After 12 Years Of Separation: Bishop Solomon Leads Reconciliation Workshops For UMC Nigeria Episcopal Area
By Echo Express
The Director General of the Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management (TSBPCM) and Bishop of The Crown of Life Bible Church, House of David Rt Rev (Dr) Innocent Rubiruka Solomon has led Forgiveness and Reconciliation workshops for the UMC NIGERIA EPISCOPAL AREA towards mending broken relationship after 12 years of Separation.
The Centre for Peace and Good Leadership Awareness (CEPGLA) in collaboration with the office of the Bishop of UMCN Nigeria Episcopal Area is coordinating several workshops in a Project aimed at mending broken relationships through the promotion of peace and reconciliation in the UMCN after 12 years of separation.
The Consultant of the Project and leading peace Broker, Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon identified several factors that are responsible for conflicts in any society or organization.
Rt Rev (Dr) Innocent Solomon
These include amongst others, leadership tussles, poor communication between leaders and the led, tribalism, personal interests rather than collective interest, lack of the fear of God and poor resources management (both human and material), saying they are the roots of the most avoidable crisis.
He was addressing participants comprising District Superintendents, Pastors, Men, women and Youth at the South West Conference of the UMCN in Mutum Biyu, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.
He stressed the need for genuine Forgiveness and reconciliation in line with Biblical principles.
“For Christians, forgiveness is a MUST and reconciliation is at the centre of the Gospel Message (Matthew 6:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)”.
He recommended that participants should tell their painful stories and forgive offenders and ventilate anger.
“Participants move to embrace each other and work and worship freely with others, envisioning the future of the Church together and recognize that leadership comes from God therefore the need to embrace and support their Church leadership, praying for them and working together to fulfill God’s mission and mandate”.
The Project Manager and Director of the Centre For Peace and Good Leadership Awareness, Rev Dr Abel Nemuel Lamido gave the key objectives of the Project.
These include reducing grievances, build trust and confidence and strengthen unity within the UMCN towards fulfilling the Church’s mission and mandate as an episcopal area in Nigeria especially in view of the 12 years of separation due to conflict with the Church.
The Bishop of the UMCN, His Lordship, Bishop Ande Emmanuel, represented by Rev Liatu Kane encouraged members to move forward and not to dwell in the past, promising to provide a leadership that is inclusive, humane and development focused.
Prayers of repentance, forgiveness and Reconciliation with symbolic acts of open confessions, renunciation and embracing of one another were led by Bishop Innocent Solomon during the Workshop sessions.
