The Bishop of Ijebu Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev’d Dr Peter Rotimi Oludipe., has charged Anglican clergy under his jurisdiction to ground their ministry in spiritual strength drawn from Christ as they step into the 2026 ecclesiastical year.

Delivering his New Year charge at a Clergy and Wives convocation  meeting, Bishop Oludipe cautioned against an overreliance on office, titles, and endless church activities, stressing that sustainable and effective ministry can only flow from daily dependence on God. He took his exhortation from Ephesians 6:10, reminding the clergy that the call to be “strong in the Lord” is both a spiritual discipline and a survival strategy for ministry.

The Bishop acknowledged the growing realities confronting priests, including pastoral fatigue, spiritual dryness, and institutional pressure, noting that many ministers struggle silently under the weight of expectations. According to him, when clergy substitute divine strength with administrative structures or personal exertion, burnout becomes unavoidable.

He urged priests to intentionally cultivate spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation on God’s word, and personal devotion, describing them as non-negotiable foundations for faithful service. Bishop Oludipe also emphasized the importance of moral integrity, obedience to church order, and fraternal accountability among clergy, describing these as means of grace that preserve credibility and longevity in ministry.

“The Church is not built by activity alone, but by men and women who are first strengthened by God,” the Bishop stated, adding that programmes and strategies must flow from a life already surrendered at the feet of Christ.

In his concluding remarks, Bishop Oludipe reminded the clergy that God’s power is perfected in human weakness, urging them to approach the new year with humility and dependence rather than pressure and performance. He challenged them to begin 2026 not with anxiety over plans and targets, but with a renewed posture of surrender before God.

The charge was received as a timely call to spiritual renewal, setting a reflective tone for the Diocese as it prepares for the demands and opportunities of ministry in the new year.