What Do We Learn From the current Malawi Anglican Situation?

Charles Wemba writes against corruption and misuse of donor funds in high places.

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

The situation in the Diocese of Lake Malawi should help us all Christians grow spiritually.

Each and every Christian MUST know the mission statement (goal) of Christianity. To achieve this goal there are activities that are tailored for this goal in question. Surprisingly, most Anglican leaders in Malawi are playing netball with an aim of achieving a goal at a FOOTBALL GOAL POST. That is to say, corruption and fraud cannot lead an individual to an eternal life in Paradise.

Corruption and fraud have their own unique goal posts.
What we see now are just Religious Scandals in Malawi. The time that Archbishop Malango was in office issued a directive that Diocese of Lake Malawi should never receive services of any Bishop as long as the Laity is active. Ironically, the same retired Archbishop Malango is now serving at St Thomas Anglican Church in his Bishop attire. Though St Thomas is his tap root, he is managing the plants of the seeds he sowed in the entire Province. No wonder the problems in Upper Shire and Zimbabwe are worsening. Soon we will hear the Northern Region of Malawi joining the league. The basis of all this is Racism.

Most of African Anglican leaders, in their claimed SOUND Faith have deduced that the whites are not spiritually acceptable as leaders in African Anglican community. Well, if this is their objective why not communicate CLEARLY to all Christians about it, rather than changing statements in accusing innocent whites.

Indeed the Bible tells us about such events to happen in the last days. However, the Laity cannot afford to see this happening without protesting. What is important is for an individual to know his/her role, in implement either the stated bad things or the stated good things of the last days. We cannot win without contesting.

It is now becoming pathetic to hear Christian Donors supporting corruption (a reference to apparently misused donations to Church officials). If they donate things to the poor in good faith, then we should expect the same Donors to be against misuse of their donated items, unless there is a hidden agenda. The Laity believes in Contact and dialogue but hates imposing things/people illegally. Well, let me not preempt everything. You Donors, let us reason together and face facts. Do you want to tell us, the Laity, that as long as your items are functional you do not mind their misuse? Let us assume that you are the arm of the body of Christ. Do you want to imply that you do not mind what happens to other parts of the body? In other words, you do not mind what happened to the court of confirmation as long as your donated items are working, though illegally? Read 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 ‘If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?’

The Laity are trying to safeguard your donations but now you seem to ask us the time you employed us guards of your items. Let us know whether the donations were done religiously (Christ way) or politically and tally with your present reaction to justify your mode of donating (a questioning of the motivation of some donors).

Waiting for Answers.

Charles Wemba
(Lilongwe Laity Information Officer)