Divisions harden in Upper Shire

From Anglican Information

In our last release we reported that the Court of Confirmation for the new bishop of Upper Shire, The Rev’d Brighton Malasa would be held on 3rd March. In fact it will be held on Sunday 1st March in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This is as far away from the Diocese of Upper Shire as the provincial bishops can manage, in order to avoid protests at their unpopular choice of candidate who is seen as an imposed choice.

A correspondent writes from Upper Shire:
‘The bishops issue is still in tense situation here. Confirmation in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe! - on 1st March 2009, but the question is why are they confirming a bishop when people in the diocese have raised issues concerning the imposed bishop’s morals?

These parishes have written against the proposed bishop: Malindi, Chinamwali, Nkope, Monkey Bay, Liwonde, Zomba (St. George’s), Mangochi Boma and his own cathedral parish. All these parishes make the same claims against him regarding drunkenness, sexual immorality and misuse of church funds.’

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that these are very serious allegations, from a large number of the parishes in Upper Shire, against Malasa who will become the world’s youngest bishop if the consecration goes ahead.

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Whatever happens this cannot be good. What happens when the shepherds play dice with one another and ignore the sheep? What is the purpose of bishops separated from the people?

But, of course, if you were once Archbishop Malanga's chaplain, these questions will probably not weigh heavily in your prayers.

Presumably Brighton Malasa will have to be installed in his Cathedral as a symbol of unity of the church in Upper Shire and of the unity of the worshipping people with the church universal. He won't be the first bishop to be consecrated in the teeth of fierce opposition, and sometimes the local people have come to love a bishop they first opposed. But on the whole such opposition has been based on doctrinal division not accusations of personal impropriety; difficult appointments have been made where, taken by and large, the college of bishops were respected even if the individual was not. The prognosis here cannot be good.

To push through this appointment against such local opposition, not even, so far as I can see, taking opposition seriously enough to address and counter it, is a recipe for division and schism. Anglican polity is such that the only real power the laity have is to leave, to the diminishment of all concerned.



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Pawns and hostages

Jestina Mukoko

Anglican Information reports:

The Diocese of Northern Malawi
The Rt Rev’d Christopher Boyle, whose resignation as bishop of Northern Malawi we reported in our last issue, is to take up a new position in the Diocese of Leicester, UK. Formerly under the patronage of USPG he will become an Assistant Bishop in Leicester with special responsibility for immigrant communities. His surprise announcement comes at a time when many internal pressures continue in the Central African Province.

The Diocese of Upper Shire
The Rev’d Brighton Malasa, the thirty year old nominee of the Provincial Bishops will be confirmed as bishop at a Court of Confirmation to be held in Zimbabwe on 3rd March. If and when consecrated Malasa will become the youngest serving bishop in the Anglican Communion. Correspondents have pointed out that there is a precedent for such a youthful appointment, albeit 61 years ago, in the person of William J Gordon Jr who in 1948 was elected as Bishop of Alaska aged 29½ when he had to wait until his 30th birthday before being consecrated. Gordon was bishop for 26 years - Brighton Malasa, it is feared by priests and people in Upper Shire, could be in office for 35.

The Diocese of Lake Malawi, continues without its elected bishop as he was declared to have been of ‘unsound faith’ at the Court of Confirmation held in November 2005. This highly suspect judgement continues to be disputed as a ‘grave injustice’ by the priests and people of the diocese and fresh court cases challenging the bishops over their action are expected.

The Primates of the Anglican Communion have called for a day of ‘Prayer and Solidarity’ with the people of Zimbabwe ‘noting with horror the appalling difficulties of the people’ and stating ‘we do not recognise the status of Nolbert Kunonga and Elson Jakazi’ the excommunicated former bishops of Harare and Manicaland. This Day of Prayer is to be observed on Ash Wednesday, 25th February.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION have been asked to circulate the following from Veritas

PEACE WATCH, Zimbabwe, which is offered as a focus for churches everywhere observing the Day of Prayer. Readers will observe that those listed are real people languishing in terrible circumstances for standing up against oppression and dictatorship. The people of Central Africa have never lacked courage against injustice – we salute them.

