This thesis examines the Anglican Church in Northern Nigeria under the episcopacy of Bishop Titus Eyiolorunsefunmi Ogbonyomi from 1976 to 1996. Northern Nigeria is a predominantly Muslim area, with Christians and those involved in traditional worship constituting the remaining of the population. Bishop Ogbonyomi through his charges pointed out that Christians in Northern Nigeria have long complained of discrimination and religious violence. Furthermore, he noted that the economy of the country, corruption, secret societies, creation of dioceses out of the diocese of Northern Nigeria, education, ethnicity in the political life of Nigerians and the issues of women ordination and polygamy were also issues that had effected the Christians in Northern Nigeria negatively. Bishop Ogbonyomi was not happy with the situation the Christians in that part of the country were passing through. During his episcopacy, he saw corruption, religious violence, poverty among the other issues mentioned above as a disgraceful situation the country found itself. He used much space in his charges to speak against those that were the perpetrators of such behaviours. The statistics of the content of the charges show that among the issues he discussed, economic issue was reflected in all his twenty-one charges, except that of 1995, thus making it the bishop's first and most consistent priority during his episcopacy. Though the issue of Islam has the highest space-percentage according to the statistics, it did not appear in the charges as often as the issue of the economy. Again, though the economic issue was his first priority, the statistics show that the amount of space devoted to it in the charges is quite low in some years. This indicated when the bishop had an increased or decreased interest in the topic, and when his focus was shifted to other issues. On the issue of secret societies, though the bishop indicated that these societies were already in existence during his episcopacy and that their effects on Nigerians were destructive, did not give a clear explanation of what such societies mean in Nigeria. The thesis is of the opinion that the very fact that secret societies are so difficult to define and VI thus deal with, highlights the need for a deeper investigation than that provided by Bishop Ogbonyomi. In addition, the bishop's attitude toward the issues of women ordination and polygamy in the Anglican Church in Nigeria indicated the topic to be of the least interest to the bishop. It appeared only in three of his charges (1989, 1994 and 1995) and, whenever it appeared, it did so with less concentration than other topics. The position of the bishop on women ordination was not very clear, though he referred to the non-inclusion of a woman among Jesus' apostles as a reason to approve the omission of women from ordination in the church. However, he was very negative about polygamy in the church. In conclusion the researcher argues that for a peaceful and successful society to be achieved in the area of study, a normative framework based on the concept of social justice needs to be developed, which should form the basis for evaluating the legacies of protracted injustice, and acts of social and moral indiscipline that were rampant in the area. VB thus deal with, highlights the need for a deeper investigation than that provided by Bishop Ogbonyomi. In addition, the bishop's attitude toward the issues of women ordination and polygamy in the Anglican Church in Nigeria indicated the topic to be of the least interest to the bishop. It appeared only in three of his charges (1989, 1994 and 1995) and, whenever it appeared, it did so with less concentration than other topics. The position of the bishop on women ordination was not very clear, though he referred to the non-inclusion of a woman among Jesus' apostles as a reason to approve the omission of women from ordination in the church. However, he was very negative about polygamy in the church. In conclusion the researcher argues that for a peaceful and successful society to be achieved in the area of study, a normative framework based on the concept of social justice needs to be developed, which should form the basis for evaluating the legacies of protracted injustice, and acts of social and moral indiscipline that were rampant in the area. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity International University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-147).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity International University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-147).

This thesis seeks to outline the HIV epidemic in Nigeria and understand the response of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to the epidemic. In evaluating the Church of Nigeria's policy document, it also seeks to understand how the response needs to be strengthened. The thesis looks at the history of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria and the impact of the epidemic on the Nigerian society. It further identifies some of the factors that contribute to the spread of HIV in Nigeria and the government's response to the epidemic. For the Church to respond appropriately to the epidemic there is a great need to start by theologizing the epidemic in a more helpful way. It is based on this that this thesis further attempts to theologize the epidemic by discussing sexuality, the notion of imago dei and shalom as well-being. The thesis examines the six thematic areas of the policy document and presents a critical analysis in which it discovers that though there are good things in the policy document, it however, needed a more solid theological foundation and employment of an educative tool that is more inclusive. Central to the argument of the thesis is that no one factor drives the epidemic, but rather a complex interaction between several factors. Therefore, to strengthen the policy document the thesis suggests a number of things to do which include a more solid theological foundation and employing of the 'SAVE' approach as an educative tool in response to the epidemic. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.