Christian Association of Nigeria
Encyclopedia
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is an umbrella organization
containing numerous Christian
denominations in Nigeria
.
, Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church,is the President and Archbishop Daniel Okoh
, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, is Vice President.
Former presidents include
Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Abuja
John Onaiyekan
, Akinola, Cardinal
Archbishop of Lagos Anthony Olubumni Okogie, and Sunday Mbang, Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria.
The CAN has Women and Youth Wings, a National Executive Council consisting of 105 members (which elects the President), and a General Assembly of 304 members (which ratifies the President's election).
groups. However, it later expanded to include Pentecostal
churches as well.
In 2000, the CAN protested the adoption of Sharia
law in northern states. In February 2006, while President of the organization, Akinola issued a statement in response to Muslim
violence against Christians, telling Muslims that they did not have a "monopoly on violence". The following day, Christians rioted in retaliation against Muslims, leading to more than 70 deaths. Akinola later claimed his statements had been misinterpreted in the western media. He even threatened to resign in case the riots should continue.
On May 2, 2004, more than 630 Muslims were killed in Yelwa
, Nigeria
. The dead were pinned white name tags identifying them as members of the CAN. The massacre is known as the Yelwa massacre
.
In September 2007, the organization endorsed a social security
plan put forth by Jigawa State
Governor Sule Lamido
.
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
containing numerous Christian
Christianity in Nigeria
Christianity is a major religion in Nigeria accounting for about 50% of the population. Based on a 2003Nigerian Religious and Demographic survey, Christians comprised 48.2% of the Nigerian population. Christians are dominant in the southern and central region in Nigeria...
denominations in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Leadership
Ayo OritsejaforAyo Oritsejafor
Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor is the founding and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, southern Nigeria, and is currently the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria . In July 2010, Oritsejafor was elected as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria,...
, Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church,is the President and Archbishop Daniel Okoh
Daniel Okoh
Most Rev. Daniel C. Okoh is General Overseer of the Christ Holy Church International, Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches.-References:...
, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, is Vice President.
Former presidents include
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Archbishop of Abuja
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Abuja in Nigeria.-History:* 6 November 1981: Established as Mission sui iuris of Abuja from the Diocese of Minna...
John Onaiyekan
John Onaiyekan
John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Abuja and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria. He was previously President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and Bishop of Ilorin....
, Akinola, Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Archbishop of Lagos Anthony Olubumni Okogie, and Sunday Mbang, Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria.
Organization
The organization is made up of five blocs; they are the Christian Council of Nigeria, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, the aforementioned Organisation of African Instituted Churches, and the Evangelical Fellowship of West Africa.The CAN has Women and Youth Wings, a National Executive Council consisting of 105 members (which elects the President), and a General Assembly of 304 members (which ratifies the President's election).
History
The Christian Association of Nigeria was founded in 1976, and originally only contained the Catholic Church and mainline ProtestantProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
groups. However, it later expanded to include Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
churches as well.
In 2000, the CAN protested the adoption of Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law in northern states. In February 2006, while President of the organization, Akinola issued a statement in response to Muslim
Islam in Nigeria
Fifty percent of the population of Nigeria adheres to Islam, compared to Christianity which represents 40% of the population. Islam came to Northern Nigeria as early as the 9th century CE, and was well established in the Kanem-Bornu Empire during the reign of Humme Jilmi...
violence against Christians, telling Muslims that they did not have a "monopoly on violence". The following day, Christians rioted in retaliation against Muslims, leading to more than 70 deaths. Akinola later claimed his statements had been misinterpreted in the western media. He even threatened to resign in case the riots should continue.
On May 2, 2004, more than 630 Muslims were killed in Yelwa
Yelwa
Yelwa is a town in Kebbi State, Nigeria on the Niger River and the A1 highway. It is the site of the Yelwa massacre.The Scottish explorer Mungo Park, the first westerner to see the Niger River, died here....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The dead were pinned white name tags identifying them as members of the CAN. The massacre is known as the Yelwa massacre
Yelwa massacre
The Yelwa massacre took place on May 2, 2004, in Yelwa, Nigeria. According to reports more than 630 Muslims were killed by Christians. Christian men and boys surrounded Yelwa and many were bare-chested; others wore shirts on which they had reportedly pinned white name tags identifying them as...
.
In September 2007, the organization endorsed a social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
plan put forth by Jigawa State
Jigawa State
-Location:Jigawa State is one of thirty-six states that constitute Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is situated in the north-western part of the country between latitudes 11.00oN to 13.00oN and longitudes 8.00oE to 10.15oE. Kano State and Katsina State border Jigawa to the west, Bauchi State to the...
Governor Sule Lamido
Sule Lamido
Sule Lamido served as Foreign minister of Nigeria from 1999 to 2003.He was elected governor of Jigawa State in April 2007.He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party .He ran successfully for reelection on 26 April 2011....
.