Baptist Seminary Kaduna Urges Moral Renewal, Justice, and Civic Responsibility at 65th Ministers’ Conference

Baptist Seminary Kaduna Urges Moral Renewal, Justice, and Civic Responsibility at 65th Ministers’ Conference

The Baptist Theological Seminary, Kaduna, has reaffirmed the authority of Scripture and urged the Church in Northern Nigeria to lead by example in promoting honesty, compassion, and national transformation.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Seminary’s 65th Annual Ministers’ Conference, held from October 6–10, 2025, under the theme “The Authority of Scripture and the Mission of the Church in Troubled Times.”

The conference, organized by the Nigeria Baptist Convention for pastors across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, brought together over 4,000 pastors and 5,000 churches representing about four million Baptist members.

Delegates at the week-long meeting reaffirmed that obedience to God’s Word remains the only path to moral renewal, national peace, and spiritual revival. They also emphasized that the Church must not only preach salvation but live out biblical values that challenge corruption and promote integrity in society.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Rev. Dr. Mannaseh Panpe, Acting President of the Seminary, decried the extravagance in weddings and burials, describing it as a distortion of Christian values. It urged ministers to model moderation and godly contentment rather than promote burdensome cultural practices.

Expressing concern over the silence of some church leaders in the face of moral decay and injustice, the ministers called on clergy to “speak truth to power with courage and wisdom,” insisting that the Church must remain the conscience of the nation.

The Board of Governors of the Seminary pledged continued investment in theological education and leadership development, commending the management for hosting a spiritually enriching conference. It also announced plans to appoint a substantive President soon, while lauding the Seminary’s partnership with Bethel High School as a model for Christian education.

On national matters, the Conference lamented the low voter participation among Christians and directed pastors to encourage members to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing political engagement as both a civic and moral duty.

Delegates also acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in improving national security and unity but urged governments to sustain reforms and ensure justice for victims of violence.

Reacting to the United States Senate’s move to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom concerns, the ministers warned that such action could worsen insecurity and hinder access to needed security support. They appealed to international partners to pursue constructive engagement instead.

The Conference further called on government to address the growing economic hardship and insecurity in the country, urging leaders to govern with the fear of God and prioritize people’s welfare above political interests.