Church of Nigeria fears competition

It is axiomatic that when a dominant firm gives a reason for why competition in its market isn't good for society one should be skeptical. It's in its interest to erect barriers to entry. That's why I was amused to read this:

Proliferation of churches in the society is due to selfishness and greed, the Rt. Rev. Isaac Orama, the Bishop of the Uyo Diocese of the Anglican Communion, has said.

He told newsmen in Uyo that the situation was disturbing, recalling that in the early history of the churches, what could lead to proliferation of churches was “doctrinal differences”.

“But nowadays, churches spring up for greed and selfish reasons because people just want to be church owners.” The Bishop said that one of the reasons that raised the corruption profile in Nigeria was that preachers in churches glorified affluent living, “not minding the source or sources of the affluence."

Read it all in the business section of the Nigerian Observer.

Of course the bishop's point of view is the essence of denominations with the episcopate. One does not get to choose his or her bishop. Your bishop is determined by where you live. What is the virtue of that system?

Posted by John B. Chilton on December 2, 2010 11:23 AM | |
Comments (4)

Not sure what your point is about the episcopate, John. But the proliferation of "prosperity gospel"churches in Africa (or anywhere else for that matter) cannot be a good thing for the people.

Posted by Chris Epting [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 2, 2010 12:24 PM

There are sociological studies that suggest that the prosperity gospel serves the purpose of encouraging thrift, hard work, stable families, and other communal goods in Africa, and therefore isn't entirely negative.

Not that that's any excuse for slapping the "Christian" label on a cargo cult.

Posted by Michael Lockaby [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 2, 2010 1:04 PM

"Of course the bishop's point of view is the essence of denominations with the episcopate. One does not get to choose his or her bishop. Your bishop is determined by where you live. What is the virtue of that system?"

Unless, of course, one is an ex-Episcopalian whose "denomination with the episcopate" is ACNA. Then one gets to choose from among a smorgasbord of non-territorial bishops or bishops with fuzzy boundaries -- or perhaps step outside to another part of the Continuum like AMiA.

Apparently, the 39 Articles' observation that church councils (e.g., Nicea) can fail was prescient in laying the groundwork for the Neo-Continuum Anglicans' rejection of geo-territorial episcopacy.

Interesting, then, that it is from within the Neo-Continuum Anglicans' strong ally, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), that comes this criticism of the proliferation of churches.

Posted by David da Silva Cornell [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 2, 2010 1:32 PM

“But nowadays, churches spring up for greed and selfish reasons because people just want to be church owners.”

I must have missed the part about WHY this so valued. People just want to be church owners? Why? My (albeit limited) experience is that it is very time-consuming to start (or re-start) a church. I'm missing why it is so desirable.

Posted by Tom Sramek, Jr. [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 2, 2010 8:15 PM

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