Anglican Diocese Bars Immediate Burial Of Relatives Within Two Weeks Of Death

The Diocese of Okene, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Kogi State, has directed members to allow a minimum of two weeks between the death of a relative and the burial, saying the period is necessary to enable families to make adequate preparations for a befitting funeral.

According to a report by the Vanguard on Thursday, the directive was contained in a communique issued at the First Session of the Sixth Synod of the Diocese, held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Obeiba, Ihima, from August 7 to 9, 2026.

The communique was signed by the Chairman and Bishop of the Diocese, Dr Emmanuel Onsachi, and the Clerical Synod Secretary, Venerable Godwin Omanayin.

The Synod said the decision was taken to give families enough time to prepare for and organise befitting burial programmes for their departed relatives.

“In view of the need to continue to allow members of the Church to have enough time to prepare for and organize befitting burial programmes to honour their departed parents, it is therefore resolved that a minimum period of 2 weeks be allowed for them to prepare for the burial arrangements,” the communique stated.

The Diocese also urged members not to fear any adverse consequence from keeping the bodies of their deceased relatives in the morgue beyond the period stipulated in their lifetime wishes.

It specifically said instructions given by deceased parents asking their children not to keep their remains in a morgue for more than a few days or one week should be disregarded.

The resolution effectively discourages the practice of burying parents within a week or less than two weeks of their death on the basis of such prior instructions.

The Diocese, however, did not provide a specific exception for families with the financial and logistical capacity to organise a burial within a shorter period.

In another burial-related resolution, the Diocese banned the engagement of external undertakers for burial programmes across its parishes.

It directed churches to engage the Boys Brigade in their respective parishes to perform undertaker-related duties during burials.

The Synod said the decision was intended to prevent the involvement of “a parallel body” whose activities could conflict with the norms of the Church.

The Synod also adopted measures aimed at improving the economic well-being of members and strengthening the Diocese’s finances.

It resolved that the Church should establish an annual policy for identifying areas of investment and opportunities in which members could participate.

The Diocese also proposed providing soft loans to members for investment purposes.

On tithing, the Synod directed members living in the diaspora to remit at least 50 per cent of their annual tithe to their home churches to support the growth of the Church.

It said the implementation of the directive should take a pastoral approach to encourage compliance.

Youth, evangelism and Christian instruction

The Diocese also directed its churches to embark on “intentional and aggressive evangelism” aimed at increasing membership.

It designated the third Sunday of every month as Youth Sunday, with churches directed to mobilise young people and involve them in taking charge of church programmes in which they participate.

The Synod further directed churches to strengthen intentional discipleship and Christian instruction to build, sustain and retain members.

It also approved a formal transition point for children moving from Sunday School to the adult church.

Under the resolution, children are to leave Sunday School after completing Junior Secondary School Three (JSS 3), with the formal transition to take place on May 27 every year.

To reduce the burden on churches hosting future Synod sessions, the Diocese resolved that the food items to be provided should be clearly specified, with each Archdeaconry informed in advance of the items it is expected to supply.

The Synod Planning Committee was also converted into the Planning Committee for the 110th Anniversary Celebration of Christianity in Ebira land.

Engineer Philip Omeiza was appointed chairman of the anniversary planning committee, while Mr Moses Bello was named Chairman of the Synod Central Planning Committee.

The resolutions, dated August 12, 2026, were adopted for implementation across the Diocese of Okene.