|PIC1|The Anglican Church of Nigeria’s 8th General Synod, to be led by one of Africa’s leading church figures, Archbishop Peter Akinola, starts Saturday in Onitsha under the motto of “The Body of Christ”.

Archbishop Akinola said in a statement Thursday that unity is the greatest paradigm for the Church. He also criticised disputes that have arisen in different dioceses within the Church based on ethnicity.

“The Holy Scriptures make it quite clear that in the Church of God, there is no East, West, North or South. We want to remind ourselves that we are the body of Christ,” he said.

The Rev Akinola invited delegates at the Synod to “rethink who we are as the body of Christ so that we can embrace one another as brothers and sisters rather than as Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or any other ethnic group or clan.”

The statement also confirmed expectations that the current controversy within the Anglican Communion regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage will also be discussed at the Synod which will run until 15 September.
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According to the statement, the Church of Nigeria will discuss its relationship with other national churches within the Anglican Communion in light of this issue.

“Before, it was America and Canada but now England is joining the bandwagon to say that homosexuality and same-sex unions are acceptable practices. The Nigerian Church will review what her level of relationship will be in the Communion,” said Akinola.

The Primate of South East Asia, Archbishop Yong Ping Chung of Malaysia, will also address delegates at the Synod on the current situation of the Communion worldwide.
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Laws governing the Church are also expected to be reviewed and amended during the Synod, to be attended by members of the House of Bishops, clergy and laity.

The Bishop of Asaba, the Rev Nicholas Okoh, will also be made the new Archbishop of the Bendel Ecclesiastical Province.

The Synod will also see the Venerable Solomon Kuponu, the Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Ijebu North, the Venerable Segun Adeyemi, Bishop of Kwara, and the Venerable John Akao, Bishop of Sabongida-Ora, newly consecrated.