ANGLICAN-INFORMATION

Who will listen to our plight? A letter from Bishop Chad Gandiya of Harare, Zimbabwe

2010-04-28T18:31:00.003+01:00

Bishop Chad Gandiya

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports that the acting Dean, Bishop Albert Chama, of the Central African Province has been away at a Global South Conference in Singapore and thereafter in the United States, all expenses paid, with those who are ‘blowing a trumpet’ to break up the Anglican Communion. At the Conference he delivered a Paper discussing ‘Economic Empowerment of the Global South’. There is a degree of irony that Bishop Chama has been away lecturing others in such a cosseted environment without a mention of the circumstances prevailing in his own Province, not least in Zimbabwe, and whilst priests in the Province go unpaid.

We publish below a letter from Bishop Chad Gandiya of Harare, Zimbabwe cataloguing the continuing problems that he struggles with against the now infamous ‘Bishop’ Nolbert Kunonga.

Bishop Gandiya asks “Who will listen to our plight?” It would be much better if Bishop Albert Chama spent some of his energies addressing this terrible situation rather than travelling around the world lecturing others.

...........................................................

From: Bishop Chad Gandiya

Police repression of the Anglican Church intensifies

Dear Friends,

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Easter tide greetings to you.
We trust your Easter celebrations went well. Thank you for all your prayer
support for us. We write this letter to bring you up-to-date with what is
happening in our church.

Some of you are aware that Vice President Honourable
John Nkomo together with Honourable Ministers Sekai Holland and Gibson Sibanda
all members of the Organ for National Healing Reconciliation and Integration
were tasked by Cabinet to mediate between us (Diocese of Harare CPCA) and Dr.
Kunonga's Anglican Province of Zimbabwe. Those talks are going on.
We continue to be amazed that while these talks have begun and Cabinet's wish
and message to us to worship in peace, the very opposite is happening. Our
experience over the last two weeks is that the persecution seems to have
intensified. Police are openly telling our people to attend Dr. Kunonga's
services only and continue to prohibit them from worshipping in their churches
as per Judge President Makarawu's judgment and Justice Bhunu's judgment of the
3rd March 2010. The former allowed for sharing of church buildings for worship
until the courts give their final judgment on the matter and the latter endorsed
that judgment. Whereas in the past some of our congregations used to hold their
services outside of their church buildings, the police are driving them away
telling them that they cannot meet outside anywhere near the church buildings.

We are completely baffled by the behavior of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in
this matter. We have persistently asked why they are being used to prop up Dr.
Kunonga by actively telling people that our church properties belong to him and therefore
our members should attend his Church services only. Nobody has given us any
answers.

We continue to raise our grave concern over the police partisan
involvement in the affairs of our church, abuse of our rights and disregard of
Court Orders and Rulings.

We also continue to ask; Who will police the police?
Have they officially become a law unto themselves?

To whom can we turn for help?
Who will listen to our plight?

Last Sunday 11/04/2010
1. Police went to St. Mark's Church, Ruwa and drove our members away from
both the church and church premises. When the congregation decided to meet at
the priest's house the police prohibited them from doing so. What right do they
have to stop even this? The priest of this church received a text message from
Kunonga's priest telling him not to use the church or else "what they did at St.
Faith's Church, Budiriro will happen to them". St. Faith's Church, Budiriro is
where riot police tear-gassed our people on a Sunday morning and then followed
it up on a Thursday afternoon with tear-gassing Mother's Union members who were
worshipping away from the church in the open air. This is further proof of that
Dr. Kunonga's priests are working in cahoots with the police.

2. Our Cathedral congregation was told by the police not to meet anywhere
near the Cathedral next week or else they will face the wrath of the police.

3. At Holy Trinity Church, Ruwa acting Officer-in-Charge assistant
Inspector Ngoshi and Sergeant Major Chibaya force number 044621A drove our
congregation out telling them that they had orders to stop their service because
they were to leave the Church to Kunonga's group even though he hasn't got a
single member in that area.

4. At St. Alban's Church, Chiweshe where I had gone for a Confirmation
Service- the church doors were welded from inside and so we could not go in as
we had intended. We only managed to remove a pin on one of the hinges but could
not go in. As a result we had our service in the open air. Rev'd. Mangava,
Kunonga's resident priest/untrained teacher called the police telling them that
we had broken into the church. Police arrived just before the end of our service
only to find a pin that had been removed and nothing broken. For that, about six
people including the two priests who were with me had to go to Glendale police
station to give evidence - a process that took forever. I followed them. No
charges were brought against them but we reported the damage that was caused to
our church building by the welding of doors and other devices used to prevent us
from going in. We await a court hearing. What's amazing is the ease with which
even Dr. Kunonga's priests call the police, tell them what to do and how they
in turn easily comply.