[23rd February 2009]

Hospitalised Abductees Put in Leg Irons and Shackles
Jestina Mukoko, Fidelis Chiramba, Gandhi Mudzingwa, Zachariah Nkomo and Chinoto Zulu are still receiving treatment in the Avenues Clinic. They are all gaining strength but will need prolonged treatment. They are in wards being strictly guarded by prison warders and police - at least some of whom are armed. It is totally unnecessary and shocking that today they were put into leg-irons and shackled to their beds. This is very alarming for the patients as they are worried that it may signal an intention to try and return them to Chikurubi.

Summary of the Situation on Abductees
Group 1. [The 9 accused of recruiting persons to undergo training for insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism, the "recruiter group"] Of this group, 2 are in hospital - Jestina Mukoko, Zimbabwe, Peace Project [ZPP] Director, and Fidelis Chiramba. The other 7 - Broderick Takawira, ZPP, Concillia Chinanzvavana, Emmanuel Chinanzvavana, Pieta Kaseke, Violet Mupfuranhehwe, Collen Mutemagau and Audrey Zimbudzana - are still in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

Group 2. [The 7 accused of sabotage, the "bomber group"]. Of this group, 3 are in hospital - Gandhi Mudzingwa, Zacharia Nkomo and Chinoto Zulu. The other 4 - Chris Dhlamini, Mapfumo Garutsa, Andrison Manyere and Regis Mujeyi, are still in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, despite an order issued by Justice Karwi and a more recent magistrates court order issued on Friday morning for their immediate transfer to the Avenues Clinic for medical treatment. The medical condition of Chris Dhlamini, in particular, was highlighted by Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights as needing hospitalisation as long ago as 6th February.

Court case are continuing for all the abductees who have not yet been admitted to hospital [all have been tortured and their lawyers and doctors insist they should all be where they can receive appropriate treatment which they cannot get in Chikurubi] and also for the State to drop charges and release them.

[See end for summary of court proceedings since last Peace Watch]

Some Abductees still Missing
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights [ZLHR] are dealing with 30 cases of reported abductees. So far only 23 abductees have been accounted for - 5 in hospital, 11 in Chikurubi, 3 released, 1 escaped to South Africa and 3 located but being held in police protective custody as State witnesses.

ZLHR lawyers are taking a habeas corpus case asking the State to produce the remaining 7 on their list, who have not yet been located. The 7 are Gwenzi Kahiya, Ephraim Mabeka, Lovemore Machokota, Graham Matehwa, Peter Munyanyi, Charles Muza and Edmore Vangirayi. [Note Mr Tsvangirai when he threatened to withdraw from negotiations last year unless all the abductees were produced, mentioned that there were more than 42, so it could be that there are others, names unknown, missing.]

Abductees being used as Political Pawns?
The circumstances of the abductees' "disappearances", their illegal detention and torture by State agents, the refusal of the State to comply with numerous court orders and the delay in getting a Supreme Court hearing on the Constitutional violations involved, point to deliberate stalling pending a political decision.

Coming up in Court
Tuesday 24th February: High Court - defence appeal against the provincial magistrate's decision refusing to release Fidelis Chiramba and others of the "recruiter group'.

Friday 27th February: Magistrates court - further remand proceedings for Concillia et al [the "recruiter group"].

Friday 6th March: Magistrates court - further remand hearing for Dhlamini et al [the "bomber group"]. The prosecutor has been ordered to name a trial date at this hearing.

Date not fixed for Supreme Court - Constitutional Test Cases In these cases lawyers for Jestina Mukoko, Broderick Takawira and Audrey Zimbudzana will argue that the infringements of constitutional rights involved in their abduction and unlawful detention [including allegations of torture] mean that the State cannot prosecute them.

Abductees Court Proceedings since 16th February
[for full details see ZLHR reports available from kumbi@zlhr.org.zw]

Wednesday 18th February: Members of the Dhlamini et al group were due back in court, and the much-delayed police report on their allegations of torture at the hands of State Security personnel was expected to be filed. However, once again the report was not available and the magistrate postponed the proceedings to 20th February, ordering the prosecutor to provide the defence with a copy of the report by 19th February.

Thursday 19th February: Justice Omerjee granted bail to four members of the Dhlamini et al group: Chinoto Zulu, Zachariah Nkomo, Mapfumo Garutsa and Regis Mujeyi. They have not, however, been released, because the State immediately notified the court of its intention to appeal, resulting in the suspension of the judge's order granting bail. [Justice Omerjee turned down applications for bail from the other members of the group - Chris Dhlamini, Gandhi Mudzingwa and Andrison Manyere.]

