By Francesca Hangeior.

The leader of the global Anglican Communion, Justin Welby, faced mounting pressure on Monday to resign following a damning report which concluded that the Church of England had covered up a serial abuse case.

Three members of the General Synod, the Church’s national assembly, have initiated a petition demanding that Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, step down in light of the revelations.

The report found that the Church had repeatedly failed to act over the “abhorrent” abuse committed by John Smyth, a lawyer who organised evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s.

Smyth is believed to have assaulted as many as 130 boys and young men, beginning at his home in southern England after grooming them at the camps.

Dozens more are thought to have been abused in African countries, after Smyth relocated to Zimbabwe in 1984 and then to South Africa in 2001, according to the report.

The extent of the abuse makes him the most prolific known serial abuser associated with the Church.

The findings of the long-awaited independent review concluded that Welby “could and should” have formally reported the abuse to the authorities in 2013.

Smyth died in South Africa in 2018 at age 75, while under investigation by British police, and he never faced any criminal charges.

Welby, the Church of England’s highest-ranking cleric, said last week that he was “deeply sorry that this abuse happened” and that he “had no idea or suspicion of this abuse before 2013,” when he became archbishop.

He told Britain’s Channel 4 News that he had considered resigning but ultimately decided against it.

“If I’d known before 2013 or had grounds for suspicion, that would be a resigning matter then and now. But I didn’t,” he told the broadcaster.

However, the petition by three members of the General Synod — which comprises 483 lay members and clergy — urges Welby to step down.

The petition argues that Welby “held a personal and moral responsibility to pursue this further… which he failed to fulfil.”

Given his role in allowing abuse to continue, we believe that his remaining as the Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer tenable,” it adds.

By Monday morning, the petition had garnered nearly 2,000 signatures, while a growing number of priests were speaking out against him.

The vicar of St Anne’s Church in southwest London, Giles Fraser, told BBC Radio on Monday that it was “a terrible situation.”

“I’m afraid he’s lost the confidence of his clergy. He’s lost the confidence of many of his bishops, and his position is completely untenable,” he said.
In another BBC interview on Sunday, Bishop of Stepney Joanne Grenfell declined to support Welby’s continuation in his role.

“I really appreciate that the archbishop has wholeheartedly apologised for what he could have and should have done differently in 2013,” she said, adding, “I think there’s still an awful lot to do.”

Pastor I. O. Udofia of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, FCT field, has said no amount of dry fasting can give man money.

The pastor also revealed three things God gifts to man.

Pastor Udofia revealed these during his sermon at the 2nd Kado Area convention in Abuja on Friday.

He preached on the sub-topic “Prosperity for Divine Comfort” from Bible texts Zech. 1:17 and 1 Tim. 6:17-19, while the general theme was “Assured Comfort for the Righteous” (Psalm 84:11).

He emphasized that no amount of dry fasting can give a man money.

However, Pastor Udofia quoted Ecclesiastes 2:26, which says, “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.

“This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” He stated that wisdom, knowledge, and happiness are gifts that can bring a man money.

“When you use your wisdom and knowledge well, you will get anything you want in life,” he said.

Pastor Udofia cited the example of Solomon, who asked God for wisdom instead of money, knowing that with wisdom, he could acquire everything. “Stop going for dry fasting because of money; you won’t get it. Rather, use your wisdom to get what you want.”

According to Pastor Udofia, “Anything you know how to do, do it well with all your heart, mind, knowledge, and wisdom. That’s what God will use to bless you and give you money.” He added that the reason for God’s prosperity in one’s life is to bless God first, then oneself and others, as stated in 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Recall that Pastor Abel Damina of Power City International, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, advised people to stop praying for money and instead use their wisdom, emphasizing that God doesn’t gift money.

Pastor Udofia, the 7th Nyanya Area superintendent and first Kado Area superintendent, was transferred to Nyanya during the 2023 FCT field convention.

The 2024 Kado Area convention, which started on Friday, marks the 2nd convention since the creation of the Area and is expected to end on Sunday.

By Francesca Hangeior.

The Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria has asked its members to suspend preparatory activities for the 2025 Hajj exercise, over the failure of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to pay accumulated refunds.

National President of AHUON, Abdullateef Ekundayo, gave the directive in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Ekundayo urged members who had made payments for the 2025 Hajj not to submit until a counter directive was given, while also asking members who had submitted forms and made payments to send the names of their companies to the Zonal Vice President.

According to the statement, NAHCON did not respond to letters of request submitted by the Association until Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, with the excuse that Hajj processing should not be delayed in line with the Saudi Hajj calendar.

The statement described this as the commission’s usual tactic over the issue.

“Dear esteemed members of our great association, it is with a deep sense of responsibility that we write to issue this directive that all actions for the Hajj 2025 preparation be suspended until further notice. Members who have made payment for the Hajj 2025 form should not submit it until a counter directive is given. Members who have collected the form submitted it and made payments should send the name of their company to the zonal VP.

“The NEC has met with our BOT members, and we all agreed that this action is necessary to ensure that all our requests before NAHCON are duly met, especially our accumulated refunds over the years. It is worthy of note that NAHCON responded to our several letters of request only on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, giving an excuse that Hajj processing should not be delayed to align with the Saudi Hajj calendar. This, to us, is their usual tactics over the years with regards to the issues of accumulated refunds with them and can no longer be tolerated”, the statement read.

In a counter statement signed by the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, for the Acting Chairman, NAHCON urged the association not to derail plans for the 2025 Hajj exercise.

The commission noted that it remained committed to addressing all legitimate concerns while reassuring AHUON and the public that the Commission had no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has noted with concern the recent directive by the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria instructing their members to suspend participation in 2025 Hajj preparations. NAHCON wishes to reassure AHOUN and the general public that the commission has no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds. On 24th September 2024, NAHCON communicated with AHOUN regarding the urgency of aligning with the Saudi Hajj calendar to avoid disruptions in the 2025 Hajj preparations, a position we still maintain as critical.

“Recently, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah directed that only 20 lead companies would organize Hajj from Nigeria for ease of coordination and proper regulation. However, in good faith, NAHCON has agreed to mergers and consolidation to allow all interested parties to remain in business but with the interest of serving pilgrims satisfactorily in mind. Thus, as regulators, NAHCON strongly believes that open dialogue and continued collaboration are the best ways to resolve these matters without causing unnecessary disruptions that could affect the pilgrims and operators alike. NAHCON remains open to further discussions with AHOUN to iron out any lingering concerns and work towards a swift resolution,” the statement read.

NAHCON also said that its doors were open for discussions while advising the leadership of AHUON and its members to allow ongoing arrangements to yield results without impeding the timely plans and preparations for the 2025 Hajj operations.