Archbishop Peter Akinola rose to worldwide prominence in 2005, when he courageously spoke against the ordination of gay bishops in the american episcopal church. Peter Akinola, 63, head of the anglican church in Nigeria, also leads 37 million Anglicans as chair of the Anglican Church in Africa. Recently, two of the oldest and largest church congregations in the US (the Episcopalian parishes of Truro Church and The Falls Church in Falls Church, Virginia) voted to bring themselves under his authority. Why? Because they disagreed with the ordaining of Gay bishops by the Episcopal Church. At first, he proposed that Nigerians in America who oppose what they see as the Episcopal Church's liberal attitude could join a branch of his church in the US. But now it seems even US congregations are keen to join. On Saturday May 5th, Archbishop Akinola will ordain Truro Church Rector Martyn Minns the head of the Fairfax, Va.,-based Convocation of the Anglicans in North America. The Episcopalian parishes of Truro Church and The Falls Church in Falls Church, Va., plan to place themselves under the leadership of Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria.

However, opposition to this move is growing. The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has asked Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola not to install Minns to head a new denomination. She said such action would violate the ancient customs of the church and set back efforts of reconciliation that are taking place in the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion as a whole.

The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee is Bishop of Virginia said "The Church of Nigeria, like The Episcopal Church, is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion with clearly defined boundaries. Bonds of affection in the Anglican Communion hold that provincial boundaries are not crossed by bishops without expressed invitation. Bishop Akinola’s effort to establish the Church of Nigeria within the boundaries of The Episcopal Church through something called the Convocation of Anglicans of North America (CANA) has occurred without any invitation or authorization whatsoever and violates centuries of established Anglican heritage. As the Archbishop of Canterbury has made clear, CANA is not a branch of the Anglican Communion and does not have his encouragement. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori also has expressed her concerns over the visit by Bishop Akinola without invitation, a violation of a centuries old practice and decorum"

So what do you think? Is Archbishop Akinola leading a revival in the American Anglican/Episcopal Church or stiring up division in the church?

I think the division was already set in play by those who went contrary to the "ancient customs of the Church". Where in the annals of the Church were gay bishop appointed to head parishes?

Archbishop Peter Akinola is reacting to this new trend, albeit disfavoured by those who are not as bold to speak out against it. There are many Anglicans who feel bitterly betrayed by the gay-ordination impasse, and could have breathed a sigh of relief in finding a welcome among other Anglican churches of akin vote.

For any measure of honest appraisal on the situation, one has to experience some of the pains first-hand in the USA among Anglicans, in order to appreciate the efforts of Archbishop Akinola as more of a revival exercise, than a devil-gone-after-sausages exploit.

Am all for Gay rights but ordaining a gay man makes mockery of all Christian teachings. However I think this issue is better served with discussion not starting a new denomination. There's too much denomination already, with each prophesying to having a direct link to God.
Churches should be merging not breaking to form new denomination.

It doesn't appear that Archbishop Akinola is pushing for a new denomination.

Let us not forget the fact that those who preempted the ordination of gay bishops are at the center of the rift. Challenging that interjection cannot be interpreted as causing a division.

pilgrim.1:

It doesn't appear that Archbishop Akinola is pushing for a new denomination.

Let us not forget the fact that those who preempted the ordination of gay bishops are at the center of the rift. Challenging that interjection cannot be interpreted as causing a division.

I totally agree with you. Homosexuality is essentially anti God. For a body that proffeses to be a Church of God to not only condone homosexuality but to actively promote it, is in itself a divisive move. I believe Peter Akinola is only trying trying to unite the church by alienating the blasphemous bunch of episcopals.

SHALOM!

All Archbishops are FAKE CHRISTIANS, period.

Did Peter Akinola speak out against THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR by "Angleland?"

I do not think you get to make "Bishop" when you do that.