Friday 20th February: Four members of the Dhlamini group appeared in the magistrates court. The magistrate directed the prosecutor to set a trial date and ordered that the four be taken immediately to the Avenues Clinic for examination and treatment [an order not yet complied with].

No role model will do

Out of 100 American teens, only three are likely to say they see members of the clergy as role models, according to a survey on teens and ethical decision making.

Well, that's a relief.

Though I've never believed in 'role models'. The idea that you could influence people's behaviour for the better, let alone teenager's behaviour, by asking them to copy the achievements of other people that moralistic adults think they should follow is, at best, wishful thinking and, at worst, deliberate self-deception.

If there is anything at all in a 'role model' I think it's much more likely to work the other way round. Youngsters will (if it occurs to them to bother - or, perhaps, to satisfy the questions of adult enquirers) choose people who they think do the things they want to do - whether it's armed robbery or olympic achievement, billionaires or drop-outs.

On the other hand this report says,

“There is a troubling incongruence between the degree to which teens feel ethically prepared to enter the workforce, and the unethical behaviors in which they engage,” commented David W. Miller, director of the Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative and professor of business ethics at Princeton University, according to JA Worldwide.

“The survey results do prompt concerns about teens’ future workplace behavior and forecast serious challenges to businesses around how they will need to prepare and train these future leaders,” he added.

But even so, I'm not that worried. The gap between teenage anticipation of the working environment and reality is vast. What is most likely is that they will slip naturally into the ethical behaviour of their workplace as they grow into it. Therefore it's not the teenagers we should worry about so much as the existing ethical standards in places of employment - i.e. those of the present adults.

So perhaps that's another reason why teenagers shouldn't emulate clergy. Who'd want to be in a business marked by systemic dishonesty and self-censorship?

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Cholera

WHO: 80,250 cholera cases have been recorded to date, and 3,759 Zimbabweans have died from the disease.

Homosexual clergy: a little local matter

Twin sets of Lutherans waiting for the reccommendation in 2007

Lutherans weigh making gay clergy a local decision


Associated Press

A task force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommended that course Thursday in a long-awaited report on ministry standards. The panel, however, said the church needs to clarify a number of questions before overhauling its gay clergy policy.

The report, issued at the same time as a broader church social statement on human sexuality, seeks balance on an issue dividing many Protestant churches. Both documents will be considered in August in Minneapolis at the biannual convention of the 4.7-million member denomination.

"At this point, there is no consensus in the church," said the Rev. Peter Strommen of Prior Lake, Minn., chairman of the 15-member task force on sexuality. "The question ends up being, 'How are we going to live together in that absence of consensus?'

"This ought not to be church-dividing, even if there are strong differences."

Church members on both sides of the issue, however, were dissatisfied with the proposal. Conservatives called it a rejection of Scripture and an advocate for gay clergy said some of the elements take "a step backward."

Gays and lesbians can now serve as clergy in the ELCA if they remain celibate, although some congregations have challenged the system and hired pastors in gay relationships. Heterosexual clergy and professional lay workers are to abstain from sex outside marriage.

Between August 2006 and July 2007 Pastor Bradley Schmeling of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta was tried before the church's disciplinary processes for his committed relationship with Rev. Darin Easler. The congregation of the church stood in solidarity with Pastor Schmeling and full details of the events of the trial are still on the church's website. Bradley Schmeling was eventually "removed from the ELCA roster". Nonetheless he remains in post and the bishop at the time, and his successor, have not pursued him further.

It is expected, hoped, that he will be the last to face such discipline.

In November 2007 the local option was the route chosen by Norway's state Lutheran Church. Here.

There's little comfort in knowing it's not just Anglicans torn apart in the culture wars. I hope they make a better fist of it than we've managed to date. If they want a covenant we've got a spare they can have.

A sermon in Washington

Mma Ramotswe

A sermon preached at the annual convention of the Diocese of Washington
By Trevor Mwamba

Botswana is in the southern part of Africa and is renowned for its working democracy and economic prosperity. But I think that for many of you Botswana is famous for Mma Ramotswe, the heroine of the bestselling series of books: The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith.

