Archbishop Peter Akinola stood solemnly on a dias, wearing a deep purple and bright red cape threaded with glittering gold thread and gold embroidered stars. Another brilliant star was stitched onto his miter.
I was sitting in a crowd of several hundred people last Sunday afternoon at Church of the Epiphany's new sanctuary near Dulles airport in northern Virginia. The leader of 18 million Nigerian Anglicans and the one man in the world capable of challenging the archbishop of Canterbury was in town to consecrate four new missionary bishops.
His presence was an in-your-face challenge to the Episcopal Church, from which the Nigerian archbishop has extracted some 8,600 Episcopalians, who are now attending one of 60+ churches in his Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).
Very few journalists have managed to sit this man down for a chat. When he announced CANA's formation in 2005, it was at a short and very controlled press conference at Truro Church in Fairfax. Since then, when I've asked CANA folks for interviews, I've always been told the archbishop was too busy. Other journalist friends have told me of their unsuccessful tries at contacting him. The excuse is always the same: too busy, not available or not in town. 
Unofficially, I heard that the archbishop was none too thrilled with an embarrassing New York Times article on him that ran last Dec. 25 and thus had sworn off American journalists.
The only reporter who has managed to get through recently was the London Times' Ruth Gledhill, who flew to Abuja to interview him in July and ran this piece in her paper. Which was great if one's media outlet has the budget for such overseas trips. Mine does not.
As the outspoken archbishop has been accused by Episcopal leaders of poaching their churches and turning them into Anglican congregations, naturally I wanted to talk with him. Especially since a large percentage of CANA congregations is in this newspaper's back yard.
Above: Archbishop Akinola during the procession into the church. The Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) consecrated four new suffragan bishops yesterday in a ceremony held at Church of the Epiphany in Herndon, Va. The new bishops will "minister to our growing flock" in the U.S., said CANA Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns, adding that CANA has been growing "in the face of relentless opposition and some of the largest lawsuits ever mounted by The Episcopal Church against its own clergy and congregations." (Photo by Kelly Oliver, CRC Public Relations)
Since the archbishop has been in the United States four times (that I know of) since May, I figured it was high time he became available. My efforts to schedule an interview with his Nigerian spokesman Canon Akin Tunde Popoola didn't get too far. Nor did several similar requests with Bishop Martyn Minns, the U.S. head of CANA.
So I showed up at Church of the Epiphany. Surely I could at least introduce myself to him and arrange for some future interview, as I'd heard he was flying out that evening. He'd been in town all weekend but again, I'd been informed he was too busy.
Folks at Epiphany told me he had time to be at a Saturday night dinner party in McLean so I guess "busy" is a relative term.
As the service ended, the musicians struck up "The Church's One Foundation" and all the clergy prepared to recess out the back door into a reception area. I positioned myself just outside the sanctuary so I could catch his eye. As Archbishop Akinola processed out, I saw he was surrounded by a phalanx of people in front, alongside and in back of him, who were marching him through the reception area and down a hallway. I followed.
The archbishop stopped in front of a door while the phalanx protectively grouped itself around him. Then he disappeared. It took me a few seconds to realize he'd slipped up a back stairway. As the door was blocked by the phalanx, I headed back into the reception area and down another hallway where I found a second stairway. Racing up that, I began heading down the hall toward Bishop Minns' office — where I knew the archbishop must be hiding out.
But, horrors, into the hallway strode Bishop Minns himself. Spotting me, plus possibly other folks who wanted to see the archbishop, he zipped into his office and shut the door. Stationed outside was a priest from the Falls Church — one of the local congregations that has departed the Episcopal Church.
I showed up at Bishop Minns' door and the priest/bodyguard, who happened to be built like a football player, blocked my way. "I'm sorry, Julia," he said, "but … " as he maneuvered me toward an exit door. Well, hmmm. What's a reporter to do? Unless I wanted to start a rumble or use tear gas, my options were limited.
I managed to talk the priest into giving the archbishop my business card, then went back downstairs. I could see people ferrying up plates of food up the stairs, presumably for the archbishop and Bishop Minns. I stood vigil down near the base of the stairs, but by one of CANA's media representatives had wised up to my movements and had planted herself within a few feet of me.
I wandered off to interview other personalities and learned about a half hour later that the archbishop had left the church — presumably for the airport.
What is it about us journalists that Archbishop Akinola is so afraid of? Does he not trust himself with us? Or don't his subordinates trust him? This is an era of tape recordings and video, so misquotes can be proven and dispatched with very quickly. Or, more troubling, doesn't the archbishop consider himself accountable? Apparently not.
