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.

.

Support for the court against Mwamba

The court was right on Mwamba case

letter in Mmegi here. This is a very belated reply to a letter last November. While it's clear the matter has not gone away it would seem the steam has gone out of it.

In response to an article written to your widely read paper Mmegi of Wednesday November 26, 2008, by Monthe from Francistown who claims to be member of the Anglican Church entitled "God saved Anglican with Bishop Mwamba".

My understanding of that article is that the writer wants the Anglicans at large including myself and general public to believe that the ordeal, which Anglican Church Botswana diocese led by Bishop Trevor Mwamba emanated from the behaviour of the seven priests who were suspended by then. To me Mr Editor, Ms/Mr Monthe displayed serious problems with the factual if there are any and legal aspects of the matter.

Monthe made his or her judgement against the seven priests on the basis of the behaviour of one priest whom he or she claimed that he served in their parish who was an embarrassment to them. This judgement to me is malicious and defamatory to the other six(6) priests.

I fail to understand how the majority of Anglicans have actually suffered humiliation brought to their church by these few clergy when this scenario was prompted by their suspension by Bishop Mwamba without consulting their respective parishes. Bishop Mwamba and his advisors plus his protégés did not seek any audience from the concerned priests to answer their charges prior to their suspension.

Mr Editor I belief that even now all the parishes do not know the grounds on which the suspension was effected in exception of Francistown where Monthe worships.

Personally I attended the first session of the matter between the parties raised in the article where the respondent's lawyers (bishop's) surprised the honourable court that the suspension is not embracing the Anglican Church internationally, but effected within the Diocese of Botswana only. One wondered how the bishop would handle a case of recommending someone to serve in any Diocese when he has served him with suspension this is hypocrisy of the highest magnitude.

Mr Editor concerning the constitution and canons of the Anglican Church, which I regard as noble documents because they are the basis of church management for over four decades since it was established in Botswana this maladministration of the church affairs has never happened under the incumbent bishop's predecessors. The learned judge who ruled the matter in favour of the seven aggrieved priests was not biased against the bishop and his advisors, but his judgement was based on the merits of the matter on these documents and the employment laws of Botswana were violated.

Reverend Jacob P L Zachariah
Church member
TLOKWENG

A response to dissident priests in Botswana

Bishop Mwamba of Botswana

A long letter in Mmegi

I am writing this letter to refute some misinformation that appeared in the letter entitled "Who shall save the Anglicans?" which appeared in Mmegi of the 20th November 2008.

...
The long and short of what I can say is that this particular clergy was an embarrassment to all of us. We were actually relieved when the Bishop transferred him to Tonota. It should be understood by all and sundry that real Anglicans who are aware of how the Anglican Church is administered and its relations with the Anglican Communion, have never suffered under all the previous Bishops who were non-locals and are not suffering at all under Bishop Trevor Mwamba who is also not a local.

The unanimous vote for him to become Bishop a few years ago is a clear sign that he is loved by most people in this diocese and that he is of the calibre that people want. This new onslaught on his person is a deliberate attempt by a few disgruntled clergy especially the so called "concerned clergy" who thought that Bishop Trevor Mwamba would play to their tune.

More so to suggest that "there is no transparency in the diocese of Botswana, more especially with the use of our money. "We pour hordes of money to the diosces [sic] and we never get feedback" can only be said by someone who does not understand how the Anglican Church functions.

The Diocese as, we know it, has a Treasurer who makes public the financial situation of the diocese every time the Diocesan Standing Committee meets. In fact what we hear from the Standing committee is that many parishes are lagging behind in their assessments including the parish where the writer worships - Tonota.

That in itself makes one wonder where the "hordes of money" are coming from. No wonder there is this rumour that Trevor has stolen P8.8 million. This is a piece of untruth which no sane person should ever take seriously.
...
I also need to reiterate what have been said before, that it is false to suggest that the Bishop is "always flying overseas [sic], but he does not visit local parishes". Please note that I speak for our parish here in Francistown.

We have had the Bishop's visitation more than three times this year, and in those visits he has also had time to visit outstations such as Moroka village and Makaleng village. In any case when the Bishop flies out of the Diocese we understand that he will be fulfilling his international responsibilities as a Bishop not only of the Diocese of Botswana but of the Church worldwide.
...
As a Motswana, I am not ashamed to inform the nation that the foreign clergy work hard and seem to understand what ministry constitutes as opposed to our own clergy who seem to think that they will suddenly turn to be good clergy when they pull the nationalistic card.

Most of these local clergy are not wanted at all in the places where they are serving because of the despicable things that they have done there. So to cry about the foreign clergy as if Bishop Trevor is the first Bishop to hire foreign clergy is a high sounding nothing to me.

