Date:
August 24, 2025
Author:
✍️ Ven. David Chimezie Nwanekpe
Rector, Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit, Bronx
Chaplain, Council of Knights (CONNAM)
Thanksgiving and Celebration
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, a remarkable chapter was inscribed in the ongoing story of Anglican witness in North America. At the Rededication of Christ Anglican Church of New Jersey (Igbo Anglican Church of New Jersey Inc.), the gathered faithful bore witness not only to the renewal of a parish but also to the strengthening of global Anglican mission partnership.
Presiding at this solemn and joyous service were two distinguished shepherds of the Church: The Most Rev. Stephen Wood, Primate of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), and The Rt. Rev. Kenneth Ross, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Rocky Mountains. Their gracious presence and leadership demonstrated a shared commitment to nurture, empower, and extend the Gospel mission in this land.
The Mission Partnership of ACNA and the Church of Nigeria
The Anglican Church in North America and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) are united by a covenantal bond of mission partnership. This partnership is rooted not in mere ecclesiastical diplomacy but in the great command of Christ to make disciples of all nations.
Under the visionary leadership of His Grace, The Most Rev. Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church of Nigeria has faithfully supported the planting, nurturing, and shepherding of congregations across the United States, particularly among immigrant communities. ACNA, with its vision to restore Anglican orthodoxy and vitality in North America, has welcomed this bond with open arms.
Together, these two provinces represent one mission, one faith, and one purpose: to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations. The event in New Jersey underscored this partnership in visible form — priests and laity of Nigerian origin standing side by side with their North American brethren, rededicating a house of worship as a base for mission and discipleship.
Gratitude to the Primate and Bishop
We extend our deepest appreciation to His Grace, The Most Rev. Stephen Wood, for his apostolic oversight and paternal presence at this celebration. His leadership of ACNA has been marked by courage, humility, and a missional spirit that resonates with the ethos of the global Anglican realignment.
Our gratitude also flows to The Rt. Rev. Kenneth Ross, whose pastoral care and commitment to the Diocese of the Rocky Mountains extend far beyond geographic boundaries, touching the lives of diaspora Anglicans and strengthening bonds across cultures.
Their coming together in New Jersey is not an isolated event but a sign of the ongoing journey of Anglican unity for mission.
Thanksgiving to the Primate of the Church of Nigeria
It is by his blessing and the Church of Nigeria’s commitment that many of us labor in North America with confidence, bearing witness to Christ in challenging and diverse contexts.
Our Shared Focus: The Mission
Today’s celebration is not about personalities or structures but about mission. The rededication of Christ Anglican Church of New Jersey serves as a reminder that the Church exists to glorify God, to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, and to disciple men and women for the Kingdom.
As partners in the Gospel, ACNA and the Church of Nigeria reaffirm that their unity is not political convenience but spiritual necessity — an obedience to the Lord of the Harvest.
Together we echo the words of St. Paul:
“We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
May this rededicated sanctuary serve as a beacon of light, a house of prayer for all nations, and a launching ground for mission.