Mma Ramotswe, you will be delighted to hear is a very devout Episcopalian! In the book, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, in which I appear, Mma Ramotswe comes to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana when I am preaching. But, Mma Ramotswe is not concentrating on the sermon as her mind is wandering on how to solve a case involving a pumpkin. She stops herself and thinks, “This is not the way to listen to Trevor Mwamba!”

Always worth listening to.

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How important is your religion?

From Gallup

This is the map of how important religion is to the residents of the couyntries polled.

The range in the US states was also wide.

Gallup says:

a population's religiosity level is strongly related to its average standard of living. Gallup's World Poll, for example, indicates that 8 of the 11 countries in which almost all residents (at least 98%) say religion is important in their daily lives are poorer nations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 10 least religious countries studied include several with the world's highest living standards, including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Hong Kong, and Japan. (Several other countries on this list are former Soviet republics, places where the state suppressed religious expression for decades.)

I guess it all depends on where you start from as to what the religious world looks like.

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Fallen from Grace

Dis Grace, First Shopper, Grasping Grace

From the Sunday Times

ZIMBABWE’S President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace have secretly bought a £4m bolt-hole in the Far East while his country struggles with hyper-inflation, mass unemployment and a cholera epidemic.

The Mugabes’ house, in an exclusive residential complex in Hong Kong, was purchased on their behalf by a middleman through a shadowy company whose registered office is in a run-down tenement block. When a reporter and a photographer called at the house last week, they were attacked by the Zimbabwean occupants. The assailants were questioned by the police.

The property came to light during a Sunday Times investigation into the Mugabes’ financial interests in Asia, where a web of associates has helped them to spend lavishly on luxuries and stash away millions in bank accounts. In Zimbabwe, meanwhile, inflation has reached 231m%, unemployment stands at 94% and 3,467 people have died in recent months from cholera.

...

All here

News from Zimbabwe

Roy Bennett, victim of power play in Zimbabwe

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION comments that following the recent ‘swearing in’ of Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe hopes have been been high for a new era of power sharing in Zimbabwe. However, already with the arrest of Roy Bennett MDC treasurer and deputy agricultural minister at Harare airport, and procrastination on the part of the Mugabe regime, most fear that it will be business as usual. From the Anglican Church’s point of view and the Diocese of Harare, this is no time to be replacing Bishop Sebastian Bakare.

Some conservative factions in the press have dismissed our concerns that dissident bishop Nolbert Kunonga could influence the recently announced elections to replace Bakare. However, we remain concerned that the Central African Province is taking a great risk, for reasons best known to its episcopal leadership, in calling for elections for a new bishop at this time.

The Rt Rev’d Christopher Boyle, Diocese of Northern Malawi - news that the last remaining white bishop in the Central African Province has announced his retirement this summer has come as a surprise. Bishop Boyle, aged 58, has been bishop of Northern Malawi since 2001 and is not due for retirement. It has been widely rumoured that he is unhappy with the direction that the Province is currently taking. We hope to carry more of this news in a subsequent release.

Meanwhile what does it feel like in Zimbabwe? Here is a first hand account:

‘Many of us had hoped that with the ray of light in the political situation there would be some change for the better in the Harare Diocese (CPCA). But so far rather the opposite. Guess who took charge of the prayers at the swearing in of our new Prime Minister?

Quoted in the Zimbabwe Independent:

“Controversial Archbishop Norbert Kunonga opened the event by reading the biblical story of dry bones before closing in prayer”.

The country's battered economy and the humanitarian crisis across the country, Kunonga said, ‘was allegorical to the state of affairs in ancient Iraq referred to in the Bible, trusting in divine intervention for the immediate turnaround of fortunes following the formation of the inclusive government'.

Kunonga's other activity leaves a bad taste in the mouth. He has sent out e-mails from his e-mail address (Diocese of Harare) to at least four possible doners over the apparent signature of Bishop Sebastian Bakare. The e-mails contain a long fabrication about the bishop’s wife Ruth Bakare having fallen seriously ill, and appealing for thousands of US dollars to enable her to be treated. The address to send money was Union Avenue Box 7, which is the Cathedral Box number. Fortunately, this e-mail has been checked back with Bishop Sebastian, and hopefully no money has been sent to Kunonga.

One wonders what would befall anyone who did this so blatantly in any country where there is the rule of law’.