In my view, none of these local clergy qualifies for the high offices which they are clamouring for since most of these are barely three years in ministry, the others have vacillated between the Anglican Church and other churches which makes them armateurs in the Anglican ethos.

More so the others have received no theological training at all, which makes us wonder in this day and age when every Motswana child is going to school and the Government is awarding scholarships to many Batswana to be educated. How will such clergy minister to these children of ours when they return, let alone being their Bishops? To cap it all, people must never be fooled that these clergy told any truth. In fact no matter how we lie, the truth will always come out, even those like the writer of the letter in Mmegi of the 20th November 2008, will realise that s/he has been fooled by these people.

Let me end by saying that Bishop Mwamba is an astute Bishop, who is articulate, honest and hardworking. He is not doing any harm to the Diocese of Botswana. He has never gone to the press to spread lies, he has never gone to the civil court to solve Church matters.
...
Faithful Motswana Parishioner
Monthe
FRANCISTOWN

All Here

==========================

It is good that Mmegi has published something other than the account of the dissidents. It still seems to me a shame that there has been no official response.

Botswana: We will comply, but...

From Mmegi

Bame Piet (19/11/08)

The leadership of the Anglican Diocese of Botswana has failed to make a commitment to comply with the 16 October High Court judgment ordering that it reinstate the seven priests who had their licenses revoked by Bishop Mwamba last year.

At a press briefing yesterday, Bishop Theophelus Naledi, Father Andrew
Mudereri, Maleho Mothibatsela, and Pako Keokilwe said the Anglican Diocese of
Botswana is complying with the judgment but it can't do so without following
church rules and procedures. "We are complying, but we can't do that in
isolation from our structures, rules and procedures," Bishop Naledi said.
The four said that they had no intention of appealing the court ruling and
they are in the process of complying with it. They also said they knew nothing
about allegations of misappropriation of funds insisting that "there are
structures in the church" which should be followed.

The four also downplayed
a recent petition from some church members calling on Bishop Mwamba to step
down. The petitioners called on Minister of Labour and Home affairs, Peter Siele
to intervene.

"We have structures that should be followed. This is not an
industrial action," the four said in response to questions on the petition.
Asked whether Bishop Mwamba is agreeable to permitting homosexuals into the
priesthood, Father Mudereri responded: "As far as I know, Bishop Mwamba has
never announced that he is pro-homosexual. But, homosexuals are there. We must
accept them as children of God. We must help them".

Meanwhile, some of the
suspended priests say they have not been paid. Mothibatsela said "we are working
on that problem and they will be paid".

The seven priests who successfully challenged their suspension are Aubrey Molatlhwe, Botshabelo Beleme, Moreri Leteemane, Mooketsi Mokgatlhe, Paul Beleme, Essau Mosima (deceased), and Patrick Ncaagae for the congregations of Lobatse, Molepolole, Mahalapye, Broadhurst, Mogoditshane, Selibe-Phikwe and Tonota. They argued that their suspension was to give way for expatriate priests.

Mudereri said yesterday that the church needs more priests.

Another year, no progress

Forwards and backwards to nowhere in the Anglican Central African Province - an early ‘end of year’ report.

From Anglican Information

As we come towards the end of another year it is difficult to ascertain any improvement or progress in the Central African Province, over all things are worse.

In Malawi - priests and people remain without their bishop in the Diocese of Lake Malawi as the Bishops refuse to follow proper constitutional and canonical procedures to resolve the long-running impasse over the farcical ‘Court of Confirmation’ after the election of the new bishop in 2005.

In the Diocese of Upper Shire the bishops are still intending to force their preferred candidate on an unwilling diocese at their pre-Christmas meeting in Lusaka, Zambia to be held on 16th December (incorrectly reported by us previously as 21st December). The proposed imposition will take place there well away from the people of Malawi but will probably conflict with legal action being taken against the bishops. Reports are reaching us of sorely neglected diocese and there is still no resolution of the case of theft and sale of engineering machinery perpetrated by Archdeacon Thom Mpinga of Mangochi East.

In both dioceses the bishops have suggested that the plaintiffs remove their Court injunctions and ‘trust them’ – which proposal has been understandably greeted with derision by priests and people who have no confidence whatsoever that trickery, fast dealing and general duplicity will not be the result. Rarely in the Anglican Communion has there been such a wide-scale pastoral breakdown of trust and oversight between bishops and their clergy and people. Acting Dean Albert Chama of Northern Zambia must bear the responsibility and his current policy of force majeure will not work.

In Zimbabwe matters are worsening again and dangerously so with an effective failure of the political power sharing agreement. The only bright spot has been a well-deserved international award presented to Bishop Sebastian Bakare caretaker Bishop of Harare in the front line against the notorious ‘Archbishop’ Nolbert Kunonga. On 10th November in Stockholm Sweden, Bishop Bakare received the highly respected ‘Per Anger’ human rights award. ‘I am humbled by the award’, said Bakare ‘It amply demonstrates that good will always reign over evil.’

