ANGLICAN-INFORMATION has a lively postbag and occasionally we publish some of the letters received. The open letter below touches on some key points concerning the current situation in the Diocese of Lake Malawi and the unwise (in our opinion) forcing of a new election in dubious circumstances for a new bishop, on the part of acting Dean of the Central African Province, Bishop Albert Chama - supported by the deafening silence of the other Provincial bishops.

However, it should be pointed out that two of the Provincial bishops, Bishop Trevor Mwamba of Botswana and Bishop Christopher Boyle of Northern Malawi, asked that their names be publicly recorded as not agreeing to the plan when under the then Archbishop Bernard Malango a decision was made last year by the bishops to over-ride agreed synodical processes and to force another election.

As we have pointed out before bishops are to be ‘servants of the people' as well as ‘fathers in God' but the bishops of the Central African Province seem only to have remembered the latter – hence all the projected trouble ahead.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO BISHOP ALBERT CHAMA

I greet you in the name of our Lord Christ Jesus.

I write as a concerned Christian in the Diocese of Lake Malawi.I am one of the people who was for and still am for fresh elections in the DOLM. But the criteria used to organise the elections leaves a lot to be desired. Already rumours are awash that the elections will be bogus and that the results will be nullified as you will declare that none of the candidates do qualify.

It is rumoured that you have a person in mind who is not among the proposed candidates. That person is one Mbaya and that you intend to impose him on the Christians of DOLM. As I have already said the criteria used for these elections leaves a bad taste in the mouth and this gives clout to the rumours going on.

There should have been set minimum qualifications for the candidates to be eligible for the post. My Bishop, this no ordinary position. This Bishop elect will need to meet high profile people. He will have to travel worldover for conventions, to source funds for the diocese and a host of other chores that go with the post.

What you are brewing is a recipe for more trouble. I for one I expect better than this from you!

Your response/clarification on this issue will be greatly appreciated.

E.K Mbamba

Diocese of Lake Malawi

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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION notes that the qualifying requirements for bishops listed in this letter have already been fulfilled in the Diocese of Lake Malawi's existing choice of legitimately elected bishop. Why Archbishop Malango and now his protégé Bishop Chama should want to overthrow that choice invites conjecture.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION will publish Bishop Chama's reply – should it become available.

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