US court rules it cannot block Church of Nigeria’s restructuring of Indiana diocese

US court rules it cannot block Church of Nigeria’s restructuring of Indiana diocese

A superior court in Indiana, US, has given a verdict in favour of the Church of Nigeria and its senior clerics.

The court ruled that the dispute over the dissolution of the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT) is a purely ecclesiastical matter that civil courts cannot adjudicate.

ADOTT is a member of the Church of Nigeria North American Mission (CONNAM), a missionary initiative of the Church of Nigeria.

The legal conflict began in early 2024, when ADOTT sued the Church of Nigeria; Nathan Kanu, coordinating bishop of CONNAM; Henry C. Ndukuba, primate of the Church of Nigeria; CONNAM; Anglican Church of the Resurrection, Inc.; and Area One Great Lakes Missionary Region in the suit marked 49D01-2401-PL-003210.

ADOTT had asked the court to stop the Church of Nigeria from carrying out an unlawful dissolution of an Indiana-registered corporation. The diocese claimed the Church of Nigeria exceeded its authority and interfered with its corporate existence.

In February 2024, the court granted a temporary injunction, stopping the Church of Nigeria from taking further steps affecting ADOTT pending full consideration of the case.