By Emeka Odogwu
The 1st Session of the Sixth Synod of the Diocese of Evo, Anglican Communion, ended on, Sunday, 31st August, 2025 in a joyous Thanksgiving Service with three Anglican bishops officiating, including Rt Rev’d Bennard Hanson, Bishop of the Diocese of Ahoada.
This is coming as the Annual Empowerment of Widows by the Diocese of Evo Council of Knights took place.
The knights dolled out N100,000.00 each to 25 widows to enhance their small businesses, and scholarship of N200,000.00 each by an anonymous donor to two girls from Evo Diocese, who came first in a National Bible Quiz Competition.
Another was the Bishop’s elevation of four priests to the position of Canons: Revd’s Moses Upright Anyaefune , Samuel Emeka Ude; Collins Okachukwu Daniel; and Warrant Officer Stephen Thompson.
It was the climax of the 2025 Synod, which had a one-day Synod on Sunday, 24th August 2025, and the main Synod commenced on Wednesday 27th, through Friday 29th August 2025, when his Lordship, The Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Innocent Uchechukwu Ordu, DSSRS, JP delivered his Presidential Address/Charge.
The Synod was held at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Rumuobiokani Deanery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In his sermon at the Thanksgiving service, The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Johnson Onuoha, Bishop of Arochukwu/Ohafia Diocese, spoke eloquently on the need for christian unity, peace, and love.
“Unity nurtures genuine christian fellowship and service to God and our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.
Bishop Onuoha who was the lead Bible Study Leader and preacher at the Synod, enjoined the Diocese of Evo faithful to understand that lack of unity among Christians gives enemies of the church room to thrive and cause disharmony in the body of Christ.
Rt. Rev. Onuoha, who spoke on the theme of the Synod: “Biblical “One-Anothers” The Imperative of Life Together Within the Church Community” stressed that unity is essential because it reflects God’s nature.
He emphasized that the journey of Christian life is one that should be lived together, not by isolation or in enmity.
He made the congregation to understand that when the world sees believers united, they will know that God is with them because they reflect the life of Christ.
He quoted Acts 2:26-27, which shows that the early church survived because they were united.
He urged Christians to be at peace with one another in their homes, communities, churches, offices, businesses, and anywhere they find themselves.
Wife of His Lordship, Dr Mrs Chinyere Uchenna Ordu, FCAI, also celebrated her recent attainment of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree, joined by others who achieved such academic feat in recent times.
The Thanksgiving Service was rounded off with individual administrative blocs, as well as various arms and units of the Diocese.
The Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, Diocesan Bishop thereafter announced that the 2026 Synod will be hosted by Okporo/Rumuogba Archdeaconry at St Simon’s Anglican Church, Okporo District.