And received by us a warning e-mail as follows:
There is an e-mail circulating purporting to be sent by the Bishop of Harare and signed by Bishop Sebastian Bakare stating that his wife is seriously ill with renal failure requiring dialysis and requesting funding. This e-mail does not emanate from the Diocese of Harare (CPCA) and Mrs Bakare is well. Bishop Bakare and his wife have not travelled to Uganda recently and certainly are not seeking for funds for medical attention. If you receive an e-mail of this nature kindly disregard it and we trust that no funds have been deposited in any account.

Pray for Zimbabwe

From ACNS

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Canon Kenneth Kearon writes:

‘I want to bring to your attention the request of the Primates and Moderators of the Anglican Communion, at their recent meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, that Anglican Churches world-wide observe 25th February, Ash Wednesday, as a day of prayer and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.

‘The primates and Moderators also requested that parishes throughout the Anglican Communion give aid to enable food and other material aid for Zimbabwe for distribution through the dioceses of the Church of the Province of Central Africa.’

Financial aid should be channelled through your own church’s relief and development agency, or alternatively donations (in any currency) can be sent to:

The Anglican Communion Office, 16 Tavistock Crescent, London W11 1AP England.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Southern Africa and the Rt. Rev. Albert Chama, dean of the Anglican Province of Central Africa, had addressed the primates about Zimbabwe and in a press briefing the following day they spoke to the media.

Archbishop Makgoba. "We explained the urgency of the situation - the total collapse of the economy and socio-political infrastructure - and appealed to the primates to assist in whatever humanitarian needs they could provide to Zimbabwe."

Prayer for the People of Zimbabwe

We pray for the suffering people of Zimbabwe,
Forced to live amid deterioration, disease and despair.
We raise our voices on their behalf,
As truth-tellers we want to proclaim 'This is not good',
It is not how God desires our world to be.
Loving Father, look after the people of that sad but beautiful land,
Care for the little ones,
Comfort the dying ones,
And into this hour of darkness may the light of your new dawn begin to shine.
Amen

Canutism

Further reflection on power

As everyone knows King Canute went down to the beach with his courtiers and there he commanded the tide to cease. Foolish King.

Or, as every sophisticated person knows, King Canute went down to the beach with his sycophantic courtiers in order to teach them a lesson: not even the King can command the waves.

So why on earth is the British government so trapped in the myth of Canutism? In the hope that it will be re-elected it has set itself to give the voting population confidence that it is in control. Of everything.

Therefore, as soon as things don't go right, the government gets the blame. It could not command the financial bubble. It can't control teenage pregnancies or truanting. It can't control knife crime. It can't control the weather.

Crime is a clear equivalent of Canute's tide. By definition crime is what happens beyond governmental controls. Hence the emphasis on punishment - knowing that it cannot control crime the government emphasises its reaction. But punishment (as a political tool, not the reality) is smoke and mirrors - designed to obscure the fact that crime cannot be controlled. (Though it may be possible to manage it.)

Blair and a strong economy meant that the impression of control was sustainable. Brown and a collapsing economy mean the impression that everything is out of control. In fact nothing has changed in the government's capacity to control the people. (Lots of controls and constraints have been put in place and their legacy will last decades, but it still cannot control the uncontrollable.)

And the Church has swum in the same stream. Faced with people not doing what the leaders want of them there is an instinctive turn to demand more powers - to control the words and behaviour of the people. It won't work, can't work. But it can do a lot of damage on the way.

We need to lose the Canute myth and rediscover a more sophisticated Canutism.

The authorised version:

Canute began by being a Bad King on the advice of his Courtiers, who informed him (owing to a misunderstanding of the Rule Britannia) that the King of England was entitled to sit on the sea without getting wet. But finding that they were wrong he gave up this policy and decided to take his own advice in future - thus originating the memorable proverb, 'Paddle your own Canute' - and became a Good King and C. of E., and ceased to be memorable.

1066 And All That, W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman, 1930.

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Dedication Service fpr Morgan Tsvangirai

Via Anglican Information

Pictures taken on Wednesday 11 February 2009 at The Dedication Service for The New Zimbabwean Prime Minister at Mabelreign Methodist Church In Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai has Kunonga's blessing

Jubilant MDC supporters after Morgan Tsvangiri's inauguration

Watching the Channel 4 News last night I realised I'd left cholera off the list of problems Tsvangirai faces. And the facts that health care, education, electricity and water supply have all effectively broken down.

