Church, govt must work together – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Taraba State has called for enhanced collaboration among the church, government, and traditional institutions to foster peace, unity, good governance, and sustainable development in the region. This call emerged from a three-day Ministers of the Gospel Conference held at the CAN Secretariat in Jalingo.

The conference, themed "The Roles of the Church and the State in Advancing God’s Purpose in a Changing World," convened bishops, pastors, church leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, and CAN leaders from various local government areas and development areas across the state.

The communiqué, signed by CAN Chairman Rev. Fr. Williams P. Awoshiri and Conference Working Committee Chairman Bishop (Dr.) Innocent R. Solomon, emphasized the distinct yet complementary roles of the church and the government in nation-building. The church is tasked with preaching the gospel, upholding human dignity, promoting peace and justice, caring for the vulnerable, and advocating for the voiceless.

Meanwhile, the government's responsibilities include ensuring security and justice, delivering essential services, and creating an enabling environment for development.

The association urged Christians in political office to prioritize service over personal advancement, citing biblical figures such as Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and Nehemiah as models of integrity and effective leadership. It also called on the church to offer moral and ethical leadership without becoming entangled in partisan politics.

Furthermore, CAN emphasized the need for churches to prepare Christians not only for electoral participation but also for responsible service in governance, including sectors like economics, security, law, agriculture, education, and technology.

Regarding church-state relations, CAN advocated for constitutional independence, mutual respect, and constructive cooperation between the two entities. It encouraged the church to support government initiatives in education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and peacebuilding while retaining the courage to challenge authority when necessary.

The association also stressed the importance of consultation between government and traditional rulers, recognizing the latter's crucial role as custodians of culture and grassroots values. Authorities were urged to involve traditional rulers in policies impacting their communities.

CAN expressed concern over divisions within Christianity and called for church leaders to reconcile differences within and across denominations, emphasizing that such differences should not undermine Christian unity or fuel conflicts. The association also resolved to establish ongoing engagement channels among church leaders, traditional rulers, and Christian politicians beyond election periods and crisis situations. These engagements should focus on government policies and issues affecting citizens.

Additionally, CAN called for increased involvement of church leaders in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts, particularly in Taraba State's multi-ethnic context and history of communal conflicts. It urged leaders to employ early intervention mechanisms and traditional dispute resolution methods to prevent conflicts from escalating.