(April 10, 2007) — Under a canvas canopy in the partially constructed EYN Conference Center, in temperatures in excess of 110 degrees fahrenheit, with church business conducted in the Hausa language, Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) held its 60th Majalisa or annual conference. The event took place March 27-30.
Along with the usual reports from programs and committees, the highlight of the conference was the election of church officers. Up for election this year were the offices of president, general secretary, administrative secretary, director of finance, director of education, and director of the Integrated Community Based Development Program (ICBDP). Other than the office of the president, the other offices are applied for and then selected by the National Executive Committee and approved by the Majalisa.
The conference gathered expecting the offices of the president and vice-president to be up for election, but a clause in the by-laws of the constitution states that a person assuming a vacated office has a right to a full four-year term. The current term of vice-president Abraham Wuta Tizhe, who filled the vacated office of Toma Ragnjiya, expires in November 2007.
Filibus Gwama enters his second term as president of EYN. Jinatu Libira will come in as general secretary. The other offices remain the same except for the office of the director of education, with the Majalisa approving Patrick Bugu as its director.
Church of the Brethren mission staff Paul Liepelt, Brandy Fix, Amy Waldron, and David Whitten served as the electoral committee, along with the EYN legal advisors, barristers Sunama and Silas, and the EYN spiritual advisor Blama Hena.
–David A. Whitten is the Church of the Brethren mission coordinator for Nigeria, serving with the Global Mission Partnerships of the General Board.