The Nigeria Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission (NARCC) held its 2022 Conference recently at the Pope Francis Pastoral Centre in the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Nassarawa State.

The Catholic Co-chair and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Apochi while speaking on the theme: “Anglican-Roman Catholic Relations — The Journey so far,”  stressed the benefits of synergy.

The Anglican Co-chair and Bishop of Remo Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Fape in his opening address, admonished the two denominations to spread the message of oneness to the grassroots, adding that the denominations should unify for effective evangelism.

Rev.  Fape recalled that in 1967, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI collaborated to form the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), noting that the meeting was not to identify which denomination is better or more authentic but to see how the two denominations can foster evangelism and also sustain the commission.

The Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission is an organization created in 1969 which seeks to make ecumenical progress between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

NARCC started in 2002 in Nigeria and was put in place to discuss at a local level the conversation between Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church at the universal level by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).

The Director of Missions and Dialogue Department, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and Co-secretary of the Commission, Rev Fr. Joseph Tile Nomhwange, noted that this year’s meeting is the 27th meeting in the series.

The Conference featured paper presentations from both churches, as well as interactive sessions and open forum sessions.

It was graced by dignitaries from both denominations, including the Anglican Bishop, Diocese of Kubwa, and the Anglican Co-secretary, Rt. Rev. Duke Akamisoko; Anglican Bishop, Diocese of Lafia, Rt. Rev. Godwin Robinson; Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Most Rev. David Ajang and Anglican Bishop, Diocese of Owo, Rt. Rev. Steven Fagbemi.

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