agreement” and its affect that still consign and tag the Anglican Church in this area as “Strangers’ Church” is properly highlighted and addressed. This shall entrench the Church better in the Akwa-Cross area. This Book aims at stimulating healthy debate on the relevance of ecumenism among Protestant denominations who reportedly took over Anglican Church buildings and Schools after the Nigerian Civil War without paying compensation.The mistakes of the founding fathers that pioneered the establishment of the Church using only foreign expatriates, colonial masters, traders and settlers and the lack of concerted effort to raise native converts may not be repeated after seeing the harm it did to the Anglican Church in this region.

John Uzoma, Ph.D