This is true but in Zimbabwe the finality of the sentiment still seems some way off as our reporter says in a message received today:

We have had a slight move on the question of who owns the churches in the Diocese of Harare, but whether it is forwards or backwards who can say.

A week or two ago there was a move to return to using the church buildings.This in three or four places resulted in violence and arrests by the police. The riot squad were brought out in at least one church. So the Diocesan Registrar went to the police to point out that the judgement had been, in the interim (Justice Rita Makarau) judgement that church buildings should be shared (between Kunonga’s few supporters and the real diocese under Bishop Bakare).

However, the Members in Charge at the various police sub stations had all had letters signed by theChief of Police, Chihuri, telling them that CPCA worshippers were not to beallowed into the churches. When Chihuri himself was approached he is reported to have said that the order had 'come from above'. So our lawyers are now taking Chihuri to court on a charge of contempt of court for which the penalty is 30 days without the option. It is hoped that the order will be withdrawn.

Meantime we accept that we will not be 'home' for Christmas.

In Botswana the subliminal tentacles of Kunonga’s influence are increasingly troubling Bishop Trevor Mwamba who is facing a group of six dissident priests out to make political and legal trouble. Press coverage from the Mmegi newspaper and the Botswana Gazette have gleefully covered ridiculous calls from the troublemaking Kunonga supporters for Bishop Mwamba’s resignation. The Diocese of Botswana has issued a strong riposte available at Google search: Mmegi online, 10th November 2008.

No news at the moment from Zambia.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that this ‘end of year’ article is a little early but we have issued it now as we can see no sign of any improvement in the Central African Province or change amongst the bishops. It’s all in the hands of God but at least everyone is united in praying that the rainy season, due to start soon will be a good one otherwise the big problem will be starvation.

.

Calling for political help in Botswana

Bishop of Botswana, Trevor Mwamba

In a further article in Mmegi dissidents in the Diocese say they will make legal and political trouble for Bishop Mwamba

Some Anglicans in Gaborone are planning to approach the Minister of Labour and Home Affair, Peter Siele, to resolve the dispute that is rocking the church.

The members want to force out the Anglican Bishop
Trevor Mwamba who has refused to quit despite a petition calling for his resignation. The faithful say Siele should probe whether the foreigners working
for the church have work permits.

A source in the church told Monitor that some foreigners are working for the diocese without the required papers. He alleged that Mwamba has appointed a South African as Dean and Vicar General even though there are qualified Batswana who can fill the position.

"The work permit for the Dean was rejected on the basis that there were Batswana who can take up the position. We want the minister to have first hand information on misfortunes that have befallen our church," the source said.

He added that the dean is a close friend of Mwamba hence his appointment was not on merit but favouritism.

All here.





================

It is impossible from the UK to get a sense of proportion on this dispute. No newspaper would pass up the opportunity to stir the pot. But it does feel as though relatively few people are making a lot of noise.

But a small group can still do a lot of damage. Churches, like any other group, suffer when they are divided. Attention and money that should go to building up the church gets diverted into internecine squabbling. Lawyers may get paid but even they get hurt. And the ordinary worshipper inevitably suffers from the corrosive effects of the conflict no matter how far from it they may be personally.

Botswana: another report

Bishop Trevor Mwamba

Anglicans Petition Mwamba

In the Botswana Gazette

“We, Communicants, Clergy, Church Wardens, Church Councillors, Synod
representatives and Parishioners hereby wish to express own displeasure and
disappointment with the manner in which the Right Reverend Bishop Mwamba has
been discharging his duties as the Bishop of the Diocese of Botswana. We
therefore declare our vote of no confidence in him,” read the petition.

It said whilst the Bishop has not been very visible in their rural parishes, he had
however embarked on extensive foreign travel. “The broader church is not aware
of the purpose and value derived from your globe-trotting escapades and we are
therefore concerned about the cost of these to the Church,” states the petition.

They also accuse the Bishop of taking a very vocal pro-homosexuality stance that
at times seems dangerously close to being contrary to the Lambeth Resolution on
this matter, despite not having taken the decision of the Church in Botswana
into consideration.

“Whilst it is evident that this matter has great potential to divide the Anglican Communion, you have not engaged the church in Botswana in any manner and there is not even a Pastoral Letter in which you would have brought the Church into your confidence regarding your position.”

The petitioners noted that the relationship between a bishop and Batswana clergy has never been as low as it is under Mwamba’s leadership.

More here

============

There is a sense that an opposition to Mwamba has added grievance on grievance in an attempt to make a case.

