{"id":18626,"date":"2022-04-08T11:15:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T11:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=18626"},"modified":"2022-04-08T23:43:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T23:43:55","slug":"eyn-75th-general-church-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2022\/eyn-75th-general-church-council\/","title":{"rendered":"EYN releases 12 resolutions at its 75th General Church Council"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Zakariya Musa<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) held its 75th General Church Council 2022, or Majalisa, at the denomination\u2019s headquarters in Kwarhi in northeast Nigeria. The council released 12 resolutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In related news, EYN\u2019s Women\u2019s Fellowship or ZME has elected new leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EYN president calls for increased security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EYN president Joel S. Billi, in his speech to the highest decision-making body of the church denomination, stressed that the state of the nation of Nigeria has not recorded pleasant change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur security situation is completely dilapidated, nothing seems to improve. We have all become vulnerable in the hands of kidnappers, Boko Haram, and ritual killers. Nigeria has never been barbaric and in a state of anarchy like this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A view of the 75th General Church Council 2022, or Majalisa, of Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria. Photo by Zakariya Musa<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are all witnesses of what our church has been undergoing since 2008 to date. We have been crying every now and then but it seems our cries do not matter or make sense. Kautikari, a town under Chibok Local Government of Borno State, was attacked on 14th January and also 25th February, 2022. They killed people and burnt our church, which was rebuilt recently. EYN Pemi was re-attacked on 20th January, 2022, and they went away with 17 children including a 4-year-old boy. On 28th December, 2021, three siblings (all boys) were killed in Vemgo, Madagali Local Government, Adamawa State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf truly the federal government is fighting insurgency and uncovers the sponsors, why is the war endless and why not tell Nigerians who are the sponsors. Nigerians want to know who are the sponsors and should face the wrath of the law no matter who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rwandan guests at the EYN Majalisa. Photo by Zakariya Musa<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Achievements and setbacks in 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite security challenges faced, the president said the church has recorded a number of achievements as well as setbacks in the year 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ups and downs include but are not restricted to the following:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Achievements
\u2022 Successful autonomy of newly approved LCBs (congregations) since the 74th Majalisa.
\u2022 Ordinations of new pastors.
\u2022 Salaries and leave grants.
\u2022 Commissioning of Stover Kulp Water\/Crago Special Bread factories.
\u2022 School of Health and Technology in Garkida.
\u2022 Discipleship Centre on the move.
\u2022 All IDP camps for displaced people were visited as scheduled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setbacks:
\u2022 Foul payment of 35%, many are still busy strangling the policy.
\u2022 No promotion of staff, for lack of enough funds.
\u2022 No employment of workers, our financial capacity is inadequate.
\u2022 Drifting from our heritage.
\u2022 Emergence of tribalism and godfatherism.
\u2022 Worldliness in some workers.
\u2022 Crave for leadership at all costs.
\u2022 Some not seeing ourselves as an entity.
\u2022 Down grading of Brethren Micro Finance Bank.
\u2022 No functional website.
\u2022 Staff are not digitalized.
