Secondly, there is a question for the Anglican Church of Nigeria raised by the conduct of the former Bishop of Kaduna in northern Nigeria, the current secretary-general of the Anglican Communion, Josiah Idowu-Fearon.

Not being in pastoral office in the Church of Nigeria, Dr Idowu-Fearon is of course no longer directly accountable to the Primate of that Anglican Jurisdiction. But in the light of his address to the ACC meeting in Holy Cross Cathedral yesterday as reported by the Anglican Communion News Service, what will the Church of Nigeria do to ensure that he is never allowed amongst Christ's flock as a minister of Word and Sacrament in any of its churches?

In his report on his recent meeting with leaders of The Episcopal Church in the United States, Dr Idowu-Fearon yesterday revealed that he no longer believes that the objective, universal truth of the Bible, as the supreme and final authority in matters of Christian faith and conduct, should be upheld in all God's churches. He now seems to have embraced the moral relativism of the 'good disagreement' paradigm on a primary biblical issue:

'Since the enthronement service of the new Presiding Bishop, a committee is being formed by Bishop Curry, the new Presiding Bishop, to work out how TEC helps those bishops, clergy and congregations that cannot support same sex marriage. The hope is to make good on a resolution passed in their recent Convention that this theological and pastoral position be "respected" with no coercion to conform to the practice of same sex marriage. I am encouraged that such a committee is to be appointed, and while this will not be an easy task, I have hope that this position of respect will be maintained.

'I am also happy to let the ACC members know that within TEC today there are bishops in dioceses where same-sex marriage is practised who make provision for those who do not accept that; with bishops from other dioceses where it is not practiced (sic). So there is this walking together. There is this communication. There is this partnership already going on within TEC. And I know, because I have had words with the bishops who are involved in this'

The Apostle Paul commanded that the precious legacy of the biblical gospel be entrusted to 'faithful men who will be able to teach others also' (2 Timothy 2v2 - RSV).

For the love of God and of the divinely loved flock of our Lord Jesus Christ, what action will the Churches of Kenya and Nigeria take to ensure that Paul's apostolic command is obeyed in relation to ministers whose conduct falls below confessing Anglican standards?

Julian Mann is vicar of the Parish Church of the Ascension, Oughtibridge, South Yorkshire, UK - www.oughtibridgechurch.org.uk He is a frequent contributor to VIRTUEONLINE