Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Diocese of Okene, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has moved to douse the controversy generated by its recent resolution on burial practices, clarifying that the directive setting a minimum two-week period before burial arrangements are concluded was never intended as a punitive ban on immediate burials but as a pastoral measure designed to accommodate the realities of its members, particularly those in the diaspora. In a rejoinder dated September 12, 2026, signed by the Clerical Synod Secretary, Venerable Godwin Omanyin, and Balogun Adinoyi Augustine, the Diocese said widespread reports claiming that the Anglican Church had banned immediate burials and imposed a rigid two-week minimum timeframe did not accurately reflect the resolution reached at its Synod.
At the heart of the dispute is a communique issued after the first session of the sixth Synod of the Diocese, held at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Obeiba, Ihima, from August 7 to 9, 2026, and jointly signed by the Bishop, Dr Emmanuel Onsachi, and Venerable Godwin Omanayin. The resolution stated that "a minimum period of two weeks be allowed to enable members to prepare befitting burial programmes for their departed parents," and encouraged members to be assured that "no evil consequence follows embalming." Some children had often buried their parents within one week or less of their deaths, following parental instructions for their remains not to be kept in the morgue for more than a week. The Diocese, however, said such instructions given by the deceased while alive must be discountenanced, stressing that there are no consequences for not honouring them, because the two-week period allows families to give a befitting burial to their departed loved ones.
The Diocese insisted that the intent behind the resolution was pastoral rather than punitive. It explained that the measure was adopted because many of its members have children in the diaspora who need time to prepare and travel home to give befitting burials to their aged parents, in line with the biblical injunction in Ecclesiastes 6:3. The timeframe, the Diocese added, would also enable diocesan officials, including the Bishop, to participate in burial programmes without clashing with other diocesan or church activities. Addressing the core of the controversy, the Diocese stated clearly that the resolution does not apply to all circumstances. "The Diocese did not ban immediate burial for such deceased whose children are truly incapacitated," it said, adding that "the Bishop and clergy are not compelled nor held responsible if churches’ schedules do not permit attendance or participation at such immediate burials."
The Diocese further stated that the resolution "seeks to particularly remove fear and superstition around embalming, and to promote honour and dignity for the departed." On its authority to take such decisions, the Diocese said it remained "well constituted as an autonomous legal entity" with the right to adopt resolutions that would have a positive impact on its churches and the wider community. It assured members of its continued commitment to their welfare, saying, "The Diocese of Okene remains committed to the welfare of her members and will never institute policies that create hardship." The rejoinder sought to correct what the Diocese described as inaccurate media reports, clarifying that the resolution was not a blanket ban but a guideline intended to balance the spiritual, cultural, and practical needs of its members.
Beyond the burial controversy, the Synod also took decisions on other matters affecting the Diocese. It banned the use of externally sourced undertakers during burial programmes across the Diocese, directing that the Boys Brigade in various parishes be engaged for such duties "as the Diocese does not want a parallel body to be involved in our burial programmes whose activities may be in conflict with our Church norms." On tithing, the Diocese directed that members in the diaspora should remit at least 50 per cent of their tithe to their home churches for the year to support the growth of the Church, adding that the approach to achieving this "shall be pastoral, in order to encourage compliance by our members." The Synod also resolved that the Church shall put in place a policy for determining, from year to year, the areas in which to invest and shall identify investment opportunities in which members can be encouraged to participate, including the provision of soft loans for such purposes, in order to improve their economic well-being. It charged its churches to embark on intentional and aggressive evangelism to increase membership, fixed the third Sunday of every month as Youth Sunday, and resolved that after completing Junior Secondary School Three, children are to leave the Sunday School and move into the adult church, with the transition to formally take place on May 27 of each year.
The Okene Anglican Diocese’s resolution and the subsequent clarification reflect the delicate balance that religious institutions in Nigeria must strike between upholding doctrinal positions and responding to the practical realities of their members. The two-week waiting period, while presented as a pastoral measure, has raised questions about individual autonomy, cultural practices around immediate burials, and the authority of the church over matters that many families consider deeply personal. The Diocese’s decision to exclude families of the "truly incapacitated" from the directive suggests an awareness of the need for flexibility, even as it maintains the general principle that a period of preparation is beneficial for the bereaved. For members of the Diocese, the clarification provides the guidance they need to navigate the burial process in accordance with both church rules and their own circumstances. For observers outside the church, the episode offers a window into the internal governance of one of Nigeria’s major Christian denominations and the ways in which religious authorities interpret their mandate to shepherd their flocks.
As the Diocese moves forward with the implementation of its Synod resolutions, the focus will now shift to how the guidelines are applied at the parish level and whether they achieve their stated objective of promoting honour and dignity for the departed while accommodating the needs of families. The Diocese has made it clear that it remains committed to the welfare of its members and will not institute policies that create hardship. The coming months will test that commitment as parishes across the Diocese put the burial resolution into practice, navigating the complex intersection of faith, tradition, and family expectations. For now, the Diocese has spoken, and its message is one of pastoral care rather than punitive control.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments