September 30, 2005

NIGERIA – The Most Rev. Peter Peter Akinola, primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), delivered a statement to the press September 29 clarifying recent actions of the church's General Synod which amended its constitution, deleting any references to the "See of Canterbury."

"We treasure our place within the worldwide family of the Anglican Communion but we are distressed by the unilateral actions of those provinces that are clearly determined to redefine what our common faith was once," Akinola said. "We have chosen not to be yoked to them as we prefer to exercise our freedom to remain faithful. We continue to pray, however, that there will be a genuine demonstration of repentance."

The statement continued: "We are Anglicans and have done nothing or ever think of doing anything capable of breaking up the Communion. Some find the historic tenets of our common beliefs old fashioned and unacceptable to their modern culture. They are introducing new religious practices unknown to scripture and our history and are the ones tearing apart the very fabric of our Communion."

Full statement: http://www.anglican-nig.org/primate's_pressbrief.htm.

Episcopal News Service
Source: Church of Nigeria