Concerned Member of Anglican Communion Open Letter to Archbishop Ibezim
AN OPEN LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP ALEXANDER C. IBEZIM: LET WISDOM PREVAIL AND THE CHURCH MOVE FORWARD
Your Grace,
I write with profound respect for your years of service in God’s vineyard and your distinguished position as a senior clergyman in the Anglican Communion.
In moments of institutional disagreement, the true measure of leadership is not merely the ability to assert one’s rights but also the wisdom to make sacrifices for the greater good.
Your Grace, the recent communiqué issued by the Diocesan Board of Awka has brought the tensions within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) into the public domain.
This is deeply concerning to many who believe that the Church should remain a beacon of peace, humility, discipline, and reconciliation.
At this critical juncture, I respectfully urge you to allow the sleeping dog to lie.
As a father in the faith and a senior priest in God’s vineyard, you have a responsibility not only to defend your position but also to preserve the unity, dignity, and progress of the Church.
No personal disagreement, however serious, should be permitted to overshadow the spiritual mission of the institution we all cherish.
Your Grace, leadership also entails teaching younger clergy how to respect constituted authority, obey lawful directives, and pursue disagreements through established ecclesiastical channels.
The Church cannot effectively preach obedience, humility, and submission if its leaders appear unwilling to model these virtues when tested by difficult circumstances.
Equally important, an investigation is not a declaration of guilt. It is a process for establishing facts, examining allegations, and arriving at an informed conclusion.
The presumption of innocence must be respected, but so must legitimate investigative processes.
Allowing an impartial investigation to proceed should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing; rather, it can demonstrate confidence in the truth and commitment to institutional accountability.
Where legal questions arise, let the courts determine them. Where ecclesiastical procedures apply, let the appropriate church authorities discharge their responsibilities fairly and transparently.
Neither public confrontations nor threats of institutional separation will serve the long-term interests of the faithful.
Your Grace, history remembers leaders who rose above provocation and placed enduring institutions above personal considerations.
You have an opportunity to demonstrate such statesmanship by stepping back from confrontation, allowing due process to prevail, and creating room for genuine reconciliation.
The Church is bigger than any individual, and its unity is more valuable than any temporary victory.
Let wisdom prevail, let justice take its course, and let the work of God’s vineyard continue unhindered.
May God grant you the grace to choose peace, humility, and the greater good.
Yours faithfully,
TONY OKAFOR
A Concerned Member of the Anglican Communion
