ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
‘Proud to be a voice for the voiceless in Central Africa’

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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION receives various mailings and contacts. Here is one from The Rev’d Tendai Mutongomanya of the Diocese of Harare, Zimbabwe carrying a letter from Paul Magaso.

If nothing else it gives another perspective but ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that this is a further example of how African Anglicanism has been forced to fight proxy wars that have their origin in the social and cultural struggles between conservative and liberal factions in the American Episcopal Church. These wars have also spread across the Anglican Communion and have pitted Anglican against Anglican resulting in often ridiculous and dangerous accusations.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that the Nolbert Kunonga faction described below is closely allied to the Mugabe regime and has indisputably been responsible for a great deal of totally unacceptable violence.
________________________________________
Harare Zimbabwe

Be man enough and take a stand!

From: Paul Magaso

‘The situation affecting our Anglican diocese of Harare since 2007, has seen a variety of reactions from different quarters. The resultant split of the Diocese of Harare [Kunonga faction] from the Church of the Province of Central Africa over homosexuality, has seen many opting to remain with the province and others going with the [Kunonga] diocese. However, a good number remained neutral, waiting for the dust to settle. I belonged to this middle group but have now decided that it’s time to make a decision.

For the past two years I have been toying with the idea of leaving the Anglican Church completely and joining a Pentecostal Church. The reason for my speculation was that I felt confused ever since the [Kunonga led] Synod of August 2007, whereby allegations of sympathy with homosexuality were leveled against the Church of the Province of Central Africa bishops. The Diocese of Harare, after a lengthy debate during the Synod, put forth a bold statement enshrined within an Act, that there would be no acceptance of homosexuality or lesbianism within the church, since it went contrary to the scriptures. This was communicated to us in the churches. It was also noted that many bishops of the CPCA, had started to sympathize with homosexuals.

The response from the Province, which denied that the issue at stake concerned homosexuality, left many perplexed. When Bishop Kunonga was “excommunicated” and priests loyal to him were fired and also cut off from the church by the acting Dean of the province, Bishop Albert Chama, for unclear reasons, that was the last straw for many of us. The church began to crumble and many of us opted to stay at home. We waited patiently for the emergence of the truth. Surprisingly, only Bishop Kunonga, his priests and followers, seemed courageous enough to remain steadfast on their anti-homosexuality stance. Bishop Sebastian Bakare and Bishop Chad Gandiya remained silent on this issue to this day, opting to level unproven political reasons for the chaos within the church. Rumours are rife that evidence in the form of documentary proof exists that proves Bishop Gandiya’s sympathy towards homosexuality, and that some day it will be exposed!

I have come to my own decision, and urge all those who stayed in their homes or joined other churches out of frustration to do like-wise. Homosexuality is a real issue that needs to be addressed and Bishop Kunonga and his followers have taken a position. Bishop Bakare and Bishop Chad Gandiya seem uncertain, and hide behind a smoke screen of politics. I have decided to join the Diocese of Harare headed by Bishop Kunonga and will return to church this coming Sunday. It’s a pity that many choose to continue to attend services under trees or on the hilltops for unknown reasons [members of the Provincial Diocese of Harare where church members have been forced to worship outside their buildings for fear of intimidation and violence from the Kunonga faction]. I for one will not emulate such practices since the church doors and gates remain open at the normal times. My challenge to the present Bishop Chad Gandiya is that he should be man enough to tell the world about his stance on homosexuality. His followers have the right to know!’

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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
‘A voice for the voiceless in the Anglican Central African Province’

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