5. A number of our congregations are using other denominations church
buildings (we are very grateful for their generosity) while some use school
buildings and others continue to meet in the open air.

Thank you for your messages of solidarity and assurances of your prayer
support. We don't lose heart in spite of all the challenges we are facing.
He is risen indeed - Halleluiah!

+Chad, Harare.

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or visit our companion blogsite: http://notthesamestream.blogspot.com

Nolbert Kunonga creates more trouble in time for Christmas and the New Year in Zimbabwe

2009-12-18T12:45:00.002Z

Merry Christmas to you all!

FROM ANGLICAN-INFORMATION: We have been asked to cover two items reproduced below. The first covers a meeting of the churchwardens of the Diocese of Harare and the second is a letter from Bishop Chad Gandiya.

It has been reported in the wider media that 'President' Robert Mugabe is preparing his party Zanu-PF for new elections in the Spring of 2010. The prospect of another fixed election, this time to try and shake off Morgan Tsvangerai and the MDF opposition from the current power sharing arrangements is daunting.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION: suggests that the new outbreak of Nolbert Kunonga inspired disruption and violence against Anglican Christians in the Diocese of Harare is linked to these plans.

Diocese of Manicaland: Some trouble has also been experienced at the instigation of Kunonga ally dissident bishop Elson Jakazi who is opposing the new CPCA bishop Julius Makoni. There has been reported trouble at St David's, Bonda to the north of Mutare. Thus far the disruption does not match that in Harare.

Diocese of Lake Malawi: The court injunction brought against the CPCA bishops preventing them from confirming or consecrating the Venerable Francis Kaulanda is to be heard in January. The injunction has been brought on behalf of an unprecedented number of lay objectors.

Pray for rain: The rainy season is off to a poor start in the region. Whilst world leaders squabble in affluent Copenhagen, and largely fail to offer a significant reduction in climate changing economic activity, subsistence farmers in the Central African Province anxiously watch the skies for increasingly unpredictable but life-giving rain.

Two reports from Zimbabwe

From: The Diocese of Harare CPCA - 5th December 2009

‘The Police at it again!

Having received disturbing news about the plans to disrupt our services on
Sunday the 6th November by Kunonga and his priests, we called an emergency
meeting of our churchwardens in the diocese. We felt that it was necessary
for the church officials to meet at our diocesan office for a briefing. They
all came in spite of the short notice. We briefed them about what we had
heard. Mr Chingore, our registrar explained the situation to them
emphasizing their legal rights. Some of the parishes had already experienced
disruptions to scheduled weddings and other programmes that they had in
place. Our people were very upset about the recurrence of police
interference in church affairs. In the face of the current court ruling on
the use of church buildings, the police would appear, in terms to be
taking their orders from Kunonga. We encouraged our people to be vigilant
and to keep the law authorities informed about any threats and potential
conflicts in their parishes. We encouraged them not to take the law into
their own hands. At the same time we told them to stand up for their rights
and to keep everyone informed’.

From: The Rt Rev’d Dr. Chad Gandiya
2nd Sunday in Advent - 6th December 2009

‘I started receiving calls from our clergy about heavy police presence on
church premises. The police claimed to have orders to stop all our services
from today onwards. Mr. Chingore, our diocesan registrar, was bombarded by
telephone calls from our clergy who wanted to know what to do and why they
were being barred from using their churches. The police were literally
enforcing an order to prevent our people from worshipping today. I was due
to conduct a confirmation service at St Michaels Church in Mbare high
density suburb at 11.30am. The parish priest there telephoned to say we
could not use the building because the police had told them not to do so. He
wondered if they should find another venue. I told him not to and that I was
going to try and see the police commissioner. The diocesan registrar
telephoned me in order to brief me about the turn of events in the parishes.
We agreed that we should go to the Harare Central Police Station and see the
police commissioner on duty and seek clarification to the ugly turn of
events. She was not in the office. Her subordinate called her and we were
able to speak with her on our cell phone. She claimed that the police were
in our churches to maintain law and order. She admitted that Kunonga had
told them that the diocesan properties belonged to his group and that we
were not supposed to use them. This was in spite of both the fact that the
police have Justice Makarawu's court ruling that we should share the
buildings until the case was brought to the high court and our appeal
against judge Hlatshwayo's ruling which had given our diocesan properties to
Kunonga. The registrar explained the situation to her and asked her to
clarify how and when the police started taking orders from Kunonga. She
insisted that there was no order from higher up in the police force or
government to stop us from using our buildings. The registrar requested her
to command her police officers stopping our people from using their
buildings to leave. The order took a while to filter down. I was able to
conduct my confirmation service much, much later. There was much ululating
when the police were leaving and the patient and determined Christians
started singing 'Onward Christian soldiers' as they danced their way into
the church. We confirmed 89 people.