On the matter of homosexuality, as I understand it, they are simply wrong. I believe Bishop Mwamba has consistently said simply that the matter is irrelevant - that the church in Africa has far more serious challenges to deal with. Sexuality is and should be peripheral. Nonetheless it is a dangerous charge coming straight from the Mugabe handbook of ecclesiastical subversion: throw mud and use force.

It is always a difficult judgement as to how to respond to public complaints. However, given that the majority coverage in the media is from the disaffected, it would be good to have a factual statement of rebuttal and the steps the bishop is taking on the diocesan website.

Botswana: diocesan respose to critics

Building a church in Botswana

The Anglican Diocese Of Botswana Sets The Record Straight

From Mmegi (Gabarone)

As members of the Diocesan Standing Committee, which is the legally constituted Governing body of the Anglican Diocese of Botswana, we wish to set the record straight with regards to the recent stories which appeared in the papers regarding the Judgement from the High Court and the rumours flowing from that decision.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Botswana is grieved by the publication of such reports purporting to be talking about the actions of the bishop.

The bishop at no time did he 'decide' to appeal the judgment, other than to say he had received it and was taking advice in respect thereof.

It's unfortunate that Mmegi writer (Mmegi 28 October, 2008), on a basis of a letter written by people, casts aspersions on the character of the Bishop of the Diocese of Botswana, the Rt. Rev. Musonda Trevor Selwyn Mwamba, by publishing unsubstantiated assertions: that he runs the Diocese without consultation and decides on issues unilaterally. To regurgitate such assertions is mischievous and only intended to tarnish the image of the Diocese. The least he could have done was to establish the accuracy of the assertions.

In addition, after this judgment, it was only proper for the applicants to return to the Bishop [who is their Chief Shepherd] and ask for his placement in accordance with the Canons and Constitutions of the Province of Central Africa, which clearly state that it is only the Diocesan Bishop who places clergy in parishes.

The Anglican Church is Episcopally led and Synodically governed. This means the Bishop is the head with particular responsibilities, which include training, ordination, appointment and discipline of clergy and laity; and the Synod is the legislative Body whose responsibility is to pass Diocesan Acts, and from time to time amend existing ones to be in line with Constitutions and Canons of the Church of the Province of which Central Africa, of Botswana is part.

The Synod, consists of the Diocesan Bishop, and his Assistant Bishop, The House of Clergy consisting of any priests and deacons holding the Bishop's licence and the House of Laity, being representatives chosen from each and every parish in the Diocese.

In between Synods the Diocesan Standing Committee comprising elected members of Synod is mandated with the power to act on behalf of Synod.

Each Diocese has a Registrar and a Chancellor both of whom must be learned in law, in order to help the Bishop and Synod and related structures not to act ultra vires. As can be seen above, Structure defines us and both the laity and the clergy are represented in the Diocesan Standing Committee.

This is the committee that the Bishop works with hand in hand, before he takes any so called "drastic" decision.

The suggestion that the Bishop has taken unilateral decisions and continues to do so is baseless and incorrect. There has never been a time that the Bishop has taken "drastic actions without consulting the membership of the Anglican family".

It is a lie that the Bishop does not want reconciliation. It should be put on record that Bishop Mwamba has always been in a reconciliatory frame of mind, hence his approach in handling the issue of the 'concerned clergy'.

He deliberately avoided taking these clergy to a Diocesan Court, and tried other avenues, such as using the Clergy school forum, inviting the concerned clergy individually to his office, sending mediators, as well as inviting the whole group and sitting down with an independent listener.
All these efforts were spurned. In the letters of revocation of the licences of these 'concerned clergy', Bishop Mwamba left the door open for them to reconsider their position and come back to discuss whatever issues they had with him as their Chief Shepherd. Instead of taking these reconciliatory opportunities, these clergy decided to take the Bishop and the Diocese to a Civil Court.

The Diocesan Standing Committee is therefore very concerned that the Church Wardens of St Peter's write in such a manner which suggests that the Bishop is not reconciliatory. We believe in reconciliation as given in Matthew 18: 15-20.

The Judgement did not deal with the issues that led to the revocation of the licences. Those still stand before us to deal with. The Anglican Church is about order and discipline which will not be compromised whilst upholding mercy and love.

As the leadership of the Diocese of Botswana, we wish to inform the whole Diocese that we are all concerned with what we are going through as a Diocese, and that every effort will be made to bring about healing and reconciliation.

We commend all God's people to the care and help of Almighty God through whom all these challenges will be turned into stepping stones to a peaceful, stronger and happy future.

By Order of Diocesan Standing Committee,

The Reverend Father Benjamin Moleko

Diocesan Secretary

March on Mwamba, who was out.

Protestors against Mwamba's episcopacy

From Mmegi (Gabarone)

Last Friday afternoon, the Anglican Cathedral in Gaborone was turned into hostile territory as disgruntled faithful demanded the resignation of Bishop Trevor Mwamba.

