PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 2019
Presented to the
THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 5TH SYNOD OF
THE DIOCESE OF ABA NGWA NORTH
BY HIS LORDSHIP
RT. REV. NATHAN C.O. KANU PhD, JP. Bishop, Diocese of Aba Ngwa North
THEME:
BE OF THE CHURCH NOT IN THE
CHURCH
(John 17:14 & 16; Rom.12:2)
HOLDING AT
ALL SAINTS’ CATHEDRAL
ABAYI UMUOCHAM
FROM THURSDAY 10TH – SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER, 2019
SYNOD PRAYER
Oh God our Father, we heartily thank, and adore You for granting us another opportunity to gather as a Diocese to worship You, fellowship together and seek the good of your Church and our society.
We sincerely confess that we have not been the Church You called us to be. The Gospel of salvation in Christ, we have grossly adulterated; the way of righteousness and peace, we have abandoned. We have followed the ways and devices of our hearts. The worldly garments we are meant to cast off, we have preferred and adored; we have left your Church Spiritually impoverished but worldly enriched that it has become so difficult to differentiate between The Church and The World. Have mercy on us, for Christ's sake, we pray.
Visit us as we gather and use this synod to create in us the right Spirit in our heart, mind, and body. Cause every member of our Diocese in particular and the Church in general to seek a deeper and personal knowledge of Christ that conforming to His image, we may become the agents of positive and godly transformation of our world.
Bless the leadership of our Diocese and National Church. May all who put their trust in you be clothed with righteousness and empowered to your glory, honor and the redemption of the world. These we ask through Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Christ our Lord. Amen.
Beloved people of God,
It is with a heart of joy and sense of responsibility that we welcome you to this first session of the fifth synod of our dear Diocese. We sincerely ask that you join us to thank, adore, and worship our God and Father, the Desire of all ages and our Rock for the grace to gather once again in this holy convocation. To Him be all glory, honor and adoration now till the end of the age. Amen.
We welcome our Chancellor, Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Legal adviser, and other legal and diocesan officers here present, my noble nominees, members of the house of clergy and their wives, Council of Knights and the ladies, our distinguished guests, delegates and all other diocesan staff members and their families. We know that some of us are here for the first time as synod delegates, this being the first session of a new synod. We believe your presence and participation will honor God, strengthen your faith and bring Blessing to our Diocese.
On your behalf we humbly welcome the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Aba, and the Bishop of Umuahia, His Grace, The Most Rev'd Ikechi Nwachukwu Nwosu PhD. Your Grace, we are pleased to have you with us. We appreciate the presence of our grand mentor, the immediate retired Archbishop of Aba Province and bishop of Aba, His Grace, The Most Rev'd Dr. Ugochukwu Uwaoma Ezuoke, and Mama Hon. Mrs. Chinonyerem Ezuoke. Your Grace and Mama you are heartily welcome.
We welcome as well and officially introduce the Archbishop elect of our Province, His Grace, The Most Rev'd Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia, PhD, the Bishop of the Diocese of Isiala Ngwa South. My lord bishops here present, we are honored to have you. We extend our warm welcome to all our political and traditional leaders. To all security and uniformed organizations here present, our choirs, the press, and the rest of us, we say welcome and be blessed.
Beloved, please join me in welcoming the President of our women ministry, Mama Aba Ngwa North, my favor, Princess (Mrs.) Odionyenfe Nworoni Chinenye Kanu.
At this point, we wish to appreciate all who contributed in no small measures to the success of this year's synod. The synod secretariat, all the assistants and supporting staff. We continue to applaud the untiring efforts of the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Sir Okechukwu Nwachukwu (Ph.D) and the entire members of that committee. With a sincere heart, we do appreciate the efforts of the Diocesan Board and members of Cathedral Archdeaconry especially the Archdeacon and his wife, the Ven. Benneth Echezona & Evangelist Mrs. Chinenye Nwokedi, the Cathedral Parochial Committee, clergy and their wives, all workers, and members of the different groups that make up this Archdeaconry. Our special thanks go to the Local Organizing Committee also led by Sir Okechukwu Nwachukwu. We pray that our good Lord will remember your sincere services and reward you all abundantly. To my immediate staff - the Admin. Assistant to the Bishop, the Canon to the Ordinary, my Chaplain, Secretary and Clerk, Bobby, The Chap, Minda, Darling, and the rest of my family, I appreciate your prayers and support. May you all never lose your rewards. Click for more