\u2022 Lack of finishing (completing) the Conference Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking toward the 100th anniversary of EYN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Billi reiterated a call on all and sundry to support 100th anniversary of EYN, which is just at hand in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is too obvious that all of us living now will not be witnesses of celebrating EYN at 200 years, if Christ tarries. Therefore, since it is going to be such a rare privilege for all of us to witness and participate in such a celebration, let us unite our hearts and consolidate our efforts toward it. We should not allow ourselves as individuals let alone as a church to miss out manifold blessings of the centenary. Doors are wide open to all members to donate at personal levels, beside the collective levies that were given to all churches earlier. Give or donate as the Spirit leads you, remembering if not for Christ you wouldn\u2019t have been who you are today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks and awards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Billi thanked EYN partners (Church of the Brethren in America, Mission 21 in Switzerland, and some individuals) for their support to run various programs and projects in the most hit church in northeast Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 75th council honored 10 people including a Muslim and traditional ruler with various awards for their contribution and support to humanity and the church in 2021. Five District Church Councils and some DCC secretaries were also awarded by the Majalisa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides reports presented by all directorates, teachings, special guests, and politicians were received by the 1,500 capacity gathering. Among the guests were CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) chairman for Borno State, Bishop Mohammed Naga; a delegation of Adamawa State Government led by Head of Service Prof. Maxwell Gidado; and traditional rulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EYN 75th Majalisa resolutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. EYN to establish \u201cEstate Department\u201d to be saddled with the responsibility of Property Management, Record Keeping and Documentation of all EYN assets.<\/li>
  2. Handling and taking over note to be comprehensive, properly signed, and be done in one month. No handing over by proxy.<\/li>
  3. There should be a functional website before the Centenary Celebration, the Office of the General Secretary to ensure that is done.<\/li>
  4. 28 LBCs [fellowships] were approved for granting of autonomy to the status of LCC [congregation].<\/li>
  5. Three LCC had their names changed, they are LCC Madagali to LCC Madagali No. 1, LCC Fwomughou No 1, and LCC Buzza to LCC Fwomughou No. 2.<\/li>
  6. One DCC [church district] to be chartered. The new DCC is Rumirgo from DCC Yawa with the following LCCs Rumirgo No. 1 & 2, Pubagu, Wachirakabu, and Mayoladde.<\/li>
  7. Majalisa approved a change of DCC to LCC Kauthama from DCC Askira to DCC Mbalala, reasons proximity and effective communication.<\/li>
  8. Appointment of directors: Majalisa ratified the re-appointment of evangelist Musa Daniel Mbaya for a second tenure and Hassana Habu appointed as substantive director of Women\u2019s Ministry.<\/li>
  9. Majalisa revised its earlier decision that over payment be forfeited as punishment, effective June 2022, that overpayments would be refunded, but called for caution on the side of financial handlers.<\/li>
  10. Taking into account the harsh economic realities, Majalisa reviewed upward minimum income for autonomy from Naira 1,000,000.00 to 2,000,000.00 (100%), effective 2023, and charged churches operating within previous income requirement to meet up.<\/li>
  11. Majalisa upheld its earlier stand that staff to grow through rank and file and advertisement for the post of directors would no longer be done, staff would be evaluated, assessed, and promoted, unless where there are no qualified staff advertisement could be done.<\/li>
  12. New Spiritual Adviser was elected in the person of Ezra Dawui.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    2023 prayer points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 EYN centenary to be smooth and fruitful.
    \u2022 EYN members to be more God-fearing and committed.
    \u2022 Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, and kidnapping to come to an end.
    \u2022 2023 Nigerian elections, to be truly free and fair.
    \u2022 Ask God to change the heart of Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    EYN Women\u2019s Fellowship elects new leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The EYN ZME Annual General Church Council meeting also was held at the church headquarters in Kwarhi. ZME elected their national leaders during their annual conference on March 23-26. The meeting on the theme \u201cFaithful Steward\u201d included report presentations, a singing competition, a Bible quiz, and other activities of this largest church subgroup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The director-elect, Suzan Mark, who in recent years served in this capacity, was re-elected to serve for a 3-year tenure. She is successor to Awa Moses, who handed over the office to her in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    ZME leaders at their annual meeting in March. Photo by Zakariya Musa<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The officials elected are:
    \u2022 Suzan Mark, director
    \u2022 Asabe Moses, deputy director
    \u2022 Mary Musa, secretary
    \u2022 Rejoice Rufus Nggada, assistant secretary
    \u2022 Tina Paul Bannu, treasurer
    \u2022 Zipporah Sunday, financial secretary
    \u2022 Jummai Andrew, choir mistress<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    — Zakariya Musa is head of Media for Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011\u2011<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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