The faith, commitment and courage of the people of this diocese is very
humbling and encouraging indeed. I can openly state that in spite of the
disturbances and hardships our people are facing, there is a revival taking
place in our church.

We are very concerned that according to the police officers the orders to
disrupt our services and stop us from using our churches are coming from the
Commissioner General himself. We are equally concerned that the police seem
to be taking orders from Kunonga. Our people are observing the law regarding
the sharing of buildings for worship but the police are treating them as
criminals for observing the law. Does this mean that our police have nothing
else to do and so they have to occupy themselves by preventing us from
worshipping God in our church buildings?

We are asking all our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion to
continue praying for us. We are asking our brothers and sisters in other
denominations and ZCC (The Zimbabwe Council of Churches) to remember us in
their prayers and support us in our struggle for justice. Today it is us,
who knows who might be next?’

+Chad Harare.

.........END........

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our companion blogsite: http://notthesamestream.blogspot.com

Renegade former Bishop Nolbert Kunonga stirs more trouble in Zimbabwe

2009-12-07T10:58:00.004Z

Not quite toothless - 'Archbishop' Nolbert Kunonga

From: ANGLICAN-INFORMATION

We have been asked to publish the following from Trish McKenzie in Harare, Zimbabwe raising further concerns at the actions of renegade self-styled 'Archbishop' Nolbert Kunonga. Kunonga was formerly Bishop of Harare and a close associate of former Archbishop Bernard Malango before breaking away from the Province. Prior to his original election to the Diocese of Harare, Kunonga was a lecturer at the Unification Church (Moonie) seminary in Barrytown, New York where he was awarded his doctorate.

For a documented example of Kunonga's recent actions at St Clare's, Mangwende, visit our companion blogsite: http://notthesamestream.blogspot.com

Trish McKenzie reports: 'Dr Nolbert Kunonga is again trying to destabilize the diocese by invading various churches and interrupting confirmations, weddings and other legitimate activities in contravention of various judgments handed down since 19 January 2008 and subsequent appeals by the Diocese of Harare CPCA where the judgments have been adverse. The Bishop, Dean, priests and parishioners are determined to continue holding their services at the times permitted in terms of the Makarau Judgment of January 2008. Please continue to pray for justice and an end of the harassment by Kunonga'.

And more details from Avondale Parish:

EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE OF HARARE (CPCA)

MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD AT THE DIOCESAN OFFICES, 9 MONMOUTH ROAD, AVONDALE ON SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER 2009 AT 1200 HOURS.

Over the last two weeks, and at intervals recently, Dr Kunonga has
again interfered with the parishes in this diocese in contravention of
the judgments that have been handed down over a period of time since
January 19 2008 and in an attempt to destabilize the diocese. The
following are some of the incidents that have occurred:

Saturday 28 November 2009: St Clare’s Church Murewa: The police
entered the church as Bishop Chad was about to administer the elements
and drove everyone out of the church. When asked why the reply was
“political”. The incident is being pursued with the Officer in Command
of DESPO in Marondera as the officer-in-charge at Murewa had no right
to interfere with the service.

On Sunday 29 November during the Confirmation Service at Kuwadzana the
congregation was ordered out of the church by the police and the
service was held in the open. The Police did not assist us in
preventing the parishioners being forced out of the church by Kunonga
thereby disobeying the court order and not upholding the judgment.

Tafara: The parishioners have been informed by a letter posted at the
church that Dr Kunonga will be holding one service all day on Sunday 6
December 2009. This is in contravention of the Makarau Judgement
permitting CPCA priests to hold services ninety minutes after those
held by Kunonga’s priests.

Church of the Transfiguration Warren Park: The parishioners have been
informed the only one service will be held on Sunday 6 December by
Kunonga from 0800-1700 hours and members of CPCA may attend if they
wish. Again contravention of the Makarau judgement.

