Last Updated on: 13th February 2023, 11:04 pm
Like Jesus Christ gave Peter a three-fold command to ‘feed my sheep’ in response to Peter’s threefold declaration of love for Jesus, the Bishop of West Lango Diocese Rt. Rev. Caesar Nina is simply obeying what is recorded in the Gospel according to St John 21:15-17.
Bishop Nina with his wife and a team of diocesan officials on Sunday interacted with the ‘sheep’ working and residing in Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja and the surrounding areas in a past oral Holy Communion service’ held at St Luke Church of Uganda, Ntinda near Kampala.
Our correspondent Rev Nelly Nelsons Otto who was there reports that the Christians, young and old abandoned their status and joyously took to the floor to praise God led by the Luo Joint Choir before the bishop stepped on the pulpit.
In his opening remarks, Bishop Nina who was consecrated on 15 December 2019 in a colourful ceremony at St Peter’s Cathedral Aduku in Apac district, said the visit was part of the 8 key issues contained in his charge normally referred to as the (Bishop’s Charge) on the day.
“…those of you who read and still have a copy of my Charge should vividly recall that there were 8 items including unity for growth and transformation, leadership, finance, children and youth ministry, among others,” he said.
And to put it in perspective, ‘A Bishop’s Charge’ is a kind of manifesto on the plans and programmes that he will be implementing in the diocese which has been handed over to him.
The soft- speaking Bishop was quick to caution the very attentive congregation against compromising their faith for material gains currently flowing from the western world who are now determined to export homosexuality to Africa, and Uganda in particular.
“…our spiritual father Archbishop Steven Kazimba has already made a pronouncement on this matter which is our collective position as Church of Uganda that homosexuality has no scriptural or cultural place in Uganda…,” he echoed.
In his homily, Nina, anchored his four point-messages under the theme: “Unity of All People of God in Lango” derived from Ephesians 4:1-27 with emphasis on the 25-27 verses, counselled the Christians against peddling falsehoods, poor anger management, giving room to the devil; theft and corruption.
The Bishop who punctuated his sermon with humorous jokes asked the Lango Community to strengthen unity in diversity irrespective of any sectarian affiliations like religion, socio-economic status, culture, and politics.
After the service, members gathered in the Church Gardens for an agape meal which climaxed with the launch of the Lango Community Fellowship by the visiting Bishop.
Also in attendance were MPs Judith Alyek (Kole), Imat Cecilia Babra Atim-Ogwal (Dokolo), Santa Alum Ogwang (Oyam), Tonny Ayo (Kwania) and Paul Omara (Otuke).
Others included the chairman laity West Lango Benson Walter Dila who also doubles as the Oyam LC5 chairman, Eng. Richard Cong (Chairman Lango Community), Rev Canon Betty Ogwang; Rev Canon Dr Johnson Ebong-Oming the patron Lango Fellowship, and Diocesan officials led by the Diocesan Secretary Rev. Robert Edinga.
It should be recalled that Lango Community Association was established in 1987 for the people who hail from Lango and are residents in Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja plus neighbouring areas.
According to Rev. Can Johnson Ebong Oming, its structures consist of cells, branches, central executive committees, board of trustees and a patron.