The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria elects new Moderator
The following is a press release from the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Box 2635 Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
* * *
One of the most unique aspects of the just concluded General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria was the atmosphere of the election that ushered in a 'new General Assembly Moderator. The Nineteenth General Assembly was held at the historical Hope Waddell Chapel in Calabar, Cross River State from August 13 – 20, 2010.
A statement issued by the Principal Clerk, The Reverend Ndukwe N Eme stated, “While discussions and voting were going on in the hall, something extra-ordinarily divine was happening outside. The rain descended, and heavily too. Rainfall is no news in Calabar but the rain did not go beyond the boundaries of the Hope Waddell Training Institution. Those who observed this phenomenon agreed that God used the rain to send a message to the Church that God is very interested in the kind of national leader the Church deserves in these times. When the election was concluded, and The Rt. Reverend Professor Emele Mba Uka emerged as the new Moderator of the General, Assembly, it became obvious that God had made a choice.”
“The election of The Rt. Rev. Prof. Uka was unanimous. For over twenty minutes after the election result was announced, the hall was rocked with an unprecedented degree of jubilation. Born on 20th October, 1941 in Akanu Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, The Rt. Rev. Prof. E. M. Uka was educated at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Trinity (Union) Theological College, Umuahia, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Princeton, New Jersey, USA: and Graduate College, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, USA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA (Hons), a post-graduate diploma in Theology, a Masters in Theology (ThM), a Masters in Philosophy (MPhil) and a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD).
“An ordained Minister of Word and Sacraments, a theologian and an academic, the new Moderator has served in various academic positions at the University of Calabar (UNlCAL) for twenty eight years. He specialized in Biblical Studies, Sociology of Religion, Church History and African Traditional Religion. Professor Uka was, until his election, the Executive Director of the Prof. Bassey Andah Center for Cultural Studies at the University of Calabar. He had earlier occupied the positions of Research Fellow, Overseas Ministries Study Centre, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Research Fellow, Vancouver School of Theology. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Commonwealth Research Fellow, Universities of Leeds and Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Coordinator of Affiliated Colleges to the Department of Religious Studies/Philosophy, UNICAL; Member of Senate and lead, Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, UNlCAL.
“Prior to joining the academic staff of the University of Calabar, Professor Uka had served as Parish Minister within The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria at Umuahia (1968 -69); Chaplain, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Umuahia (1969 -70); Lecturer, Trinity (Union) Theological College, Umuahia (1970 -71) and Senior Lecturer, Trinity (Union) Theological College, Umuahia (1980 -82).
“The Rt Rev Uka succeeds The Very Rev. Dr. Ubon Bassey Usung, whose tenure as General Assembly Moderator concluded on Monday, August 16, 2010. By this election, Professor Uka is the new national leader of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. He will run the affairs of the Church for the next Moderatorial tenure of six years.
“The overwhelming jubilation that greeted the election of the new Moderator of the General Assembly was indicative of Professor Uka’s widespread acceptance. Many members of the Church spoke to confirm this. You may reach The Rt. Rev. Prof. Uka through his email address beckyu47@yahoo.com.
“Also elected for a term of six years was a new Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly, The Reverend Daniel Etim, who succeeds The Reverend Ukpai Agwu Kalu. Rev. Etim, who was nominated for the office by Calabar Synod, was until his election the Clerk of the Synod and Minister-in-charge Ishie Town Parish in Calabar. Rev. Etim holds the MA and BA degrees as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising, a Diploma in Theology and a Certificate in Church History.
“The General Assembly meeting provided a forum for the Church to review its operations, take decisions on issues affecting its growth in contemporary times and discuss socio-political matters with a view to proffering solutions.
On his election as Principal Clerk at the 18th General Assembly in Arochukwu, East Synod of the Church, held in 2008, The Rev. Ndukwe Nwachukwu Eme, who is the second in the hierarchy of the Church, had outlined his vision for the Church during his tenure. Some of his declared priorities were, tripling the Church's membership, establishing the Hope Waddell University and building a befitting General Assembly Moderator’s residence in Calabar “
