WANTED URGENTLY: A NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN CHARTER

"As a step in that direction, it was decided that Kingdom Men should, with the support of and in collaboration with sponsors hold this special roundtable three months before the elections on the theme, TOWARDS A NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN CHARTER. The content of the charter, which will derive from the event, will set out minimum moral standard expected of those seeking their votes; commitment to carefully thought-out policy positions on politics, economy and social issues. Religious freedom, corruption, rule of law, marriage, children and women rights  are among issues expected to feature at the roundtable and ultimately on the charter."

Seventeen men, collectively known as the King’s Men, came together for about 20 hours from Friday evening to Saturday morning penultimate week for a retreat to discuss the next phase of the activities of Kingdom Men, the ministry they steward. As always when these men meet, the role of the nation of Nigeria and the place of Christian men in its growth and development was a major consideration in charting the path forward.

One of the highlights of the decisions taken at that meeting was to hold a special edition of one of the programmes that featured at the last Mega-Summit – Politics and Governance Roundtable. The special edition has become necessary, the men concluded, because the spiritual and moral content of activities leading to the fast approaching 2015 General Elections is, thus far, virtually ZERO. A deliberate redirection and infusion of these critical elements is therefore urgent.

As a step in that direction, it was decided that Kingdom Men should, with the support of and in collaboration with sponsors hold this special roundtable three months before the elections on the theme, TOWARDS A NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN CHARTER. The content of the charter, which will derive from the event, will set out minimum moral standard expected of those seeking their votes; commitment to carefully thought-out policy positions on politics, economy and social issues. Religious freedom, corruption, rule of law, marriage, children and women rights  are among issues expected to feature at the roundtable and ultimately on the charter.

Incidentally, this issue featured prominently in the fifth part of an open letter to Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in August 2010. I am quoting extensively from that letter below, because it offers the reader insight into the origins of the charter idea. Here goes:

“As you most probably might have read, a number of Christian leaders in the United States widely recognised for their ‘public witness on behalf of justice, human rights, and the common good’ came together in 2009 and subsequently came up with what has now become known as the Manhattan Declaration. Described as a ‘Call to Christian Conscience’, the declaration, in the words of one of its proponents, ‘speaks to the church just as much as it speaks to the larger culture’. Originally signed by about 150 prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders and scholars including Nigeria’s Most Rev Peter Akinola and released on November 20, 2009 at a press conference in Washington , DC , its focus was on three issues that the enemy is using powerfully to destroy the Christian heritage of that country.

“In the main, the signatories affirm in the 4700-word declaration: ‘The profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; Marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; Religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.’

“As we write this, well over 460,000 persons have signed on to the declaration. But that is not the story. The big deal is that it caught the eyes of Christians in the United Kingdom, made so great an impression on them, that on the eve of the last General Elections, they launched the Westminster Declaration of Christian Conscience 2010. A former Archbishop Canterbury, Lord Carey, was among 30 senior Christian Leaders, who signed and launched the declaration last Easter Sunday (April 4, 2010).

“Both in timing and content, it was widely seen as the Christian Manifesto for the election; deftly designed to send a clear message to all parliamentary candidates that Christians will be supporting only those whose politics do not conflict with Christian beliefs and interfere with their right to live according to those beliefs. Towards this end, the declaration articulated those range of policies around which churches in the UK are united, including support for marriage, opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia, support for the rights of children born and unborn, and support for all those who are sick, disabled, addicted, elderly, poor, exploited, trafficked or exploited by unjust trade, aid or debt. In other words Christians were being galvanised not to vote for candidates whose previous records or current platforms conflict with these minimum.

“Mr President, it is my view that CAN, under your leadership, ought to spearhead a Nigerian Christian Charter along these lines, articulating the Christian standpoint on issues such as corruption, violation of voters’ rights through election rigging, freedom of worship and etc with a view to guiding our brethren in the choice of political party to join and candidates to vote for.  Thanks for your time, sir.”

It’s been four years since I made that case, in vain, it seems. You can therefore understand my excitement that Kingdom Men has accepted the challenge. Won’t you please join us? For inquiries please send email to info@kingdom-men.org or phone 08034502888.