— Julia Duin, assistant national editor/religion, The Washington Times
Comments (15)
You must have been paying attention to other more important items to not have noticed the way the archbishop and his supporters in the Anglican communion expected the bishops in the Episcopal church to deal with the issue of homosexuality by themselves instead in conjunction with the House of Deputies. The archbishop is more akin to the pope in his view of church hierarchy. If you want to know more about the archbishop why don't you look at Nigeria where he comes from instead of running around a church like a blind mouse?
Posted by John Percer | December 14, 2007 1:10 PM
So why do you think the Archbishop of Nigeria would care about what a reporter from Washington thinks? He most certainly does not have to be "accountable" to the U.S. media. This man is accountable to God and to fellow faithful believers.
Posted by Baptist Man | December 14, 2007 4:34 PM
Please see the Archbishop of Canterbury's Advent message. Much of it has to do with the American church.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2007/12/14/ACNS4354
Posted by Robert Livingston | December 14, 2007 8:55 PM
Mr Percer.
This is a direct quote from the Archbishop Of Canterbury's Advent letter:
"A somewhat complicating factor in the New Orleans statement has been the provision that any kind of moratorium is in place until General Convention provides otherwise. Since the matters at issue are those in which the bishops have a decisive voice as a House of Bishops in General Convention, puzzlement has been expressed as to why the House should apparently bind itself to future direction from the Convention. If that is indeed what this means, it is in itself a decision of some significance. It raises a major ecclesiological issue, not about some sort of autocratic episcopal privilege but about the understanding in The Episcopal Church of the distinctive charism of bishops as an order and their responsibility for sustaining doctrinal standards. Once again, there seems to be a gap between what some in The Episcopal Church understand about the ministry of bishops and what is held elsewhere in the Communion, and this needs to be addressed."
The House of Bishops' decision NOT to deal with the issue is what is at variance with Anglican ecclesiology, and is regarded by many as a slippery delaying tactic.
Posted by R M Bragg | December 15, 2007 1:54 AM
Ma'am,
You ask "What is it about us journalists that Archbishop Akinola is so afraid of? Does he not trust himself with us? Or don't his subordinates trust him? This is an era of tape recordings and video, so misquotes can be proven and dispatched with very quickly."
With all repect, I find this somewhat disingenuous.
Firstly, American journalists as a class are hardly known for being sympathetic to conservatives of any sort, political, cultural, or religious. (N.B.: This is most emphatically not intended as an assault on your own professional integrity, but rather as a comment on American journalists as a group.) It seems at least likely that Archbishop Akinola's attitude toward the American press is not so much fear as distrust and distaste.
Secondly, Archbishop Akinola and CANA are engaged in a struggle which is complex and multifaceted. A proper attempt to understand it involves questions of scriptural authority, ecclesiology, polity, Canon Law, Christian morality, and the theology of ordination. Press reports, no matter how well-informed or honestly intended, must by their nature simplify issues for the general public, and all simplification is to some degree distortion.
Finally, I really must disagree with your assertion that "This is an era of tape recordings and video, so misquotes can be proven and dispatched with very quickly." Proven, yes, but not dispatched with. In the confusing and emotionally charged atmosphere that exists in Anglicanism today, false information takes on a life of its own and continues to be disseminated by those who find it useful long after it has been refuted. As a case in point, the false assertion that Bishop Robinson divorced his wife in order to join his current partner can be found over and over again on the Internet, especially in the comments sections on various blogs. In fact, he had not even met the man at the time of his divorce.
Having said all that, I must admit that I do wish that the Archbishop would grant you an interview - I believe that it would make good reading. And how much would a ticket to Abuja cost, anyhow?
Posted by R M Bragg | December 15, 2007 2:20 AM
Mr Bragg
Some may consider it a delaying tactic. others may consider it an unique aspect of the way TEC does business. The bishops do not have the authority to answer for TEC by themselves. This is not new. If the other Primates do not understand this then what do you propose remedial lessons in Episcopal church doctrine. I feel that the Archbishop has dropped the ball on the subject of Primate poaching which seems to be a far greater concern than how Americans practice faith. If people want to start a new church here and take orders from somewhere else I say go for it. It works for other denominations why not ours. Whatever happens the Archbishop and the Anglican communion will eventually reap the seeds sown and being sown now.
Posted by John Percer | December 16, 2007 2:04 AM
-peter is a bully and a coward and bullies and cowards never like to have to face any criticism of their behavior, ergo, that's why the are bullies and cowards!!
Posted by deacon jim | December 16, 2007 3:33 AM
The Archbishop of Nigeria is not accountable to the press, but to God and His Church. Neither is the Archbishop an elected or appointed representative of the U.S. government answerable to U.S. citizens, nor an entertainment or sports celebrity dependent upon publicity to maintain support from his fans.
Further, I think it highly probable that Abp. Akinola has received threats to his very life and security and protection of his person is probably high on the list of those who hold him in affection.
