It’s foolish to leave a church that fed and nurtured you – Okoh

As the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) begins its yearly programme, Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON) from November 11 to November 14 at the National Christian Centre, CBD, Abuja, the Primate of the Church, Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh has described as irresponsible for people to leave the church that fed and nurtured them because of a problem they could fix.

He said many are fed, clothed and educated by a church, and after growing strong enough to give back, they decide that the church is no longer good enough for them.

At a press conference to herald the forthcoming Conference, Okoh said: “This is foolishness, and it doesn’t show responsible thinking. It is called disinheriting your inheritance.”

He drew a comparison between the family and the church, noting that one cannot denounce one’s family because one notices a problem. Rather, one should try to fix it through discussions and other methods. He, therefore, urged anyone with a grievance against the church to seek solutions within and try to find a remedy, rather than abandoning the church.

The cleric explained that DIVCCON was born out of the need to provide an avenue for all and sundry in the church, to gather together to pray, study the word, learn from and interact with one another, as opposed to the regular administrative church gatherings.

Speaking on the theme of the Conference: “O God Our Help In Ages Past,” Okoh said after the outcome of the elections, there was need to reassure Christians who felt left out of the governance of the country, and who were discouraged because of the happenings in the nation, that the God of the past is still the God of today and will remain God forever.

The four-day event is expected to attract delegates from all over the world.