The congregation's planned march from the South Ring Mall to the cathedral did not materialise as they failed to secure the required police escort.

However, the determined placard-waving group assembled in the church premises and chanted anti-Mwamba slogans. After about 20 minutes of song and dance, they handed a petition to churchwardens, Lorato Manthe and John Melamu because Mwamba was not available.

In the petition, the group talks about 'dirty dealings' with church finances. They say how the handling of money in the church is a closely guarded secret as the last audit report was done for the 2005 financial year.

They demanded answers for P8.8 million which the church failed to account for when the qualified audit report was held at the last diocesan Synod in 2006. The group alleges that the bishop has not shared information on the sale of a church residence for around P1 million and the subsequent purchase of another in excess of P3 million. "The sales of church property seems to be on the rise and we are concerned at the rationale and authority for these transactions which are suspect," the petition said.

The faithful accuse the bishop of failing to honour a court ruling that said he must re-instate the priests he suspended. They said Mwamba is deliberately frustrating the court order as he has denied one priest the right to preach at the Lobatse Parish and the police had to intervene.

They accused the bishop of looking down on local priests. They said Mwamba has allowed the recently appointed Dean and Vicar General, who is not a local to commence work though he does not have a work permit. The group said the bishop is violating the laws of the Diocese of Botswana. Under the Act of the Diocese, they say the Synod is supposed to meet at least once a year or after consultation with the Standing Committee but this has not happened.

The group has demanded that for the good of the Anglican Church in Botswana, Mwamba should immediately resign as bishop. They have expressed no confidence in him.

===============

Sad though this situation is, the protestors seem to offer an excellent model of future church protest: "After about 20 minutes of song and dance, they handed a petition to churchwardens, Lorato Manthe and John Melamu because Mwamba was not available."

On the other hand, and this point is by no means confined to Botswana and may be especially pertinent to the C of E with its appointed bishops: how, and to what extent, is a bishop accountable to the people of the church?

A repeated refrain in discussion of episcopal authority is, 'the church is not a democracy'. This thought is seldom followed by a positive description of the character of the church. In England, I'd say, the church is a collection of principalities or, slightly more accurately, of constitutional monarchies - with all the weight on the latter. That is to say, the bishops owe nothing to church members though they, on the other hand, owe him fealty and deference.

So then, how should a bishop account to church members?

Moves against Mwamba?

Bishop Trevor Mwamba




Anglicans Planning Bishop Mwamba’s Ouster?
KHONANI ONTEBETSE

all here

Some senior members of the Diocese of Botswana are said to be lobbying members of the Anglican Church for the ouster of Bishop Trevor Mwamba through a motion of ‘no confidence’.



Contacted for comment, Bishop Mwamba said the Church would issue a press statement this week, but he would not comment on the allegations.

“We don’t want to bring about division within the church, all we would like to do is to fight spiritual poverty,” Bishop Mwamba said.

The church’s secretary, Father Benjamin Moleko, would neither confirm nor deny the allegations, merely saying, “I can’t comment on something that is not official.” He said the Bishop was elected by members of the Dioceses and one of the options is that the Bishop can resign in the event of upheavals.”

Father Moleko denied reports that the church was appealing the high court’s judgment that ruled in favour of seven banned priests and ordered them to be reinstated. “That is a false statement. The church is not appealing. We are following the court order,” he said.

But some sources within the church claimed that the Bishop had announced the Church’s intention to appeal, something which did not go down well with some followers.

However, Father Moleko confirmed that the St Peter's Anglican Church in Mogoditshane had written a letter to the church dated 20 October 2008 in which they dissociated themselves from any intention to appeal. “We will write a pastoral letter to all the churches around the country. The priests who were banned need to be reissued with new licenses. We have learnt that some of are already preaching,” he said.

According to information received by The Gazette several senior members of the Dioceses of Botswana across the country are caucusing for Mwamba’s expulsion, scheduled for some time before Christmas. The Gazette obtained exclusive information from some members of the church, who said they were “unhappy and we have decided that we should do something about this.” It is also reported that some sections of the congregation are planning demonstrations against the Bishop.

all here

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In a divided church the court is a weapon to hand for all sides. It is not surprising that the clergy who won their reinstatement will use their victory as a platform for further action. They have put the diocese on the back foot. They have achieved considerable publicity for their cause. They have been able to present themselves as martyrs, victims of arbitrary power.

None of which puts them in the right.

There is a very good chance that this dispute will come back to the courts in some form or other and the decision at that point could fall to one side or the other. It will make no substantive difference.

No court case is going to expunge poison from the system nor make those who have fallen out friends again. It will only feed enmity.

