25th February 2006
The office of the Church of the Province of Central Africa would like to categorically refute some of the information masqueraded as facts that appeared in both The Nation and The Daily Times newspapers of Friday’s edition which is not only incorrect but misleading.
We are also very much saddened to note that some members of the press have turned out to be agents of the group of people who have chosen to subject the image of the Church to total disrepute through deliberate misrepresentation of the facts which at the end of the day will flare tempers and further complicate the present situation. This deliberate distortion of facts has put the Anglican Church in an awkward and disgraceful position.
Developments that are unfolding in the Diocese of Lake Malawi following the rejection of Nick Henderson are quite sad, and a recipe for disunity of the Church both in the country and Province as a whole. Therefore, there is need for the media to approach them with professional ethical conduct.
We anticipated that by virtue of their presence at the Diocesan Offices, members of the press could have reported the events as they unfolded other than being told what to write as has been portrayed. It is quite regrettable however, to note that some Children within the God’s family have resorted to behave in a manner that has embarrassed their own family, through the sealing of the Diocesan offices. There could have been a proper way of doing it other than going to this extent which is entirely unchristian and socially unbecoming.
It is far away from the truth that Archbishop Dr Bernard Malango had to run away using a back door after being held hostage as represented in the press. The truth of the matter is that the Archbishop was not at the Diocesan Offices as reported but at the offices of the Anglican Council in Malawi, (ACM) is an umbrella body of the Anglican Church in the country which he chairs when he was in a meeting with the ACM General Secretary and the Vicar General.
It should be put on record that neither the Diocesan headquarters nor the ACM offices have a back door which the Archbishop is alleged to have sneaked through and would not be seen. The Archbishop’s car was packed in the front of ACM offices where everyone could see him run away.
The Archbishop refused to talk to the group because there was no prior arrangement. On his refusal to talk to the press, the Archbishop followed what was agreed in one of the previous meetings with the Archdeacons in Lilongwe in which it was resolved that some of the issues that are coming out of the Nick Henderson’s saga were insensitive, therefore, they should not at any other point be argued through the press, to maintain the integrity of the Church. As a spiritual father, the Archbishop wanted to respect this resolution.
We would like to state clearly in contrast to Nick’s statement as quoted by the media that the Archbishop holds no personal vendetta towards him and in all his correspondences with his office, Nick has never complained of any personal animosity with him.
All media institutions and all other organisations and individuals in the country and outside should be convinced that the Court of Confirmation that rejected Nick in Lilongwe last year was composed of all the fifteen Bishops of the Province, therefore it is quite unchristian to personalize it only on the Archbishop. It was a collective decision and not a one man show. And, the Nick Henderson’s issue, as at now is a closed chapter in the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa.
It has to be truthfully emphasised that no any other individual from this Province has vested interests in the matter and we remain committed to seeing to it that spiritual reconciliation, in Lake Malawi Diocese is done. And in that respect, it is still the reiterated position of all the Bishops as Spiritual fathers, that to uphold the moral integrity of the Diocese of Lake Malawi, the decision made concerning the retired Bishop Leonard Jameson Mwenda, to serve in an interim capacity as Bishop for two years is still binding. Meanwhile the pastoral letter written and signed by all Bishops in the Province is circulating in all the parishes in Lake Malawi Diocese.
This office would also like to advise all Anglicans in the country never to be swayed by any financial or material inducements for them to depart from the Ecclesiastical teaching and discipline on which the Canons and Constitution is founded. Let Christians also be reminded that both Biblically and traditionally, we are compelled to respect those in authority both within the Church and community in general. As Christians let us behave in a manner that will reflect our true Christian values and safeguard the image of the Church.
Finally, we would like to pledge that we remain committed to the propagation of the true Gospel and we will stand firm against all foreign non Biblical teachings that are creeping in, in the name of civilization or modernism. We are fully committed in any way to safeguard the foundation of the Church in the country and work to frustrate all deliberate efforts that are being applied to break the Church to the gratification of a few individuals with irresolute faith.
Fr Eston Dickson Pembamoyo
Provincial Secretary.