Nigeria is one of the key strategic countries for the growth of the Baptist movement, Baptist World Alliance Secretary-General Dr. Elijah Brown announced at the recently concluded BWA Annual Gathering in Lagos. Speaking during the 8-day conference that ended on July 12, Dr. Brown also underscored the significance of Nigeria's largest city in the Baptist church.
“Lagos, with more than 13 million people, is one of the world’s 20 largest cities and is a strategic center of the Baptist movement,” said Dr. Brown.
The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) is the largest member of BWA bringing together over 14,500 churches in Nigeria with a combined membership of 9 million. While emphasizing the significance of Nigeria’s 220 million population, the president of the NBC Rev. Israel Akanji, said: “1 in every 7 Black people in the world is a Nigerian, and 1 in every 4 people in Africa is a Nigerian.”
At the Lagos convention, BWA added 13 new member bodies, ten of which are African associations. Conventions from Cape Verde, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Congo, Rwanda and DRC joined the Baptist World Alliance.
Three associations from the Central Africa Republic - Baptist Fellowship Church, Communion of Evangelist Baptist Churches and the National Association Baptist Churches - were also added to the BWA. President Faustin-Archange Touadera of Central Africa Republic, who serves as a deacon in his local Baptist church, was recognized during the opening ceremony and prayed over by the participants at the Lagos gathering.
African Baptists emphasize Biblical view on marriage
At a press briefing during the convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, who also doubles as the president of the All Africa Baptist Fellowship, made it clear where the Baptist Church in Africa stands on the issue of same-sex unions.
Akanji said that although the Church loves everyone as a child of God, it would not accept same-sex marriage in Nigeria. “We are against it as the Nigerian Baptist Convention because you will be doing something that is against the law of the nation,” he said. Nigerians can face up to 16 years in prison if found guilty of homosexual behavior in court.
Dr. Brown, who was re-elected for a second 5-year term as the Secretary-General, said the Alliance's beliefs are anchored on the principle that every human is made in the image of God. But he also said, “I may not always agree with the choices that other individuals may make, including in their choices related to marriage.”
The LGBTQ in global Church associations has become a divisive subject especially in Africa where millions of Christians identify as conservative evangelicals.
In June, the Methodist Church in Ivory Coast renounced its membership from the United Methodist Church (UMC) after the global association of methodists voted to allow ordination of LGBTQ clergy and gave the go-ahead for its clergy to officiate same-sex weddings. 91 congregations in Kenya and Ethiopia also voted to distance themselves from UMC and joined the Global Methodist Church, a conservative association of ex-UMC pastors and leaders.
How the Church in Africa responds to contemporary issues has a bearing on the global church due to the rapid growth of the Church in the continent, said Lausanne Africa Regional Directors, Stephen Mbogo and Esther Chengo, in a commentary on Church Leaders.
“The Church in Africa has significantly offered authentic expressions of itself that have impacted the global church. The rise of African congregations globally is a key contribution to the global church. By 2025, there will be 55,000 denominations globally, signifying an 11,000 growth within a decade, coming out of Africa and the rest of the majority world,” noted Mbogo and Chengo.
Persecution, peace-making and serving the communities
Akanji also highlighted Christian persecution and the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria as a pressing concern. He acknowledged that the government needs to do more to combat insecurity.
“It is time for Nigeria to consider a state police which would help the federal police in responding to insecurity issues. Why can’t we have state police where Governors can instruct state police to quickly act on threats?” pondered Akanji.
Akanji’s plea to fasten the establishment of State police has been a subject of discussion in Nigeria where kidnapping for ransom, militants and herder-farmer conflicts have caused deaths and displacements in various States in Nigeria. In February 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formed a committee to look into the possibilities of creating a subnational police force to effectively address security challenges.
BWA President Rev. Thomas Mackey challenged delegates to focus on making a difference for a better world. Drawing from the theme of the conference - Blessed are the peacemakers - Mackey encouraged Christians to live out their faith in their families, community and country by being peacemakers.
Similarly, Brown reminded participants that “God has called us to live as people of humility and grace, and when we are given the opportunity to serve in significant roles, let us do so with grace and not by prioritizing our political rhetoric or parties.”
BWA General Council adopted three resolutions at the Lagos gathering tackling religious nationalism, peace in the Middle East and world hunger.