Death at baptism

Crossing the Kolobeng

From Mmegi (Botswana)

Should people continue to die in the name of religion? This question becomes pertinent following the recent tragic incident in Thamaga in which three members of a local church drowned at Kolobeng River during a baptising session.

One of the deceased was the pastor of the church, who was the first one
to drown. The two other church members drowned after they jumped into the
river to rescue the priest. But according to the police, this was not the
first fatal incident during a baptising session.

All here.

Continuing troubles in Botswana

Bishop Mwamba with Solomon Ngubevana, the oldest parishioner in the Diocese (left), November 2007

Botswana: Bitter Recipe Brewing for Bishop Mwamba





from: Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
28 October 2008
Bame Piet

The sour relationship between the Anglican Diocese of Botswana, Bishop Trevor Mwamba, and some congregations around the country has reached acrimonious dimensions, it has emerged.

After revealing his intention to appeal against the recent High Court judgment in which seven priests successfully challenged their dismissal from the church, some congregations are said to be brewing a plan to oust Mwamba.

It is reliably learnt that some sections of the congregation are
planning demonstrations against the bishop for next week Friday.

The St Peter's Anglican Church in Mogoditshane has written him a
strongly worded letter dated 20 October 2008 in which they dissociate themselves
from the intentions to appeal.

The congregation responded: "That during your visit to the congregation
of St Peter's Parish in Mogoditshane, you said the priests had not taken the
bishop to court but the diocese of Botswana. The congregation therefore
dissociates itself from the bishop's decision to appeal the High Court of
Botswana ruling in favour of the seven Batswana priests," the letter
reads.

The congregation also urges the Botswana diocese to dissociate itself
from the bishop's decision to appeal the ruling. "The St Peter's congregation
will cease payment of assessment to the diocesan office with immediate effect,
and urges all Anglican congregations in Botswana to do the same," the letter
continues.

The congregation further warned that it will not take part in any
fundraising activity for the diocese including 'Count Your Blessings', Sunday
Collection, upkeep for the incumbent and others, and urged all Anglican
congregations in the country to do the same.

"The St. Peter's congregation will channel all its contributions
towards meeting the legal costs of the seven Batswana priests," says the
letter.

The Mogoditshane congregation is concerned that Bishop Mwamba continues
to take drastic actions without consulting the membership of the Anglican
Family, ignoring their advice.

"The St Peter's Mogoditshane congregation stands by its letter in which they advised the bishop to involve the church in decision making, and to adopt reconciliatory engagement when dealing with sensitive issues in the church," the letter proposes.

The Mogoditshane congregation revealed its frustration with the appeal,
saying it would lead to a serious rift in the church. "History will judge us
harshly should we be known not to have taken pre-emptive measures to avoid a
split in the church, by engaging in an unnecessary appeal against a court
judgment," states the letter.

On October 15, the Lobatse High Court ruled in favour of seven priests,
Aubrey Molatlhwe, Botshabelo Beleme, Moreri Leteemane, Mooketsi Mokgatlhe, Paul Beleme, Essau Mosima (deceased) and Patrick Ncaagae after challenging the
Anglican Diocese of Botswana and Bishop Mwamba for revoking their licenses to
practice as priests.

The Bishop accused them of trampling on the church rules
whilst the priests and some congregations said the Bishop was paving way for
expatriate priests. Early this year some angry members of Molepolole
congregation nearly assaulted the priest accusing him of abusing his office and
disrespecting them.

Meanwhile, diocesan secretary, Father Benjamin Moleko denied any knowledge
about any intentions to appeal the court ruling. "All I know is that we are
meeting with the governing body this week to discuss the judgment. We will make
official position thereafter," he said. He would not discuss our any further
details, referring our enquiries to the church lawyers.

Botswana's banned priests - another version

The flag of Botswana

From Religious Intelligence



This is another account of the Court hearing here (see also Anglican Information's comment here). This has some further detail or, perhaps, a different perspective.



The article was mistakenly entitled 'Burundi bishop in court rebuff' and illustrated by the flag of Burundi.

Clergy are church employees and are subject to the protection of state
labour and contract laws, a high court judge in Botswana has ruled. In a case
brought by seven suspended priests, Judge Key Dingake held that the Diocese of
Botswana must comply with its internal constitution as well as state law in
clergy disciplinary proceedings and ordered Bishop Trevor Mwamba to restore them
to office.

Last year, Bishop Mwamba suspended the seven priests, stopping their
pay and ordering them to vacate their rectories, after they turned to former
Harare bishop Dr Nolbert Kunonga for aid.

The seven, ethnic Batswanas — the dominant tribal group in Botswana — had charged Bishop Mwamba, a native of Zambia, with favoring foreigners in church patronage appointments. On Aug 25, 2007 six of the seven priests, wrote to the Primate of Central Africa, Archbishop Bernard Malango, stating they had no confidence in Bishop Mwamba’s leadership.

