In the first week of February about 25 Anglicans will be gathering in Nigeria to explore issues of faith and citizenship in a context where Christians and Muslims are living closely together. NIFCON – the Anglican Communion Network for Interfaith Concerns – responded to the invitation of NIFCON President Archbishop Josiah Idowu Fearon who was keen to address the issue of how Christians can be fully involved in their communities when there are significant tensions between their faith and Islam.
Nigeria has the largest number of Anglicans anywhere in the world but as a church it needs to live and witness alongside an Islam which in some areas, especially the North has become more fundamentalist. Religiously motivated violence is common in a country with over 250 tribes, and military dictators, rampant corruption and widespread poverty have added to their problems. So, despite huge oil reserves, Nigeria remains an unstable and underdeveloped country.
It is in the challenging context that the NIFCON consultation will take place. Archbishop Josiah presides over the Archdiocese of KADUNA where tensions have been particularly great. But the situation has begun to improve and some reconciliation is happening. This explains why Kaduna was chosen for only the second international consultation NIFCON has organised. The Anglican Bishop of Clogher in Ireland, Rt Revd Michael Jackson, has these hopes for the week long gathering
"I hope that we that we might cross the boundaries of culture and understand one another better as we share a responsibility for life as it is lived today in a world created by God. I have confidence that we will learn of the good things which Christian and Muslim people are doing together in the quest for mutual respect."
Since its inception in 1994, NIFCON has had a special mandate to monitor Christian-Muslim relations as well as to speak out sensitively on behalf of those Christians who suffer hardship and persecution for their faith. Representatives from Sudan and Pakistan will also input into the consultation – both places which also experience religious extremism and conflict.
The majority of participants in the consultation are NIFCON representatives from a variety of African countries. Several members of NIFCON's Management Group are also involved, and the meeting will be chaired by Bishop Jackson.
For further information before, during and following the consultation contact Sandra Herbert +44 7971 403 823