The Anglican Church of Nigeria will not change its current policy on an all-male priesthood, but may revisit the issue again in the near future. Discussion on this issue as well as new sources of financing to support its vision for growth was part of a March 9-12 meeting of its standing committee held at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael in Kaduna.

“On our main task of evangelism, the time has come when each diocese requires to rise up, mobilize and empower the laity for large-scale mission,” wrote the Most Rev. Peter Akinola in a pastoral letter published by the Anglican Communion News Service. “This in the spirit of obedience will call for substantial and adequate provision for funding in Diocesan Budget.”

Archbishop Akinola has set a goal to double the size of the 17-million member province within the next 20 years. In order to accomplish this task, he established an endowment in the year 2000 with a goal of raising 1 billion Nigerian Naira (about $7.6 million U.S.). Despite a 15 percent reduction in diocesan assessments, the fund is not growing as quickly as its leaders had hoped. Although money is not growing as quickly as hoped, the number of dioceses and baptized members are. Since it became an independent province in 1989, the church has grown from 29 dioceses to 91.

In other news, the Anglican Church of Nigeria responded to erroneous reports that Archbishop Akinola would retire at the end of the year. The 61 year old Metropolitan is required by the constitution of the Church to retire at the age of 70, which will be year 2014. However, Archbishop Akinola said recently he hopes to set a new trend in the African Church by voluntarily retiring when he turns 65.