They charged Bishop Mwamba with being profligate with church funds, and
for having brought “shame” onto the diocese by appearing in a BBC film
adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith’s 1998 best-seller, “The No 1 Ladies
Detective Agency,” which was filmed in Botswana. They also charged their bishop
with backing the line on “homosexuality as propounded by the American
Anglicans.”

Dr Kunonga came to the aide of the seven priests at the 2007 provincial
synod, denigrating Bishop Mwamba in a speech to the gather, while his surrogates
in Harare attacked the bishop through the state-controlled press.

However, when the Province removed Bishop Kunonga from office, Bishop
Mwamba revoked the licences of the seven rebel priests prompting the
lawsuit.

In testimony before the High Court in Gabarone in February, Bishop
Mwamba stated diocesan canons granted him the authority to “grant, withhold,
revoke or renew” a priest’s license “as he may see fit.” The seven had been
engaged in “factionalism in association with a certain Dr Kunonga, who is a
schismatic and not recognized in the Province and the Anglican Communion
Worldwide,” he said.

However in his ruling, Judge Dingake held that the diocese had not
complied with the government’s laws regulating charitable organizations nor its
own constitution in suspending the seven priests. The judge further held that
the bishop should have granted a hearing to the seven priests to respond to the
charges levelled by Bishop Mwamba.

Judge Dingake rejected the argument proffered by the diocese’s lawyer
that “because the church is a voluntary association, the principles of natural
justice do not apply to it.” Voluntary associations were obligated to treat
their members fairly by conforming to their constitutions.

The judge also rejected Bishop Mwamba’s third defence, saying that priests were church employees, not independent contractors employed at will.

"The decision by the bishop to withdraw and revoke applicants' licences
to practice as priests of the Anglican Church is hereby set aside as being
contrary to the Acts of Diocese of Botswana and or the Constitution and Canons
of the Anglican Church," Judge Dingake said.

=====================



What seems clear is that, on the one hand, the seven disaffected priests, affliated themselves with ex-Bishop Kunonga as a source of authority in opposition to their Diocesan. On the other hand Bishop Mwamba appears to have acted arbitrarily and to have sought to evade both the written law (though there seems to be no clarity as to why amendments to the canons were not properly registered) and also the principles of natural justice.



Bishop Mwamba is legally qualified. The arbitrary exercise of power, irrespective of the reason, is always wounding of the body of Christ.

Zimbabwean poison seeps outwards

Central Kalahari Reserve

Zimbabwean poison seeps outwards into the Anglican Central African Province



ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports the Botswana independent newspaper Mmegi (The Reporter) covering the story ‘Reinstate banned priests, orders court’.



This refers to an action brought by seven dissident priests in the Anglican Diocese of Botswana.



In a complicated case the seven are those who support excommunicated former Bishop of Harare, Zimbabwe, the notorious Nolbert Kunonga. Last year Kunonga, soon after breaking away from the Anglican Central African Province, made a flying illegal incursion into the Diocese of Botswana to stir up trouble in Francistown where he persuaded the seven priests to pass a vote of no confidence in Diocesan Bishop Trevor Mwamba. Mwamba responded understandably by suspending them from duties. See our reportage 12th November & 15th November 2007.



Now Lobatse High Court Judge, Key Dingake, has ordered the priests to be reinstated. This, it should be noted, is merely on a technicality as the judge legally had no other choice but it bodes ill for the increasingly beleaguered Central African Province.



In Zimbabwe, self-proclaimed ‘Archbishop’ Nobert Kunonga, a long-time mouthpiece of Robert Mugabe, continues to hold the authentic Anglican Diocese of Harare to ransom forcing closure of churches and occupying the Cathedral (there is a photograph of All Saints Cathedral on our website).



Bishop Sebastian Bakare, the caretaker Provincial Bishop, continues his brave work in caring for the Diocese in conditions that if anything are again worsening as the political power-sharing agreement between MDC Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe is rendered meaningless by Mugabe’s usurping of power. This will remain the case until the Mugabe regime finally comes to an end, but now as Kunonga’s poison leaches into neighbouring Botswana there will be further trouble ahead. Likewise in Malawi, former Archbishop Bernard Malango remains close to his old friend Kunonga and a background influence on acting Dean of the Province, Albert Chama of Northern Zambia.



ANGLICAN-INFORMATION notes that although this involves nominally different countries in practice tribal allegiances, close proximities and an interwoven web of friendships and shared backgrounds links these three otherwise disparate bishops together in an unholy alliance of broad sympathy.



