Episcopal Press and News
Province V, Nigeria Launch P.I.M. Link
Episcopal News Service. January 22, 1981 [81021]
NEW YORK -- On January 11, the Partners-in-Mission link between Province V of the Episcopal Church and the new Anglican Province of Nigeria, Africa, was officially announced at services in both countries, marking the start of a new model in inter-Anglican relations.
The Province of Nigeria was formally inaugurated in February 1979 in Lagos Cathedral by the Most Rev. T. O. Olufosoye, Archbishop. There are now 19 dioceses in the Province of Nigeria and 14 dioceses in Province V.
The Rt. Rev. I. B.O. Akintemi, coordinator for the Nigerian side of the relationship, stated in an official message to Province V: "I consider it a landmark in modern church history that at this time our independent and autonomous churches should see fit and accept the need for an interdependent relationship under the Partners-in-Mission program of our worldwide Anglican Communion. This means that Province V, representing the older partner on the one hand and Nigeria, representing the younger partner on the other, recognize that we still need the prayerful and practical support of each other and even have something to learn from each other as we continue to grow in the Body of Christ."
While in the United States last November, Bishop Akintemi met in Chicago with the Rt. Rev. Albert W. Hillestad, president of Province V, and members of a provincial committee to discuss ways in which the partners could be mutually supportive. Also present was the Rt. Rev. T. E. Ogbonyomi, Bishop of the Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria and his archdeacon, the Ven. Nathaniel Dangana Kolo, who was visiting the Diocese of Missouri.
There were many suggestions for enhancing the relationship during several days of discussion, prayer and fellowship. There is a keen interest in seminary faculty exchanges, leadership training of the clergy, a proposed revision of the Nigerian Prayer Book, ministry to the many Nigerian students in the United States, hospitality for visitors, exchange of evangelism techniques, work projects for youth, prayer support and widening the vision of the world missionary enterprise.
At the time of Bishop Akintemi's visit to the United States, two teams of four persons each from the Dioceses of Lagos and Ijebu visited the Diocese of Southern Ohio. All the dioceses of Province V are now officially linked with the dioceses of Nigeria. Visits and correspondence have already begun in the provinces on both sides of the Atlantic.
A spokesman for the American committee summed up the steps: "A great deal of the Partners-in-Mission concept is built upon the person-to-person contacts incarnating the spirit of this new mission strategy within the lives of people. Problems of distance, communication, culture differences and finances make this large P.I.M. project a real challenge. Still it has a serious and deliberate beginning believed to be the movement of the Holy Spirit in winning the whole world for Christ."