General Synod voted by 344 to nil with one abstention on a proposal (see yesterday’s post on CNI)
“That this Synod, gravely concerned at the desparate plight of Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, as described in GS 1861, request the Briitsh Government to do all it can to support those in NIgeria seeking to protect religious minorities of all faiths and enable them to practice their religion without fear.”
The Archbishop of York said: “Anyone who touches you touches us. Our arm is long.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury noted that synod’s concern was not simply about the well being of Christian communities but the well being of the entire community.
The Archbishop of Jos in Northern Nigeria was also cited as noting that there is no city or town in the middle belt and southern Nigeria where Muslims are denied a place of worship with large mosques and the guarantee of security and freedom to worship. But there is no reciprocation of this gesture, especially in the North of Nigeria.
Attention was drawn to the current issue of Newsweek in which Ayaan Hirsi Ali notes that the violent oppression of Christian minorities has become the norm in Muslim-majority nations stretching from West Africa and the Middle East to South Asia and Oceania. She notes a regrettable media reticence and indeed a conspiracy of silence surrounding this violent expression of religious intolerance.
Keith Malcouronne urged that the Nigerian church was hurt that the English church was invaded by materialism, consumerism and sexual infidelity. The church was seen to have lost its first love. Solidarity should be shown by action and self-discipline for the sake of those who are witnessing to the gospel that we hold dear. The Church of England should not do anything to undermine their witness.