St Faith’s Budariro: Three weddings were due to be held last week.
Some of the known supporters of Kunonga entered the church after the
first wedding and said that there is a new chapter beginning and
people can only attend their services and not those of CPCA.

Glenview: A competition was supposed to be held by a cell phone
service company today 5 December 2009. Permission was granted as
Kunonga people never use the church on a Saturday. When the PR lady
was supervising the erection of the marquee she was told that Kunonga
would be at the church all day and the event has been cancelled. The
priest and parishioners have been stopped from using the church.

St Elizabeth’s Belvedere: Were due to have a fete today which has been
well publicized. The police were informed in advance but when the
person appointed to liaise with the police went to check yesterday he
was told that Kunonga would be having a fete today and that the church
was booked in advance of CPCA booking the church. In addition the
doors have been bolted from inside and the lock changed on the gate.

Hatfield: On Friday 4 December two or three visitors went to see Rev
Zhou and informed him that they wanted to use the church all day on 5
and 6 December. There however are two weddings booked and they were
informed that they could use the facilities after the weddings but on
Sunday the Salvation Army use the church after CPCA and therefore it
would not be available.

St Paul’s Marlborough: On Sunday 29 November Munyani and six priests
went to St Paul’s just before the start of the 0700 service and called
the priest out and told him to tell the parishioners to go home and
come back at 1230 hours in contravention of the court ruling. The
Kunonga priest was called as there is a written agreement with him. He
was told that he should not have agreed without permission from the
Head Office (Kunonga).

Bishop Gaul College: On Friday 4 December Kunonga and two others went
to the College with a bunch of keys. The ordinands were told that
Kunonga would “come like a whirlwind to the College”.

The diocese is not taking these contraventions lightly and will be
pursue through the courts any attempt by Kunonga to prevent the
legitimate services being held.

The Bishop, Dean, priests, wardens and parishioners are determined to
continue with the services at the times that they have been holding
them in accordance with the Makarau Judgment and will not tolerate
the breaching of the court orders by the Police.

Please continue to pray for the diocese for strength and wisdom to
overcome the evil that is being perpetrated.

Want to have your say? Comment below or visit our companion blogsite:
http://notthesamestream.blogspot.com

BISHOP CHAD GANDIYA'S CONSECRATION & ENTHRONEMENT

2009-07-28T22:15:00.008+01:00

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION

'A voice for the voiceless in the Anglican Central African Province'

Bishop Chad Gandiya receives his mitre after his consecration

We have received several eyewitness reports of the consecration and enthronement of the Rev’d Canon Dr. Chad Gandiya as the new Bishop of Harare, Zimbabwe.

We have gathered these reports together below
in an account of the occasion
– Bishop Nolbert Kunonga's influence continues to wane

Sunday 26th July 2009 truly was "a day that the Lord has made!". The parishes from all over the Diocese of Harare (CPCA) flocked in their thousands, despite the chilly weather and attempts by Dr Kunonga to have the enthronement stopped, to the City Sports Centre - the scene last year of Bishop Bakare's enthronement. The stadium was full to capacity and great enthusiasm in the Holy Spirit was very evident, about 10,000 people were present with many in Mother’s Union uniforms (The Mothers’ Union is a powerful and influential organisation in Africa).

The organization was magnificent. A stage had been set up with an altar and the chairs for the Dean of the Province Bishop Chama and the other bishops and priests assisting with the service. The space in front of the altar where it all happened was a bit narrow so that when
the Bishop Elect lay prostrate during the Litany (the liturgy of the Central African Province is high anglo-catholic in nature) his feet were dangerously near the edge!

On either side of the stage were four large arrangements of chrysanthemums and one in the centre on the floor. A red carpet led down the central aisle and across in front of the stage flanked by stands with bowls of orange and yellow flowers with a similar arrangement at the foot of each stands. The playing area had rows of chairs with white chairs being reserved for the dignitaries and Bishop Chad Gandiya and the two bishops who would assist him. The priests and servers sat behind the stage with the choir to their left. All the seats were taken up with the different congregations and people also stood in the entrance way. There were teams of ushers, some selling the Order of the Service and others guiding people to their seats. The choir comprising members from different parishes was in full voice accompanied by drums and rattles.

The service started around 9:00 am with the procession of servers, subdeacons, clergy, archdeacons, vicar generals and the dean of the cathedral. The second procession led by servers with the Registrars and Chancellors and Ecumenical guests. The third procession comprised the servers, bishops from the Anglican Communion, Bishops of the Province, the Vicar General Bishop Bakare and Bishop Elect Chad Gandiya, the Emeritus Archbishop of the Province the most Reverend Dr Walter Khotso Makhulu and the Dean of the Province Bishop Chama.

