Christian Association of Nigeria

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN, German  Christian Association of Nigeria ) is an umbrella organization of various Christian churches and Christian organizations in Nigeria. It was founded in 1976. Its president has been Ayo Oritsejafor since 2010 , who is also president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). General Secretary is Samuel Salifu . The CAN is a member of the World Council of Churches .

aims

  • The CAN is intended to serve as a basis for discussion for the unity of the church.
  • Through the preaching of the gospel, it should bring about peace, unity and understanding between the different peoples and social classes of Nigeria.
  • It is intended to serve as a liaison point with whose help its member churches can coordinate and take joint statements and initiatives.
  • As a supervisory authority, it should serve the spiritual and moral common good.

organization

The organization consists of five departments: the Christian Council of Nigeria , the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria , the Organization of African Institute Churches, and the Evangelical Fellowship of West Africa . Originally it consisted only of the Catholic Secretariat and liberal Protestant churches ( mainline churches ). Later Pentecostal churches such as the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria were also accepted.

The CAN has a youth and women's wing and a national executive council of 105 members. This elects the president. The general assembly, which consists of 304 members, has to ratify the presidential election.

Events and activities

In 2000 the CAN protested against the introduction of Sharia legislation in the northern provinces of Nigeria. In February 2006, after violent protests by Muslims over the cartoons controversy in Denmark spilled over to Christian people and their property in Nigeria, killing around 43 people, burning 30 churches and destroying 250 businesses and homes, the then president announced the CAN, Peter Akinola issued a statement in his capacity as chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria: "We may at this point remind our Muslim brothers that they do not have a monopoly of violence in this nation." The Western press interpreted this statement as a disguised threat of violence against Muslims and said that following this statement, Christian youths in Onitsha fought back against the Muslims. In an interview with Christianity Today Akinola explains that the Western press, which is ignorant of the situation in Nigeria, misunderstood him. He is in contact with the Sultan of Sokoto, the head of the Nigerian Muslims, and a meeting of the Muslim and Christian leaders is planned. He himself threatened to resign at a recent meeting of the Christian Association of Nigeria because the youth said they would fight and fight back. The Christian attacks were not a result of his testimony, but took place when the trucks with the Christian victims of the Muslim attacks arrived in Onitsha.

Individual evidence

  1. Reactions to violence in Nigeria: Archbishop Peter Akinola explains. In: Christianity Today