Kenneth Ofoma
15 November 2009
Abakaliki — The Church of God Mission (CGM), last weekend consecrated Bishop Margaret Idahosa as the first female archbishop of the church.
Margaret, who is the widow of the late founder and General Overseer of the Church, Arch-bishop Benson Idahosa, now doubles as the leader of the Church.
The new CGM leader was consecrated at the church's headquarters in Benin, Edo state by a team of renowned archbishops led by the President of the International Communion of Charismatic Churches (ICCC), Arch Bishop David Huskins and Archbishop Silas Owiti from Kenya before a capacity crowd of over 20, 000.
The consecration, which marked the grand finale of the church's annual national convention, also witnessed the consecration of six new bishops, including Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Ihueze, Rt. Rev. Oyeboye Bob Manuel, Rt. Rev. Faith Idahosa, Rt. Rev. Ebiye Philip Taiwo, and Rt. Rev. Matthew Ashuwu-Egwowa.
Also,no fewer than 2952 persons drawn from the church's branches across the country and some other nations of the world were ordained as pastors, deacons, elders and deaconesses.
Speaking shortly after his consecration, Bishop Ihueze said the success of the international convention had further shown that the church is waxing stronger after the demise of the founder, noting that the emergence of the first female arch-bishop was also an indication that women can hold exalted position in churches.
"Yesterday was an event of a lifetime, it was one of the day everybody would have prayed to be alive. It gives a new direction to what God is doing in our present time and generation. It has a way of affecting our nation and I'm glad it happened during my lifetime," Ihueze, who hails from Elugu-Umuoram community in Ohiya Umuahia South local government area of Abia state, said.
In their goodwill messages, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state and his Delta state counterpart, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, praised the unity and oneness existing in the Church of God Mission since the demise of Arch-bishop Idahosa, noting that the emergence of his widow as the new leader of the church was a clear indication that women can do exploits in the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Uduaghan, who was represented by his Commissioner for Tourism and ace-Nigerian actor, Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo, a lawyer, made it clear that with the prayers of people like Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, who occupying exalted positions in the church, Nigeria would continue to wax stronger before the comity of nations.
Other speakers on the occasion, including traditional rulers from Ebonyi, Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Bayelsa, Anambra pledged their unalloyed support to the new church leader as well as the newly consecrated bishops who preside over the church in Abuja, Rivers, Plateau, among others.
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