DIOCESE ON THE NIGER

STATION RULES/DISCIPLINE GUIDING WORKERS

A five-man committee was in the last Clergy workshop appointed by His Lordship, the Bishop, to come
up with rules and discipline guiding Diocesan workers in the Diocese on the Niger. The members are:

Ven. A. I. Ibe

Chairman

Rev. Canon Ebenny C Agogbua

Ven, T. I. Umeh

Rev. Canon B.I.I. Ugolo.

Rev. Friday Okonkwo

We wish to thank the Bishop for considering us capable, not that we are the most knowledgeable,
though. We also wish to make it clear to us that the Church emphasizes self discipline rather than forced
or false discipline in our calling and service to God. The intention is to guide the new generation of
workers who may, otherwise, have not known the discipline of our founding fathers..

The Committee came up with the following rules and regulations which we believe, if maintained, will
enhance peaceful and orderly co-existence among church workers in any given Parish or Station in the
Diocese on the Niger.
1.

The vicar is the Bishop's representative in the Parish where he is posted,

and by virtue of this position, he reserves highest level right of control

over every other worker: Curate, Catechist/Church Teacher, Accounts

Officer, Sexton, Yardman, etc., in the parish.

2. He watches over and reports to the Bishop on the conduct of the workers under him, and not the
other way round.

3. He deserves to know the whereabouts of every worker in the parish at any point in time; hence, no
worker goes out without his knowledge and consent.

4. The vicar seeks and promotes the welfare and peaceful coexistence among the workers under him,
thus, any form of disagreement or differences among workers should be channeled to him, and his godly
arbitration is final.

5.

Inasmuch as the vicar is meant to have the highest level of right, such right should not be abused; hence,
the rules of the Church and the Bible, especially where it concerns neighbour to neighbour and master-
servant relationship, should be the guiding principles.

6.
The rights enjoyed by the vicar should as well be. extended to his wife, especially where it concerns
women affairs, as honour and done to the wife is invariably done to the husband.

respect

7. Morning prayer of the Church is mandatory to all living on the compound, unless where special
considerations are applicable.

8. For those living in a compound with orchard, the fruits and palm products therein should be 'shared'
at the discretion of the vicar, who reserves the full right to all in the compound.

9.

No quarreling or complaints from the parsonage should be reported to, or

heard by those outsiders the parsonage families. Spending the night outside the church compound by
any worker without the express knowledge and permission of the vicar is highly unacceptable and is a
liable act. 10.

11. No visitor or even close relation of any worker spends the night or lives in the parsonage without the
knowledge and permission of the vicar.

12.

Attendance to church service and programs is mandatory to all living in

the church premises.

13. The vicar has the reserved right to all the thanksgiving items, or rather they belong to him and he
gives out to other workers by his discretion. To others it is not a right, but a privilege and should be
received with gratitude. Fairness should however be exercised by the vicar.

14.

There should be regular meetings and family fellowship for all workers,

and sometimes with the entire families in the station, as such forum

creates opportunity for understanding, communication and sharing of

moments of grief and joy.

15. Respect among the workers should be reciprocal; the junior ones paying compliments to the senior
and the senior workers responding cheerfully. The junior ones shall carry out the instructions of their
senior with absolute obedience and respect.

16. Functions for Services should be rotated accordingly to all, but areas of specialization should be
respected. Hence a workable duty roster should be prepared and used.

17.

The junior worker should in no wise accept any outside responsibility

without first informing the senior worker for express permission.

18. Any junior worker who refuses to learn or improve, or whose character, does not befit this noble
calling should be reported to the Diocesan without prejudice.

19. Being truthful and honest should be a norm in any given station.

20. Modesty in dressing should be upheld as it is a serious ethical crime for a church worker or any
member of the parsonage family to walk about either half-naked or in a manner unbefitting to
the ministry.
21. 21.

Unnecessary shouting, noise making, loud playing of

music,

increasing television volume should be prohibited in the parsonage,

or

22. Immoral living in the parsonage is unchristian and any such attitude discovered should be seriously
punished, hence visit of opposite sex at odd hours should be discouraged.

23. Fighting, use of foul and abusive languages and cursing should not be seen or heard in the

25. There should be a clear cut description of the works of each member of the parsonage family and
strict supervision should be conducted always by the vicar, hence, all should be up and doing in living up
to their responsibilities in the Church premises.

26. The Vicar or worker in-charge should keep a station log book for daily records of events, and also a
visitors' log book to be presented to any august visitor for comments on his/her impressions.
27. Adult Children in the parsonage should be trained to also adhere to the station rules, as to do
otherwise can put their parents into trouble. The Church compound and houses of the workers with
their environs

28.

must be kept clean, and beautified with flowers and ornamental trees.

29. As is the tradition of the Anglican Church, the trees in the compound, considering their economic
and health importance, should not be cut down except by the permission of the Parochial Church
Committee, but should be properly cared for.

30. Workers going on transfer should not uproot/harvest cassava less than six months old, and shall not
pluck unripe fruits or cut down any fruit tree. They should not come back for them except it is
yam/cocoa-yam.

31. The worker going on transfer should also ensure that the house and the compound he/she is
vacating is kept neat, with necessary repairs done before so as to create conducive environment for the
incoming workers to have a soft landing. Official hand-over and hand-over notes is highly essential.

32.

All the workers living in the parsonage, with their family members, should be mindful of how they
associate with the indigenous people. Their relationship should be cordial, but must be mindful and
careful enough to avoid compromising themselves and loosing respect and dignity before them.
Workers should avoid sharing their difference with them and as well avoid borrowing from them, or
buying goods on credit from them.

33. Principles of the Holy Order and Canonical obedience should be well communicated and known by
every adult member of the parsonage family as such knowledge will create the necessary mental
environment for peaceful coexistence among church workers.
34. The vicar reserves the right to make other rules and regulations outside this that will promote
peaceful co-existence among workers.

35. Any violation of the above station rules and regulations by the resident workers attracts appropriate
and commensurate punishment, either by the vicar or by the Diocesan, depending on the level of
offence committed.

Ven. A. I. Ibe For The Committee