Diocese on the lake crisis: Board passes vote of confidence on Bishop

An emergency Diocesan Board meeting of the Anglican Diocese on The Lake has ended at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kalabari Beach, Oguta L.G.A with a mandate on the Bishop. The RT. Rev. Chijioke BN Oti (Phd) to immediately set up a board of enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of a protest by the Oguta parishioners at the Cathedral Church of St Mary Magdalene, Oguta, on the 14th of July, 2018.
The special Diocesan Board meeting which was attended by over fifty delegates who equally endorsed the mandate also condemned in its entirely that protest whereby the protesters locked the Cathedral gate for hours which prevented the Bishop from carrying out his statutory functions of the day part of which was an ordination service in St. Marks Anglican Church, Ejemekwuru.
On the security of the Bishop, his family and that of the secretariat staff, the Board approved and authorized the Bishop, his family and staff to operate from elsewhere within the Diocese until their security are guaranteed and also expressed disappointment over some media publications on face-book, newspapers and whatsapps about the protest.
While affirming that ordinations are the sole prerogative of the Bishop and should not be forced on him, the Board insisted that the Cathedral Church of St Mary Magdalene belongs to all faithful of the Diocese and not Oguta people alone.
The Board condemned the false allegations the Oguta parishioners levied on the Bishop and restated its vote of confidence on him reaffirming that the Bishop has good listening ears and is very prudent in financial management.
On the issue of indefinite suspension slammed on one Rev. Jasper Chikwendu (Deacon) for gross misconduct which were unbecoming of a Priest, the Board commended the Bishop for the prompt disciplinary action and face saving measure to protect the image of the Diocese. The delegates also described as untrue the claim that the Bishop is hard-hearted, high-handed and autocratic whatmore using persons against persons.
The Board also resolved and mandated the Cathedral Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Oguta to write a letter of apology to the Bishop as well as a letter of undertaking assuring the security of the Bishop, his family and that of members of his staff.
Meanwhile, the Clergy in the Diocese under the auspices of Anglican Diocese On The Lake clergy Association (ADOLACA) and the Diocesan Anglican Youth
Fellowship (AYF) have in their different fora condemned the said protest by the Oguta parishioners.
In a motion, at a Clergy Forum, moved be the Venerable Keleehi Okpalaeke and supported by Rev. Benjamine Ijeoma. The Priests while eondemning the said demonstration also disassociated themselves from the action which they described as unchristian.
The AYF through the President Mr. ThankGod Nwaele, enjoined the Youths to stay clear of the crisis and remain prayerful that God’s intervention may come soon