Prime
Okodi ordained West Lango Diocese bishop
President Museveni hands car keys to the Rev Alfred Acur Okodi, the first Bishop of the newly-created West Lango Diocese at Aduku in Apac recently. Photos BY Geoffrey Omara
What you need to know:
Spreading the word. Rev Alfred Acur warned Christians against the western culture which promotes anti-family values
Apac. Thousands of Christians thronged St Peter’s Cathedral, Aduku in Apac District to witness the consecration of Rev Alfred Acur Okodi as the first bishop of the newly-created West Lango Diocese.
The bishop was elected by the House of Bishops sitting at Lweza Training and Conference centre on July 17.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rt Rev Stanley Ntagali, who ordained rev Acur as bishop, described him as a humble, faithful and a unique person who will serve God’s servants diligently.
Rev Ntagali’s message to the new bishop
“He has been raised by God with the required credentials to work with me and therefore I call upon him to endure all hardships, preach the love of God and be ready to serve and not to be served,” Archbishop Ntagali said.
The archbishop also asked the Christians to desist from corruption and warned them against continued spread of HIV.
Bishop Acur promised to preach unceasingly the spirit of love and unity among the people of Lango and Uganda as a whole.
“I have begun a journey towards making Lango diocese became a centre for global spiritual revivals and by God’s grace, we pray to play our significant part in the world mission,” Bishop Acur said.
“My message to our people is “do not be [made to] conform to the standards of this world but be renewed by the transformation of your mind,” the new bishop urged.
He also warned the public against the western culture which promotes anti-family [values like] homosexuality and urged the congregation to shun corruption and a negative work-ethic.
Creation of West Lango Diocese:
The bishop of Lango diocese, Rev John Charles Odurkami, the mother diocese of West Lango diocese, said the idea of creating the new diocese was approved in a meeting held in June 11, 2007.
“This has been a big struggle and I am happy that today it has come to an end and I promised to give the support to the new bishop,” Odur said.
He noted that the new diocese will comprise all the arch deaconries in the districts of Apac, Oyam and Kole and its main aims is to bring the services closer to the people.
President Museveni, who was chief guest, promised continued support to the new bishop. He donated one brand new vehicle for his movement to spread the gospel of lord.
“I will be coming back with other support for the new bishop but today I have decided to bring him a new a new pair of shoes (vehicle) to help him in canvassing and movement in all the diocese,” President Museveni said.
