Thinking Anglicans

further news from Africa

The Living Church reports in Pro-American Provincial Dean in Central Africa Ousted that the Bishop of Botswana, Trevor Mwamba has been removed as provincial dean:

…The Rt. Rev. Albert Chama, Bishop of Northern Zambia, was appointed to replace Bishop Mwamba as dean by the church’s General Synod, which began meeting on Sept. 6 in Mangochi, Malawi.

The government-backed Harare Herald reported Bishop Mwamba was “relieved of his duties” due to his “pro-gay” and pro-American lobbying, and because he misrepresented “the province’s position on the issue of homosexuals.”

From Kenya, the Nation reports New Anglican priest in dilemma over gay family.

From Rwanda, the New Times reports Country to Anoint U.S. Bishops.

Addendum
Some further comments concerning the Central Africa situation can be found here at Episcopal Café.

And Bishop Mwamba’s remarks in England last January can be found here.

Here’s another report from news24 ‘We will not indulge gays’.

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Lapinbizarre
Lapinbizarre
16 years ago

The Central African situation beggars description.

Just this week it was reported by “The Voice” that “the future appointment of Scotland’s former First Minister Jack McConnell as Britain’s High Commissioner to Malawi [where the General Synod at which Trevor has just been deposed was held] has caused an uproar because of his support for gay rights.”

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=11930

Time perhaps for the Global North to offer Alternative Primatial Oversight to Trevor Mawmba, and establish an alternative province for Central Africa that does not bash gays while giving a free pass to the disgusting bishop Kunonga of Harare.

JCF
JCF
16 years ago

Yes, if African hierarchs are going to “rescue” anti-gay Episcopalians in the U.S., it’s only fair for TEC to rescue “pro-gay” (so-called) Anglicans in Africa…

Lord have mercy!

Cheryl Clough
16 years ago

This is sad and not a surprise.

Some dioceses are more strict in what they will tolerate than others, e.g. some visiting teachers are banned in some dioceses.

This will take much prayer and guidance from God.

What is important is we do not surrender healing in the US.

Moses didn’t wait for the Pharoah or Amaleks to be convinced before he took the Israelites through Exodus. If you do that, the journey never starts.

Kurt
Kurt
16 years ago

“Time perhaps for the Global North to offer Alternative Primatial Oversight to Trevor Mawmba, and establish an alternative province for Central Africa that does not bash gays while giving a free pass to the disgusting bishop Kunonga of Harare.”—Lapinbizarre

Yes, indeed. But that will come about only after it is clear to most Western Churchmen/women that Akinola and his ilk have formed a separate Communion to ours.

Leonardo Ricardo
Leonardo Ricardo
16 years ago

“Akinola and his ilk have formed a separate Communion to ours.” Kurt

Yes, and then let the REAL Anglican Communion enthusiasm for a healthier spiritual life prosper (you know, the kind that isn’t based on fear/hate, exclusion, but IS based on spreading the “Good, inclusive, News” of “loving one another”…imagine, LOVE not superstitious hate/fear-mongering taboos and we REFUSE to segregate!

Martin Reynolds
Martin Reynolds
16 years ago

I met this bishop at the Ecclesiastical Law Society Conference in Liverpool and listened to his views as published above. I am absolutely amazed at this reaction – true he believed that people in Africa are being horribly manipulated and was determined to isolate the small group he felt was doing this, but when I questioned him he gave me no solace by his answers – from what he said I would have classed him as a firm conservative, solidly a “Windsor” bishop.

Malcolm+
Malcolm+
16 years ago

Following on Martin’s comments that Bishop Mwamba would be a conservative “windsor” bishop.

Of course, the action of the Archbishop is entirely consistent with the way extremists deal with a situation. It isn’t enough to silence those recalcitrant Liberals, it is equally necessary to silence any of those conservatives whose views are the least bit “suspect.”

After all, when the Bolsheviks won, all the social democrats were put up against the wall along with the tsarists.

MJ
MJ
16 years ago

It appears that the Province of Central Africa has now broken up. Read it all here:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709100678.html

Ford Elms
Ford Elms
16 years ago

“it is totally against the law of God,”

Where does Konunga, of all people, get off saying this? The man has more nerve than a toothache! He’d be more credible if he put as much energy into applying the law of God to his own affairs.

Göran Koch-Swahne
16 years ago

The Political Use of Prejudice.

Straight out of 3rd and 4th Laterans.

L Roberts
L Roberts
16 years ago

I like this prayer quoted by Trevor Mwamba :–
‘There is much to be thankful for to God. May our prayer be to paraphrase the late Lord Runcie that

“O’ God we lose not the critical faculty. Supremely reverence the truth and all learn to live together in the knowledge that in religion, as in all else, the same things do not appeal to everybody”.’

Mynsterpreost (=David Rowett)
Mynsterpreost (=David Rowett)
16 years ago

“due to the impasse created by a London-based gay cleric, Nickie Henderson, who wants to buy a bishopric in the province.”

Hm, more impressive reporting out of Africa….

Cheryl Clough
16 years ago

Malcolm Thank you for a vivid example of how tyranny respects no boundaries. It doesn’t matter if it is a secular, religious, or socialist, based of ethnic superiority, or economic selfishness. Kurt I agree this round first needs to be fully played out. In the next round it is going to be absurd, sending Christian missionaries into Christian countries to help other Christians who are at risk of being sent to concentration camps or killed for being Christian… having to teach how tyranny is an anathema to God and explaining that even Christianity can be perverted. Such missionaries might find… Read more »

Cheryl Clough
16 years ago

Corroborating Old Testament Texts: Jeremiah 32:35 “They built high places… to sacrifice their sons and daughters… though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing…” Isaiah 57:1-7 “The righteous perish… and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil… they find rest as they lie in death. “But you… Whom are you mocking?… Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars? …you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags. The idols… are your portion… to them you have… Read more »

L Roberts
L Roberts
16 years ago

“due to the impasse created by a London-based gay cleric, Nickie Henderson, who wants to buy a bishopric in the province.”

Disgraceful. Is no-one safe from such calumny ?

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