I am very happy you have a blog, Ms. Duin, but your status as a reporter and blogger (whom I've found to be fairly balanced and credible) does not impute an imperative for answers that others must heed. It is frequently wise to keep one's own counsel. In view of the way Abp. Akinola has been portrayed, I am not surprised he or those near him acted as you report.
We don't always get what we want or when we want it.
Posted by Connie Sandlin | December 16, 2007 12:18 PM
What is it about us journalists that Archbishop Akinola is so afraid of?
Maybe he thought you were a fashion writer and was embarrassed by those robes, which look hand-me-downs from Miss Cleo. What is it with Anglicans and Jackson-Pollock ensembles?
Posted by CourageMan | December 17, 2007 4:38 AM
It is unfortunate that Akinola does not understand what Anglicanism is all about. His method of operating indicates that he believes he holds the "way, the truth and the life" and that everyone else is wrong. He needs to listen to what Desmond Tutu has to say!
Posted by P. Morgan | December 18, 2007 1:27 PM
I think Connie Sandlin will discover, if she checks, that it isn't Archbishop Peter Akinola who fears for his life, but Davis Mac-Iyalla, a member of the Church of Nigeria, a gay man and Director of Changing Attitude in Nigeria, a group committed to the full acceptance of LGBT people in the Anglican Communion. Davis Mac-Iyalla has been subjected to death threats and repeated abuse, much of it fuelled by Canon Akintune Popoola, the Archbishop's Director of Communications. Davis and I also tried to talk with Peter Akinola in Dar Es Salaam, at the Primates Meeting. The first time, briefly, in the presence of Bishop Martyn Minns, he greeted us in a friendly manner. The second time, when reporters and photographers were present, he hid and ran away. He was threatened by nothing more aggressive than microphones, cameras and questions.
Posted by Colin Coward | December 20, 2007 9:07 PM
There are many reasons why Archbishop Akinola might be extremely wary of the press. Earlier this year journalists in Britian determined that one of Akinola's major statement of policy had been drafted and heavily edited on the computer used by his American missionary bishop Myms. You might learn quite a bit about the Church of Nigeria simply by reading their web page. In Nigeria bishops ARE the church. The only news coming from the Church involves things the 100+ bishops have said or done. And in the Church of Nigeria there is moreover an enforced unanimity among bishops. The Primate speaks for all his Bishops at all times. "L'Eglise c'est moi". Is this an imperial Church? The Lords Spiritual of Great Britain are only one possible model. The hierarchical Yoruba Obas of the pre-colonial era are closer to home. As for the Archbishop's claim to an "embarassing humility" he loves to remind his audience that prior to finding his vocation in the Church he was a mere carpenter!
Posted by Dr. J.A. Works | December 20, 2007 10:15 PM
Interestingly this article seems to display more American hubris than Nigerian foible. Of course that is the issue with the international community (and more than just the Anglican community): Americans do not think "No" is an answer.
Posted by David Stern | December 21, 2007 1:40 AM
In my secular employment, I am a public relations practitioner.
The Archbishop of Abuja should consider hiring a real public relations adviser and assigning Archdeacon Tunde to other duties. A real PR advisor would tell him that dodging the press only makes him look, well, dodgy.
Sorry, Peter. I'm not available to give you any PR advice. You represent precisely what I most emphatically reject - the accumulation of power in the hands of a small band of arrogant foreign prelates.
Posted by Malcolm+ | December 21, 2007 5:31 AM
Quoted from your article: "As the service ended, the musicians struck up "The Church's One Foundation" and all the clergy prepared to recess out the back door into a reception area. I positioned myself just outside the sanctuary so I could catch his eye. As Archbishop Akinola processed out, I saw he was surrounded by a phalanx of people in front, alongside and in back of him, who were marching him through the reception area and down a hallway. I followed ... The archbishop stopped in front of a door while the phalanx protectively grouped itself around him. Then he disappeared."
I was present at this service and as a result of the packed out sanctuary, I was relegated to Epiphany's old sanctuary which now serves as a parish hall. I watched the service projected onto a large screen there.
Contrary to your report above, Archbishop Akinola, did not "disappear" -- in fact, upon leaving the sanctuary he processed, in the company of all the other bishops in attendance (not some "protective phalanx"), into the "parish hall" where we sat in the "cheap seats" as they recessed through the hall down our center aisle --- delighting all who had sacrificed to be seated outside the main sanctuary.
He did not "disappear" -- he went out of his way to make those who were left out, feel very much a part of that service.
However, one wonders what on earth you were thinking, that an Archbishop, in the midst of a most sacred service and celebration, would be willing to spend time talking to a reporter!!!
Thanks be to God that we have a leader of CANA who is not star struck; but Heaven bound.
Posted by Cindi Sholander | December 21, 2007 6:32 PM