And, perhaps most worring for future reconciliation, that the generals stayed away from the inauguration having vowed that they would never salute him.

And today I see one more Obama moment:

The invocation was delivered by Nolbert Kunonga, the former Bishop of Harare, who is known as “Mr Mugabe's bishop” and who was defrocked by the Anglican Church.

The report continues,

Though subdued at the inauguration, Mr Tsvangirai came alive at the subsequent rally and made promises that startled Western observers. In an attempt to win over the disgruntled security forces he pledged that all soldiers and policemen, as well as teachers and health workers, would be paid in foreign currency from the end of this month. In return he asked that all striking public sector workers return to their desks and all schools reopen on Monday. Western diplomats said that they had no idea where the bankrupt Treasury would find the funds.

“We are opening a new chapter for our country,” Mr Tsvangirai said, as he appealed for national healing and identified his three priorities as democratisation, ending the humanitarian crisis and stabilising the economy.

(from The Times)

Zimbabwe: under slightly different management

The Inauguration of Morgan Tsvangirai as Priminister of Zimbabwe

Morgan Tsvangirai's speech:

Today is an historic day for our country. As we form this transitional government, we look back with reflection on the difficult journey that has brought us to this day, and look forward with determination to the road that lies ahead.

To my fellow African leaders, there can be no turning back on the political agreement which each party has signed, knowing it is not a perfect agreement but still a workable one. An agreement that if implemented with good faith, will deliver a peaceful way forward toward a stable economy, a new constitution and free and fair elections. Brothers and sisters in SADC and the AU, we are counting on you to be our partners and to ensure that this agreement is upheld as we face the challenges of rebuilding our country in the days ahead.

Though today’s ceremony marks a very significant milestone on our democratic journey, it is only the beginning. On this day 19 years ago Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster prison, an historic step on South Africa’s long road to freedom.

Tsvangirai called for an end to politicial polarization, to the 'culture of entitlement and impunity', and to people's need to flee the country for economic reasons.

People of Zimbabwe, I have a vision for our country that will guide me as Prime Minister. I will work to create a society where our values are stronger than the threat of violence, where our children’s future and happiness is more important than present political goals and where a person is free to express an opinion, loudly, openly and publicly without fear of reprisal or repression. A country where jobs are available for those who wish to work, food is available for those that are hungry and where we are united by our respect for the rights and dignity of our fellow citizens. This is the Zimbabwe that I am working towards.

To this end he intends:

1) to implement the democratization agenda
2) to tackle the humanitarian crisis
3) to stabilize the economy

All here.

But there are still the small problems of Zanu-PF, of entrenched violence, unbelievable inflation (I understand that some western institutions have been buying up samples of Zimbabwe dollar notes as collectors' items), political prisoners, systematic use of torture, hardly any economic activity, an empty Treasury, and extensive international scepticism.

Would you buy a used country from this man, even if the banner outside read 'Under New Management, in part'?


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The Fate and Freedom of Civilians Caught up in War

The Fate and Freedom of Civilians Caught up in War

The Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo

CEYLON 090211-1February 11, 2009

[The Church of Ceylon (E-P) - Ceylon]

Two recent incidents of violence unleashed against innocent and defenceless Tamil civilians by the LTTE must be condemned unreservedly by peace loving Sri Lankans of all communities.

The suicide bomb attack at a check point at Surantanpuran killed ten civilians and twenty soldiers engaged in receiving Tamil civilians who had crossed over, and injured many more. The deliberate firing at civilians crossing over from uncleared areas killed nineteen and injured sixty-nine. Many of those affected in both incidents were helpless children and many of the injured are said to be in a very critical condition.

These utterly senseless acts are clearly meant to intimidate the very people the LTTE claim it wants to liberate, and are a brazen violation of the civilians right to movement and life. The LTTE must immediately stop this ruthless suppression of Tamil civilians.

I offer the deepest sympathies of our Church to the relatives of the deceased and the assurance of our prayers to those who mourn and are injured. You are a people that have suffered untold deprivation and oppression over the years, and it is our prayer that there will soon be an end to your misery. May the God of compassion give you strength to face these terrible tragedies and keep you steadfast in mercy and hope.

