Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with Nigerian Archbishop Josiah Fearon who he said has worked ” has worked indefatigably on Christian-Muslim relations. Photo: Courtesy of Lambeth Palace
The Most Revd Josiah Fearon, the Anglican Bishop of Kaduna in the Churchof Nigeria (Anglican Communion), received the Cross of St Augustinefrom at Lambeth Palace yesterday.
Presenting the award, Welby said he was “delighted” to give Fearon the Cross “in recognition of his outstanding ministry in promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue in Nigeria and across the world.”
Fearon, who has a doctorate in Islamic Studies, has devoted his ministry to promoting inter-faith relations.
“He has worked indefatigably on Christian-Muslim relations, displaying extraordinary courage and vision in often the most difficult of circumstances,” said Welby, who gave Fearon the Cross during a Eucharist in the Crypt Chapel at Lambeth Palace.
Fearon, who co-founded the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christianity in Kaduna, is “an inspiration” to many Christians and faith leaders across the Anglican Communion, said Welby.
“Through his work he continues to play a pivotal role in advancing understanding between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria in an effort to stem the cycle of violence and misunderstanding between the two faith groups,” he said.
The archbishop’s work in this area extends beyond Nigeria. He is a past-president of the Network for Inter Faith Concerns, and continues to be a member of its management team. He is chair of of the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA), and is a member of the Religious Advisory Council of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.
Also in attendance at the service were Archbishop Edmund Akanya, the Archbishop of Kaduna Province; Bishop Praises Omole-Ekun, Dean of the St Francis of Assisi Theological College; Dr Johnson Apenad Mbillah of PROCMURA), and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, whom Archbishop Justin prayed for during the Eucharist as a symbol of reconciliation between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.
Born in 1949 in Nigeria, Archbishop Fearon trained briefly as a soldier before training as a priest and became ordained in 1971. He became a bishop in 1990.