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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports news from the Financial Gazette A number of news sources have taken up the story of the continuing fallout resulting from happenings at the recent Central African Provincial Synod held on 8th September in Malawi. The end result of this ill-tempered Synod has been a chaotic residue with Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, Bishop of Harare, a close ally of President Mugabe, Zimbabawe, claiming that the Province has broken up and that his Diocese has seceded from it. It is generally thought that at the Synod the Bishops succumbed to intimidatory pressure from Bishop Nolbert Kunonga and also allowed themselves to be influenced by extraordinary claims about homosexuality from American websites. Kunonga is a fearsome character, not to be lightly trifled with, and one who is backed up by the Mugabe controlled state of Zimbabawe. Only Bishop Christopher Boyle and Trevor Mwamba seem to have had the courage to stand against him. The resultant chaos and uncertainty, together with a growing number of revelations of what actually happened, have clearly angered and distressed a large number of people associated with the legacy of this final Synod held under the oversight of the former Archbishop of the Province, Bernard Malango. Amongst the ordinary people there is consternation and anger as the future, having been previously agreed at the Lake Malawi Synod, has now been thrown into doubt. This apparently at the whim of the Bishops, who are probably reluctant to have the proceedings of the Provincial Court of Confirmation (which failed to endorse the election of the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson as Bishop, in November 2005) examined too closely. As a principal contributor to this fray Bishop Nolbert Kunonga has levelled serious accusations about homosexuality at some of his fellow Zimbabwean Bishops, about the Bishop – elect of Lake Malawi, the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson, guest visitors from USPG the Rt Rev’d Michael Doe, General Secretary and the Rev’d Chad Gandiya, USPG Regional Desk Officer for Africa, and the Rt Rev’d Trevor Mwamba, Bishop of Botswana. This list of ‘suspects’ have been variously accused of being gay, pro-gay or funding pro-gay activities, with Bishop Mwamba himself being described by Kunonga in the state controlled Zimbabawe ‘Herald’ newspaper on 15th September as ‘an avowed homosexual’. Not surprisingly responses to these wild and politically motivated accusations have begun to emerge. Reporter, Trevor Grundy writing for the networked Ecumenical News International (www.eni.ch/news) and in Episcopallife online (www.episcopal-life.org) has quoted Bishop Mwamba of Botswana as ‘speaking from his office in Gaborene, Botswana and saying, “The decision taken by the Bishop of Harare (to leave the Province) is tantamount to a schism. The next logical step is for the Bishop of Harare to resign’’ – Mwamba noted that the issue of homosexuality raised at the Malawi Synod was “simply a cover for the real underlying issue; a quest for power.”’ It is widely thought that Bishop Kunonga would like to have himself declared Archbishop of the Province or at least of Zimbabwe. His track record, which includes being absolved from a trial, by the then Archbishop Bernard Malango, in which he was accused of incitement to murder amongst a large number of charges, indicates that he is associated with some horrendous activity. Speaking to the U.K. Church of England Newspaper on 19th September, Bishop James Tengatenga, Bishop of South Malawi (himself recently criticised by Bernard Malango) stated, rather naively, that he ‘could not understand why Bishop Kunonga would make such scurrilous accusations’. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that the Provincial Synod had in fact affirmed the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 and that there is absolutely no sign of any homosexuality or pro homosexual activity on the part of any of those accused by Kunonga or indeed as they have been from time to time by Malango. The Rev’d Chad Gandiya of USPG in a letter to the U.K. Church Times, Friday 28th September also writes that “accusations against him and USPG are unfounded, misguided and mischievous”. On the same letters page the Rt Rev’d Sebastian Bakare, former bishop of the Zimbabwean Diocese of Manicaland writes “that homosexuality, currently a non-issue in Zimbabwe, has been brought up demonstrates the total irrelevance of the Church leadership. People are certainly not sleeping with empty stomachs because of homosexuality…..I am deeply concerned about the direction that the Church leadership is taking at such a crucial time in our nation.” However, the most substantial article in the Church Times is a three column contribution from Bishop Trevor Mwamba headed ‘What is really going on now in Zimbabawe – Bishop Kunonga’s attempts to break from his Province are part of his wider desire for supremacy’. In the article he plays amusingly, speaking of the accusations levelled against him, on the famous Mark Twain comment ‘the report of my homosexuality is a gross exaggeration’. Humour is absent in the rest of the article because there is nothing to laugh about in the foolishness that is now afflicting the Province of Central Africa. Mwamba reports of the now infamous Provincial Synod that ‘The delegates were dismayed (to learn) that in effect the Province had somehow become pro-homosexual overnight’ ….. ‘consequently, the diocese of Harare announced that it was pulling out of the Province to safeguard its faith and principles’…. He notes that in fact ‘The Synod summarily dismissed the issue of homosexuality, as something connected to the diocese of Harare. To underline its stance, it unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming Lambeth 1.10 and the Windsor process. It stated (contrary to the wishes of American schismatic groups) that the Bishops would be attending the Lambeth Conference 2008 (Bishop Kunonga excepted as he is banned from entry into the UK and hasn’t in any case received an invitation’ Bishop Mwamba’s article continues to explain that despite claims to the contrary by Kunonga he (Kunonga) did not have support from all the other dioceses in Zimbabwe, not least Central Zimbabwe where Bishop Ismael Mukuwanda has also issued a public statement ‘denying that his diocese was supporting a breakaway bid.’ The Mwamba article then goes on at some length to explain how Harare could not legally pull out of the Province and it recalls how the then Archbishop Bernard Malango had ‘flagrantly short-circuited the due process of law by dismissing the (above mentioned) case for serious charges against Kunonga’ In concluding paragraphs Bishop Mwamba muses (in a veiled criticism of Bernard Malango) ‘Perhaps we are all to blame. As Bishop Kunonga says, the weakness has always been in the church leadership. There is now an urgent need for decisive leadership that is able to comply with the constitution and canons. Most delegates at the Provincial Synod realised that homosexuality was a cover for the real underlying issue: a quest for power. The vicious slanders that are being spread to tarnish the reputations of some bishops are intended to ensure that when the electoral-college meets to elect the next Archbishop of Central Africa these Bishops will stand little chance of success. Reflecting on what is happening in our Province and in the (Anglican) Communion in general makes me realise that we need to refocus on the mission of the Church. As the 1998 lambeth Conference wisely reminded us “Mission is God’s way of loving and saving the world.” During this trying period, we must stand together and advance the word of God, through actions of forgiveness, compassion and tolerance towards one another. Only in this way can we reclaim in humility the mission that has been entrusted to us.’ ANGLICAN-INFORMATION also muses that Bishop Trevor Mwamba is a man to watch in the Anglican Communion. He has, almost alone, among the Bishops, stood up courageously against intimidatory pressures in the Province of Central Africa and during the frankly disastrous regime of Bishop Bernard Malango and he has paid a high price for doing so, being effectively sacked as Dean. His stature has grown, as he has become a wise and informed bridgehead between Africa and the rest of the Anglican Communion. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION comments: For the last several years the Province of Central Africa (like other parts of Africa) has been the victim of interfering American schismatics whose agenda has somewhat naively been embraced by the then Archbishop Bernard Malango, who has been a willing stooge for the machinations and struggles being played out in the American Episcopal Church. Constant attacks and libellous accusations of homosexuality by conservative American websites on individuals and particular Bishops have, alas, also been accepted at face value by some naturally conservative Bishops in the Central African Province. It seems that the conservative and orthodox position of the African Bishops has subsequently been used by American schismatic factions, currently gathering their own crop of ‘irregular’ Bishops at a rate of knots. As a result there is the danger of a new kind of Babylonian captivity emerging where superficially Africans are portrayed as being in charge but in reality they are being used by dissident Americans to their own ends. The result in Central Africa has been mayhem, to the apparent online delight of schismatic websites. Despite this tragic situation, hopefully, now that Malango has retired as Archbishop, and will also do so as Bishop of Upper Shire at the end of December, a more measured and thoughtful regime could replace him. It would be greatly helped in this by the demise of the current political regime in Zimbabwe, otherwise acres more newsprint will need to be reserved for articles similar to this one. Lastly, it should also be noted that any decent psychoanalyst could not but help note the Freudian undertones associated in the whole mad scenario currently being played out in the Anglican Communion and not least in the much put upon and used, Province of Central Africa. An obsessional interest in homosexuality displayed by those who are busy making accusations whether on Internet websites online or at Synodical gatherings might well be driven by some dark underlying personal secrets. As usual Shakespeare understands devious human nature well "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."* Hamlet (Act III, ii, 239) *Queen Gertrude speaks these famous words to her son, Prince Hamlet, while watching a play at court. Gertrude does not realize that Hamlet has staged this play to trap her and her new husband, King Claudius, whom Hamlet suspects of having murdered his father. She also does not realize that the lady who "doth protest too much" is actually herself, as the Player King and Queen represent King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. The former will be poisoned (in this play within the play) by the King's brother, as in reality (Hamlet suspects) Claudius killed King Hamlet. Gertrude's statement is in response to the play-Queen's repetitive statements of loyalty to and love of her first husband. ………………….. 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. Information received by the network is sent privately and anonymously worldwide by As many recipients do not have access to fast Internet connections most items are simple copy-pasted for ease of access. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION does not claim any authority for items posted other than that of the contacts or authors ascribed to the articles. Every endeavour is made to present accurate information. Individual questions for clarification or items for publication can be e-mailed to: If you wish to be removed from the mailing list or to request that an e-mail address should be added to future mailings simply send your request to: Some archive material of public domain releases can be found at: |
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