As this war intensifies and the LTTE becomes even more desperate, the chances of civilian casualties will keep increasing. This correspondingly leads to a growing sense of helplessness amongst all who long for an end to war and human suffering. In these circumstances there are four realities that all Sri Lankans should strive to ensure.

These are:

a) a demonstration of sorrow that war requires the daily killing and death of Sri Lankan combatants, who are none other than sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

b) equally intensified and sustained policies and strategies as a sacred duty that protects civilians.

c) the democratic space for persons of religious and ideological conviction, committed to non-violent methods of dealing with conflict, to be heard with respect.

d) a prompt and professional programme of reconstruction accompanied by a return to civil administration that offers freedom and dignity to all.

I earnestly invite all communities of our beloved Sri Lanka to work and pray to keep these realities alive during these very difficult and daunting days.

With Peace and blessings to all
The Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera,

Bishop of Colombo

11th February 2009

Continued violence in Sri Lanka

LTTE soldiers

The military success of the Sri Lankan army is marked by continuing violence:

A group of Sri Lankan bishops spoke out against the escalating violence between the government and a rebel group in the north that recently killed 52 civilians within a day.

“[There is] a real danger that the rate of civilian casualties could increase even more,” warned the joint statement signed by the Anglican Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, and other Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops, according to U.K.-based Church Times.

The killing of civilians is a “cause for serious regret, and cannot be justified in any war, especially in a war amongst the people of the same country,” they said in a statement released last week.

“We also appeal to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that the presence of trapped civilians should not be used to gain military advantage,” the five faith leaders stated. “There should be no restriction of the civilians’ right to life and movement.”

All here.

Covenant paper

I've put on the MCU website a briefing paper on the Covenant for tomorrow's General Synod debate.

It assumes readers have GS 1716, the official briefing paper, available here via Thainking Anglicans.

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Whoops

I've revamped the formatting of 'Centralise power and enforce the rules' to remove the footnote links and also to make it more readable. And A quick primer on power and the Church of England.

As Dave points out I'd made the same error as entertained me when I found it in Archbishop Akionla's sermon. The perils of relying on cut and paste without checking!

Apologies to all, and thanks to Dave.

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Primates' Meeting: the view from Scotland

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church has also posted his comments here.

They don't say a lot. But he does indicate the influence of the Windsor Continuation Group in setting the agenda for the development of the Communion:

The Primates supported the recommendations made to the Archbishop of Canterbury by the Windsor Continuation Group to take action to bring the Communion to a clearer understanding of how it might, as a whole, focus more on mission in the world as we live in it today.

And this is the gloss on the command and centralisation ecclesiology:

The Communion is moving towards a new appreciation of how our bonds create opportunity for deep sharing and support and which sometimes also call us to order our life with ‘generous restraint’ in order to sustain Communion.

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Akinola on the Primates' Meeting

Archbishop Peter J. Akinola, The Primate of Nigeria

Archbishop Akinola has posted a sermon (I think that's the most accurate term) on the recent Primates' Meeting on the Church of Nigeria website.

It doesn't say much directly but it's tone is of warning, threat and challenge from the certainty of his knowledge of the will of God. He selects biblical motifs and passages which cast him in the role of Old Testament prophet (the only NT passage is from Revalation).

His enemies are syncretism, capitulation to a 'sick and spiritually bankrupt world', the ease of living 'lives with no transforming power', becoming 'withering grass that is simply blown out by the devastating wind of the age.'

We are in danger:

in danger of forgetting what we have received and heard and replacing it with the seemingly attractive gods and goddesses of our age. We are in danger of becoming the ‘living dead’ by giving the outward appearance of life but in reality we are no more than empty and ineffective vessels. In parts of our Communion some have merged the historical gospel message of Jesus the Christ with seductive ancient heresies and revisionist agendas, which have resulted in an adulterated and dangerous distortion of the gospel. The call to obedience and repentance is one that we must declare but we refuse and instead we replace it with a polite invitation to empty tolerance and endless conversation. Sometimes we think that we can replace the need for repentance with activities, programmes, endless meetings, conventions and communiqués --- we are wrong!

His answer:

“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent!”

'Obedience' and 'obey' were used 6 times in this faily short passage. Obedience to God, of course - but who shall mediate God's word to us?



I found it symbolic that when I clicked a footnote link, expecting to find the bible reference, I was asked to login - username and password required.





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