The acting Dean, the Right Reverend Dr Sebastian Bakare welcomed the congregation, the visiting guests from the Province and the Anglican Communion and dignitaries present. The Holy Communion Service then commenced. The Old Testament reading was from Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 100 and the New Testament reading from 2 Corinthians 4:1-10. The gospel reading was from John 21:15-17 followed by the anthem"Here I am Lord." The Sermon was preached by the Emeritus Archbishop the most Reverend Dr Walter Khotso Makhulu with interpretation into Shona by the Dean of the cathedral. The Nicene Creed was sung in Shona.

The ordination of the Bishop-Elect Chad Nicholas Gandiya proceeded with the congregation responding accordingly. The Dean of the Province then gave the Charge and asked the Questions to which the Bishop Elect replied with the words "With God's help I will" to all the questions and the congregation singing at the end "I say yes, yes Lord..." followed by the Veni Creator sung in Shona and the ordination with all the bishops gathered around him. He was then presented with the Bible, cross, ring, mitre and staff. After this there was a fanfare of musical instruments with the congregation clapping and ululating for a minute. The Peace was then passed with the congregation milling around to pass the peace to family, friends and fellow parishioners. This was a time of real joy for everyone present. After the consecration the new Bishop was presented with his cross, ring, mitre, and staff. The congregation greeted each with clapping, but the longest and loudest cheer was for the mitre. No turning back now.

The Dean then continued with the Eucharist. Each parish had contributed wafers, wine and brought their chalices. The bishops and visiting ecumenical guests received first and then the priests and servers. A priest, a server and a member of the Mother's Union then proceeded to each of the bays and the congregation received communion by intent. This went extremely smoothly. The choir were the last to receive as they were singing throughout the giving and receiving of communion.

Prior to the Blessing Bishop Bakare called for messages of solidarity to be read. The first message was from the Archbishop of Canterbury read on his behalf. Bishop Michael Gear a former parish priest of St Mary Magdalene, Avondale Parish read greetings from Rochester Diocese. There were messages from the Secretary of USPG, the American Episcopal Church and others all wishing Bishop Chad every success in the shepherding of his new flock.

The service ended with the words "Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord "and the response from the congregation.

Lunch followed for the guests and dignitaries in two tents pitched behind the stadium-again extremely well organised. The parishioners then wended their way some on foot, others in cars or buses to the cathedral for the Installation at 2:30pm. This had not been publicised probably to prevent crowds trying to attend, or possibly because disruption from Dr Kunonga was
feared. Nevertheless, the cathedral was packed as well as the cloisters with a loud speaker through to the congregation assembled there. The cathedral doors had been barred (by the Kunonga faction) with large chains and lock blocks fitted but these were removed by the locksmith and the people were able to enter the cathedral and cloisters in peace. Some of the flowers from the stadium had been brought into the cathedral and placed around the font. The bells were ringing as we entered the cathedral- a most joyous and welcome sound.

The Installation proceeded with the Bishop knocking on the door three times before it was opened. The clergy and bishops then processed down the aisle while the congregation sang in Shona "Guide me, oh though Great Redeemer". The readings were from Jeremiah 8:18-22 and 2 Corinthians 5:11-2. Greetings and expression of loyalty was given by the priests from the diocese, and the bishops. Prior to the new bishop giving his Charge his daughter sang "There is a balm in Gilead." His Charge reflected on these words and the balm that is present in Harare. He said his prayer was that the Anglican Church should be the
physician for the healing of the diocese, the city and the country. Afterwards various presents were given. Faith, Bishop Chad’s wife, somewhat nonplussed, was called out from the congregation to sit in front of the altar receiving gifts from the Mothers'
Unions of other dioceses on their knees at her feet. The service concluded with Bishop Gandiya blessing the City and Diocese.

Then over five hundred people attended a reception for Bishop Gandiya at Caroline Wilderness just outside Harare to conclude a most moving day and unforgettable day.

The Diocese of Harare (CPCA) has been blessed with the attention to his flock, vision, humility and passion of Bishop Sebastian Bakare. We are really grateful for all that he has done for us in the time that he has been in the invidious position of interim bishop. We wish him and his wife Ruth who has been a mother to the diocese every blessing as they return to their home and lives in Mutare. Thank you Bishop Sebastian, makorokoto and amhlope. May the Lord continue to bless and guide you both.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION