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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
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Anglican Province of Central Africa ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports on the farewell service for former Archbishop Bernard Malango held on Saturday 3rd November in Malosa Secondary School, Zomba with guest of honour Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika. As reported in the Malawi Nation newspaper (available www. nationmw. net) without the least trace of irony ‘Outgoing Archbishop Bernard Malango of the Anglican Diocese of Upper Shire in Malawi has advised churches to participate in "clean politics" instead of being partisan and splitting people, which he said is against the wish of God.’ Echoing the same sentiments that Bishop Trevor Mwamba, Bishop of Botswana has recently encouraged Malango is reported as saying: "Our politics should be geared towards curtailing hunger and poverty, fighting corruption and HIV and Aids and reflecting on the true love of Jesus Christ, among others." Readers will recall that Archbishop Malango subsequently arranged for the effective sacking of Bishop Mwamba as Dean of The Province, in September this year, for expressing the very same views and for suggesting that hunger and poverty, fighting corruption and HIV and Aids might be a priority over concerns about homosexuality – a preoccupation that has dogged Malango’s Archiepiscopate. The Malawi Nation reports President Mutharika has having made a speech at the farewell service in which he ‘commended Malango for serving the church with dedication and humility.’ "Indeed Archbishop Malango has fought a good fight spiritually. As we congratulate him for this achievement, we must know that his wife has contributed significantly towards the outcome," said Mutharika.’ Eyewitness accounts from the event have captured in rather more detail the nuanced comments from the President addressed to Bernard Malango: “You (Anglican) bishops must make sure that you follow the regulations of the Church” and “When you see people leaving the Church you must ask yourself why they are going.” President Bingu wa Mutharika was himself an Anglican but converted to the Roman Catholic Church because, it is said, he was disillusioned with the behaviour of the bishops. The President also quoted memorably and pointedly during his speech “There is the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and then there is the unholy trinity I, myself and me” Among those present at the occasion were Roman Catholic bishop Thomas Msusa of Zomba Diocese, some Anglican bishops, visitors from Zambia and a visiting, mysterious and as yet unidentified ‘Archbishop from the USA’. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION comments: As Bernard Malango’s capricious influence finally comes to an end, the subliminal power struggle that is now in train will intensify for control of a Central Anglican Province that is currently wrestling with two secessionist dioceses in Zimbabawe, a near farcical and grossly mishandled (but still unresolved) election for bishop of Lake Malawi diocese, a pending election in Upper Shire diocese, and continuing interference from American conservative factions; all of which will need resolution before a new Archbishop can be elected. Readers’ prayers would be appreciated as perhaps only Divine intervention can make sense of it all. ……………….END……………….. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION ANGLICAN-INFORMATION is a network acting as a free conduit for news and information related to the Anglican Diocese of Lake Malawi, and the Province of Central Africa. It is organised by an international team of those who know and love Africa and Malawi well. We reserve the right to reflect on the news as we receive it for the benefit of our worldwide audience. Some archive material of public domain releases can be found at: |
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