Bello urges newly ordained Bishops to be good shepherds, not hirelings

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has consecrated four new Bishops at a service, presided over by the Primate of all Nigeria, the Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, on September 21, 2020, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja.

The newly consecrated Bishops are Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Oludipe, 55, as the fifth Bishop of Ijebu Diocese; Rt. Rev. Gabriel Elabor, 40, for the Diocese of Esan; Rt. Rev. Adegoke Oludare Agara, 52, for Idoani Diocese and Rt. Rev. Enoch Atuboyedia, 48, for the Diocese of Okrika.

Preaching at the event, the Bishop of Otukpo Diocese and the Retreatant for the new Bishops, Rt. Rev. David K. Bello asked the newly ordained Bishops to administer their dioceses with integrity. He also counselled them to be good shepherds and not hirelings and butchers feeding on their sheep. He urged them to stay with their sheep and to lay their lives for their sheep if necessary and not run away when there is trouble.

While urging them to always remember where they are coming from and focus on where the Lord is leading them, with uprightness of heart as King David, Bello said: “The office of the Bishop requires integrity and trust. The people need to trust you. You are expected to be above reproach as Paul instructed Timothy; to command respect and not demand respect.”

The preacher also called on Nigerian leaders to learn to take responsibility and restructure the Constitution so that different states and regions could have a say in their own regional affairs and stop pushing all blames to the Federal Government.