Ironically the Botswana case, whilst it leaves Bishop Mwamba with a group of troublesome priests, does explain why in Malawi for three long years the same Central African Provincial Bishops have procrastinated and tried to avoid the Lake Malawi and latterly the Upper Shire cases of improper legal conduct being brought against them by laity and priests. These cases are still outstanding bringing charges of the fiddling of Episcopal elections in both instances. As they are clearly guilty the Provincial Bishops may well lose and as the old saying goes ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’. In the meantime, whilst in Zimbabwe the people starve and in Malawi the churches are left bereft of their rightful bishops, Nolbert Kunonga is laughing (laden with US dollars) all the way to the bank.

Reinstate banned priests, orders court

Not the most flattering picture of Bishop Mwamba

Mmegi Online 16.10.08
BAME PIETStaff Writer

LOBATSE: High Court Judge, Key Dingake, has ordered that the suspended priests from the Anglican Church be reinstated and continue preaching the word of God.

The seven priests - Aubrey Molatlhwe, Botshabelo Beleme, Moreri Leteemane, Mooketsi Mokgatlhe, Paul Beleme, Essau Mosima (deceased), an d Patrick Ncaagae - will continue preaching at their congregations of Lobatse, Molepolole, Mahalapye, Broadhurst, Mogoditshane, Selibe Phikwe and Tonota with immediate effect.

Anglican Diocese of Botswana's Bishop Trevor Mwamba revoked their licences late last year, accusing them of contravening the Constitution and Canons of the Church of the Province of Central Africa. On the other hand the priests contended that he was pushing them out to pave way for foreigners, mostly from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

"The decision by the bishop to withdraw and revoke applicants' licences to practise as priests of the Anglican Church is hereby set aside as being contrary to the Acts of Diocese of Botswana and or the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church," Justice Dingake said. The costs were not awarded to any of the parties.

The seven priests went to the High Court after the matter could not be settled within the church. The court based its judgement on argument on the which of the Church Acts were applicable to the dispute; whether or not the applicants were employees of the Anglican Church; and what procedure the bishop should follow in revoking priests' licences.

It emerged during the hearing that someone trampled on the church Acts and had failed to notify the Registrar of Societies, as required. The attorney for the priests, Kgalalelo Monthe, had argued that the amendments should be nullified because they were not filed with the Registrar of Societies. He contended that it was not clear when the amendments were made. Justice Dingake concurred, saying it would be improper to recognise the amendments that were never filed with the registrar.

He stated that it was imperative to do so to avoid a situation where societies operate on two parallel constitutions. "This would be a recipe for disaster. I therefore, hold that any amendments by an exempted society that does not comply with Section 13 (1) of the Societies Act are invalid," Justice Dingake said. Furthermore, the judge found affidavits by Bishop Mwamba and Father Moleko, about the amendments, as "palpably insufficient to enable me to conclude that the amendments were effective as alleged. All I can say is that I am not convinced that such amendments were effected."

Justice Dingake also ruled that the bishop should have given the priests a hearing before revoking their licences. He said that they were never properly informed of the charges against them nor given the opportunity to respond thereto. "I cannot agree with the submission made by Mr Vegeer, that because the church is a voluntary association, the principles of natural justice do not apply to it," he said. He said voluntary associations have the obligation to treat their members fairly by complying with their constitutions.

Quoting RC5 document, the judge ruled that the priests were Anglican Church employees.
He said that there was overwhelming evidence that the priests were church employees, contrary to arguments raised by the bishop.

The spark of God within us is truth, not empty words

Musonda Trevor Selwyn Mwamba, Bishop of Botswana

Bishop Mwamba has an article in The Times. You may recognise the opening story from his MCU conference speech. It's a good story, why not?

He ends,

What we should truly believe is that we are all incarnate thoughts of God. It is life-changing. We all need to be reminded of what the Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus said: “You bear God within you, poor wretch, and know it not.”

Botswana: Anglicans Seek Judge's Intervention

Canon Dr Howard Moffat, Canon Professor James Amanze, The Very Rev Dr Mongezi David Guma, Bishop Musonda T S Mwamba, Archdeacon South Fr Andrew Mudereri, and Archdeacon North Fr Archford Musodza

At the induction of The Very Rev Dr Mongezi David Guma as Dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Gaborone.

From Mmegi The Reporter, Gabarone
By Bame Piet

Divine intervention has failed and Anglicans have now resorted to the High Court to resolve their differences.

Justice Key Dingake spent the whole of Friday morning listening to a case in which seven priests are challenging the Anglican Church Diocese of Botswana and Bishop Trevor Mwamba for revoking their licences last year.

The seven are claiming unfair dismissal. The Diocese is arguing that the canons give the bishop power to revoke a priest's licence. Both sides have agreed to accept the determination of the court despite the wish of the Judge that they might settle their differences amicably.

==========

This seems to be another occasion where the divisions and conflict in Zimbabwe have slopped over into neighbouring Dioceses but the details are unclear to me.