Ties that Bind Americans and Nigerians Are Stretched; Companion Relationship Is at Stake
Episcopal News Service. February 7, 1992 [92035]
Michael Barwell, Director of Communication for the Diocese of Southern Ohio
An explosive growth rate in the Church of the Province of Nigeria -- the fastest growing province of the Anglican Communion -- has made it difficult for Episcopalians in the midwestern United States to maintain a 12-year companion relationship. Those American Episcopalians will soon decide whether the relationship will get a new lease on life.
The companion relationship originated when the Province of Nigeria -- formerly a part of the Province of West Africa -- became an autonomous national church in 1978. At that time, the Episcopal Church's Province 5, which includes 14 dioceses in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri, agreed to an experimental link with the then 17 dioceses of Nigeria.
Since the link was established, many strong friendships were formed as bishops, priests, and laity of both countries visited each other and shared ideas and programs.
However, the expenses of traveling to and from Nigeria, difficulties in communications, and frustration with long-distance relationships prompted several American dioceses to bow out of the province link in the mid-1980s. At the same time, as the Nigerian church grew, it divided and subdivided its original dioceses -- with the expectation that American dioceses would "pick up" the new dioceses and expand companion obligations.
Because of the imbalance between the two churches, Province 5 was unable to extend the relationship beyond the original partnership, leaving significant portions of Nigeria without a link. By the end of 1992, the Anglican Church in Nigeria may have as many as 50 dioceses -- vastly outnumbering the stable or shrinking 14 dioceses of Province 5.
During a recent visit to Nigeria, 31 American Episcopalians were confronted with an urgent question: Should we continue the partnership? After nearly five intense days of reflection, the joint consultation issued a "Declaration of Intent" acknowledging that "we have not fully achieved the intent of the province-to-province relationship...." At the same time, however, the declaration affirmed "the importance of partnership in the life of the church" and that the two provinces "want to continue partnership."
The participants pledged to "work to broaden partnership relationships so that other dioceses can be included." They decided that Nigeria should reorganize its internal dioceses into multidiocesan regions that could be linked with American dioceses and agreed to encourage and recruit other Episcopal dioceses to join the partnership.
After returning to the United States, a number of U.S. delegates expressed support for continued relationship, but suggested that it should conclude at the end of three years. The consultation's recommendation will be presented to the meeting of Province 5 on April 28.