Nigerian church leaders call for rights in the context of HIV/AIDS

Leaders from six Reformed denominations in Nigeria called on their churches to affirm the rights of women and men to refuse sex with spouses whom they suspect of immoral sexual behaviour.

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	Women leaders played a key role at the Nigeria meeting.

The resolution came after delegates to the summer gathering at Makurdi, Nigeria, heard calls especially for women to be given this right. The right is considered necessary as the danger of HIV/AIDS infection from an unfaithful spouse rises.

In a social context where men are normally accorded rights to sex when they want it from their wives, this resolution called for churches to recognize that refusal was sometimes necessary to preserve life.

The recommendations also came in a context where some women are being disciplined in the church for refusing sex in cases where sexual activity might have led to their becoming infected.

The dozen leaders called on their churches to lift all such discipline until a thorough investigation of the sexual behaviour of both spouses had been done.

The consultation also asked the six churches to affirm the dignity of all human beings, to reject the sins of discrimination and stigmatization in the context of HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate clearly their love for those who suffer from HIV/AIDS.

Finally, they asked the synods or general assemblies to make these recommendations part of their church regulations.

The recommendations were accompanied by a lengthy report laying out strategies for churches and discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the churches in facing the HIV/AIDS crisis.

“We, as members of Reformed denominations in Nigeria, are very aware of the brokenness of life and particularly as it is manifested in the scourge of HIV/AIDS that is affecting our continent more than any other place in God’s world,” the church leaders said.

“We believe and confess that all our human wisdom and technology cannot deliver us from this problem. We believe and confess that we must turn to God and his holy word to give us guidance and direction in these dark days.”

The meeting was facilitated jointly by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC).

The participating churches included the United Church of Christ in Nigeria, the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ, the Church of Christ in the Sudan among the Tiv, the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria, the Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria and the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.

The consultation was called to discuss four topics: Mission in a Pluralistic Society, the Accra Confession and Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth, A Common Vision for Youth Ministry and Theology and Strategies around HIV/AIDS.

REC initiated the meeting following its General Assembly last year when many Nigerian delegates were refused visas by the government of the Netherlands. In response REC asked its Nigerian member churches to gather this year in Nigeria to review some of the issues dealt with by the assembly.

Following the recommendation from representatives of WARC and REC that a new global body named the World Reformed Communion be created to represent about 80 million Reformed Protestants, the two organizations began joint planning of the Nigerian event.

The consultation responded positively to the Accra Confession, a document adopted by WARC’s 24th General Council, which declared that working to create a more just economy is essential to the integrity of Christian faith.

“We see the Accra Confession as a step towards the right direction and indeed a true reflection of the essence of the atoning work of Christ and the mandate of the church, being also clearly consistent with the Reformed fundamental doctrinal position of the rule of God over all of creation,” the consultation stated.

The leaders recommended more income generating projects for their churches and called on their churches to take an active role in public affairs.

They also pressed for greater unity among the Nigerian churches, all members of the Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria. After a brief but intense discussion on the possibility of uniting into one church, delegates agreed to meet again under the auspices of the council in January 2007 to explore the issue further.

The consultation also affirmed the helpfulness of distinguishing different contexts for working with people of other faiths, a topic raised in a document adopted at the REC assembly in 2005. The Nigerian church leaders also stated that the starting point for witnessing to or having dialogue with other faiths would be faith in the triune God and faith in Jesus as the one and only saviour of the world.

With this commitment, the church leaders said that they could respect and tolerate people of other faiths but they affirmed that God has placed witnesses in those faith communities.

The consultation rejected the so-called gospel of prosperity that has become common among Nigerian Christians while at the same time rejecting proselytism and illicit attempts to gain converts.

In addressing the problem of the gap between church elders and the youth, the consultation urged youth leaders to work on deepening relationships with their pastors in order to build trust and urged churches to improve communication.

WARC was represented at the gathering by general secretary Setri Nyomi and Executive Committee member Musa Manasseh. REC was represented by general secretary Richard van Houten and Executive Committee member Victor Pillay.

REC News Exchange/Staff