CHURCH OF THE PROVINCE OF WEST AFRICA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DIOCESE OF GAMBIA
REPORT TO PROVINCIAL SYNOD, 22ND TO 25TH MARCH 2011
CONAKRY, GUINEA

Introduction:

In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

According to page 68 of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of the Province of West Africa, the Diocese of Gambia “comprises the area within the Republic of The Gambia, Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Cape Verde.”

Furthermore, the Preamble of the Diocesan Constitution and Canons give this vital historical background:

"WHEREAS in the year 1935 the Chaplaincy of the Church of England in the Colony of The Gambia and the West Indian Mission in French Guinea were formed into the Diocese of Gambia and the Rio Pongas.

AND WHEREAS the Diocese of Gambia and the Rio Pongas consisted of the following countries, namely The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde Islands.

AND WHEREAS for the better administration of the Diocese it was desirable to divide the Diocese into two Districts.

AND WHEREAS it was desirable in 1982 that a Constitution should be adopted to comprise within it the whole of the Diocese of Gambia and the Rio Pongas, subsequently known as the Diocese of Gambia and Guinea, which aimed at bringing about as far as possible uniformity in names and powers of both sections of the Diocese.

AND WHEREAS at the Provincial Standing Committee held in Conakry, Guinea, in 1984, it was decided that the Diocese of Gambia and Guinea be divided into two distinct and separate dioceses, namely: the Diocese of Gambia compromising the Republics of the Gambia, Senegal and Cape Verde Islands, and the Diocese of Guinea comprising the Republics of Guinea and Guinea Bissau, with effect from the 1st August 1985.  This therefore necessitated revising and updating the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Gambia.”

The list of Bishops of this Diocese reads thus: 

• Rt. Revd. John C.S. Daly, M.A 1935 – 1951
• Rt. Revd. Roderick N. Coote, M.A 1951 – 157
• Rt. Revd. St. John Pike, M.A 1960 -1 963
• Rt. Revd. T. Omotayo Olufosoye, S.Th. 1965 – 1970
• Rt. Revd. Jean Rigal Elisee, M. Div. 1972 -1 986
• Rt. Revd. S. Tilewa Johnson, D. Min 1990 to present

Vital Statistics

Successes:

The Annual Synod of the Diocese is now an established tradition.  The venue rotates from one Parish to another.  The level of financial accountability at both Diocesan and Parish levels could not be better.  It is now a rule that Parish reports to Synod without audited Accounts can not be accepted for discussion.

With the great improvement in members’ stewardship of talent and treasure, coupled with the enormous dividends accruing from the Diocese’s Investment in Real Estate, the Diocese could be described as fairly financially stable.

The Development and Social Services undertakings of the Diocese continue to contribute in the socio-economic development of the nation.  We are privileged to have been asked by the State to operate the only Agricultural Senior Secondary School in The Country.  To date we run the only Comprehensive School (Pre-School to High) in the Capital of the Country.

Challenges:

Nominalism continues to be a key problem, primarily affecting the youth.  Back up at home is crucial in the success of efforts being made at Sunday School and AYPA.  2010 to 2019 have been declared a decade for Youth and Children and a substantial amount of money ($20,000) have been allocated to the Children and Youth Council.  A figure that will be raised as per decision of last Synod. 

Though remarkably improved over the last 15 years, the low interest among the youth in the ordained Ministry still persists.  Since the 1850’s when the Anglican Church was established in the Gambia, only 18 (eighteen) Gambians have ever been ordained.  8 (eight) of these Anglican clergy persons were ordained over the past 15 years.  The Diocese has ample resources to train men and women for the Sacred Ministry but has no Candidates!

New Developments:

A nine member Working Group has been commissioned by the Diocesan Synod “to map out a strategic plan for Anglican Ministry in the Rural Area focussing on Farafenni, Basse and Kristi-Kunda.”  The Working Group is expected to draw up terms of Reference for a full time person to coordinate the implementation of the Master Plan for Anglican Ministry in the Rural Area, after its approval by the Diocesan Standing Committee.  Two or three youth will be identified and trained to work with the Coordinator.

The Cathedral Parsonage has been leased to a reputable Bank for twenty five (25) years.  A substantial upfront payment has been paid and a new Cathedral Hall to seat 300 persons has been constructed on the Cathedral Compound.  On All Saints’ day every year the bank as agreed is to pay a symbolic $3,000.00 for the duration of the lease.  The diocese insists that the Banking Hall to be constructed on the Parsonage site must not be less than 4 million Dalasi.

The Diocesan was just over a year ago divided into three Archdeaconries:  Lower Gambia and the Cassamance, Upper Gambia and Senegal Orientale and Upper Senegal and Cape Verde Islands.  Venerable Priscilla M.G. Johnson and Venerable Samuel G. Danquah have reported enthusiastically, during the last Synod, on their plans to develop their Archdeaconries.  The Archdeaconry of Upper Senegal and Cape Verde Islands remains vacant as we prayerfully look for a bilingual Priest.

A young Priest who has been out of Ministry for the past thirty months has written a letter of apology to the Church and a process of restoration should commence soon after Provincial Synod.

The Diocese was recently elected Vice Chair of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of The Gambia.  CCM is the national multi-sectional management body mandated to oversee the activities of the Global Fund’s fight against Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS.

Conclusion:

Sunday Parish Eucharist, Wednesday Bible Study, Regular Pastoral Visits and Daily Masses at the Cathedral ensure possibilities for spiritual nurture and growth.  Humanly speaking, the Clergy are fulfilling their role as under-shepherds efficiently, for which the parishioners show deep appreciation formerly on Good Shepherd Sunday.

The CPWA could do better than she is doing by way of impacting the life, worship and thinking of the Diocese of Gambia.  We have not had an official Archiepiscopal visit for nearly 20 years.  Not quite; the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury did visit our Diocese for 3 days in July 2003!

May we call on the 15 other Dioceses of the CPWA to seriously review our governance structure, in the light of the Communion’s reluctance to allow the carving out of Ghana from the CPWA.  We could easily adopt the Church of Nigeria Arrangement:  One Primate and Three Archbishops (two in Ghana and one outside Ghana).  We want to think that this Arrangement might enable CPWA to be a functioning Province!

Respectfully submitted by:

The Rt. Rev. Dr. S. Tilewa Johnson
Bishop of Gambia

MARCH 2011

CONAKRY, GUINEA