Unpleasant developments in Lake Malawi Diocese, Anglican Province of Central Africa – From the Secretary, House of Laity, Diocese of Lake Malawi.

We have learnt with great shock that the authorities (acting Dean Bishop Albert Chama and some of his fellow bishops) in this Central Province have decided to ignore the constitutional canons by agreeing to go for fresh elections for a bishop in Lake Malawi knowing that the people of Lake Malawi Diocese made a resolutions at both the Diocesan Synod and Archdeaconry Synods that they should take their case to Provincial Court (Canon 26, 5) and if not take it to the higher court (Canterbury - see Canons 26, 5 & 6)) as it is stipulated in the Canons. But honestly seeing the way our Bishops have been behaving we are not surprised at all that the following developments are about to take place.

1. We heard from reliable sources that the Dean Chama and his crew have decided for us the people of Lake Malawi Diocese that elections be held on 16th February 2008 and surprisingly the venue is to be at Malosa which is nowhere near Lake Malawi Diocese. If this issue is for Lake Malawi Diocese why take it to Upper Shire Diocese? This creates more suspicions. (Upper Shire is the former Archbishop Bernard Malango’s diocese)
2. Confirmation date is said to be 27th March. Why rush to decide on the date before whosoever is alleged to be the candidate has been cleared by the Church. This just verifies our fear all along that these people have a candidate in mind who they want to be their stooge.
3. Consecration date has been set on 27th May 2008. Is this Bishop going to work to reconcile with the Christians of LMD or he will just be on the position to work for his own selfish reasons. Because if indeed he is the chosen one by the Holy Spirit there would have been no need to rush him into this position. Serving God’s People is a calling by God not by man’s selfish reason.
4. It is also alleged that the Dean and his crew have in mind a candidate (Henry M’baya a Malawian working in South Africa who was the preferred choice of former Archbishop Malango at the original elections) who they are campaigning for. Has this man has a calling from God? If not he will succeed in bringing the Church of God further into shame.

Our question to the Bishops is, can there be a Shepherd without the people? To you Bishop Chama, don’t say you were not warned of causing problems in God’s Church. What makes you think the Christians of Lake Malawi are stupid and that can be treated like doormats. This will not work and for your information the whole diocese is aware of your impending plans to impose your stooge as bishop of Lake Malawi. What you have to remember is that you people are just in your positions today and tomorrow you are gone but we Christians will be here forever and history shall judge you and you will be haunted with us forever.

If the leadership of this Church really believes in Jesus Christ and wish will follow what their inner conscious tells them to do by putting Justice first not their personal wishes.

This Sunday’s we recalled the three wise men who were able to locate where Jesus Christ was born by following the shining star. My question is, is the leadership of this church following the shining star to guide God Church to where Jesus is or is it misguiding the Church. Please do the right thing and bring Justice to the Church first and only then world will be a better place to live.

May the good God touch the hearts of all the people in authority of his Church to do what Jesus would have done if he was in their position in handling the situation of Lake Malawi Diocese.

Jean Msosa-Maganga
Secretary
House of Laity

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports that this letter (originally in rather more robust form - we’ve toned it down as it graphically expressed the enormous anger and frustration of the people in Lake Malawi) has also been sent to the bishops of the Province of Central Africa. Acting Dean Chama has now firmly boxed himself into bluffing through a panicked and highly questionable election, which completely ignores canonical and synodical processes. He has effectively called the election on the authority of the Lake Malawi standing committee (reported in earlier releases and where laity were ordered not to speak). This is uncanonical and unlawful as the standing committee cannot overrule the Synod. This action bears the characteristic hallmarks of man who is desperate to conclude the election and get his appointee in place. Unfortunately for him, he does not have the wholehearted support of his bishops as has already been publically declared.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reminds Bishop Chama that it is a serious mistake not to follow correct synodical procedures and in his arbitrary action, by flouting the Constitution and alienating the people, he is doing exactly what his former friend dissident Bishop Nolbert Kunonga is doing in the Diocese of Harare, Zimbabwe. The Diocese of Lake Malawi is divided and agitated enough already and this non- canonical, not universally agreed imposed action could ignite civil war.

The old authoritarian and dictatorial styles of episcopal leadership in Central Africa are becoming increasingly anachronistic, if not downright foolish, in a rapidly changing world where easy access to the Internet and telephony gives world-wide publicity to scandal, mismanagement and what is happening here before the public gaze – downright fraud.

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