I like to watch Oprah's programme when I can. Last night she was interviewing Bill Cosby - America's 'father figure' - and talking about his book (Come On People) and recent lectures concerning the lower income African-American communities, the high proportion of single-parent families, and the absence of fathers in the family and community structures. Something that is relevant to our own country as well as many others. How does one learn to be a father when one has no role model? Where does one gain a healthy self-image and learn about responsibility when it is not nurtured and modeled in the home environment? I admire Bill Cosby for the stand he is taking and the contribution he is making to American society, and hope that it spreads beyond the USA to bring positive change more widely. This particular programme was worth watching. One quote that he used when talking about the attitude of maintaining non-success and non-progress among that part of society, and which I choose to file away in my ageing grey-matter is: "it's not what others are doing to you but what you are not doing" - in other words: "you don't have to keep the cards you've been dealt!"
This afternoon I tuned in, and was amazed at the contrast from last night. Various Guiness Book Record-setters were to be interviewed. The first one was a contortionist who demonstrated the feat of climbing into a suitcase and zipping it up in less than 10 seconds; followed by a demonstration of how she can put three eggs into three egg-cups while standing on her hands, bending her body backwards and accomplishing the task with her feet.
The second one was of a jump-rope skipping border-collie dog - whose record is 75. The dog also holds the record for walking up a flight of steps with a glass of water balanced on its nose - the only dog to do this feat. It took the owner 7 years to teach it to do this - and dog is now 10 years old.
I switched off the TV at that point! I could not but ask myself - what is the value of these things? Is it really worth the time to practice contortions/ take years to teach dogs tricks? And for what end? - to have one's name printed in a book of records? Crazy. When the dog departs for its eternal hunting/ barking grounds in a few years time, what will the owner do then? - start again with another puppy? - how tedious! Will the contortionists great grand-children be interested in - or even be aware of - the fact that she could zip herself into a suitcase and put eggs in egg-cups with her feet while upside down? Makes one think - what is of eternal value anyway - or are people really concerned about eternal things?
Maybe I'm just being a grumpy old woman today! Perhaps I should go and eat some chocolate and ice-cream to give me perspective.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Reduce Spending on Petrol
Our conversation at the dinner table this evening went around the impending increase in petrol which would raise the cost to >R8/L; and the exponential increase which would see petrol being >R12-R16 in about 3years time. One solution to reduce spending would be to live near the Varsity. The new flats built there go for a rent of R4000/month. So Richard reckons that it would not be worth moving into a pokey one-roomed place until he approached that figure in petrol costs - which is unlikely to happen in the years of study he has left if he continues with Honours/Masters next year. Paul is happy to continue with his pals sharing rides and so decreasing expenditure - that will go on for 5years including this year.
Another solution would be to ride a motor-cycle - a suggestion quickly shot down by one anxious father/husband because of the danger inherent in riding such vehicles. Though looking at the amount that a friend of Richard's spends per month on petrol for his motorbike (R100) to get to Varsity and back - Richard reckons that at some stage the risk is worth it economically. I tend to agree with him. My ever-loving concerned husband perhaps forgets that when he met me I was trundling around on a little red 50cc Suzuki scooter which went max. speed of 25miles per hour downhill with the wind behind me. But of course that was in the then Southern Rhodesia (even before it was called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia which then dropped the Rhodesia part), and the traffic was certainly not as dense in the late 1970s there as it is in the 2000s here now! I think he also forgets that he purloined my scooter after we were married to go to work on - all in the efforts of saving petrol, which was pretty scarce in those days. I had bought the scooter because my petrol ration when I taught in Umtali (Mutare) was 5 coupons (=25 litres) per month. With my desire to travel in the eastern districts and back and forth to family in Salisbury, I needed a way to not use much petrol so that I could 'save' it for use in my 1957 Morris Minor 1000, named Myrtle.
That scooter was also very useful for me when we lived on a large irrigation scheme in the Transkei. It was great to take little son number one around to see cows being milked, calves being fed, owls sitting on fence posts, biplane crop sprayer parked and asking to be climbed on like a jungle gym... Unfortunately, as little son number two grew bigger, I found it a bit difficult, and rather unsteady, driving down bumpy gravel farm roads, with one boy in a kanga pouch on my chest, and another one hanging on to my back from the rear seat - not all that safe!!! - so we sold her. I still hanker for her, and have vaguely considered getting one of those BMW type vehicles with protective screen/roof - but I know I never will.
After all, I wouldn't want to embarrass my sons now, would I???
Another solution would be to ride a motor-cycle - a suggestion quickly shot down by one anxious father/husband because of the danger inherent in riding such vehicles. Though looking at the amount that a friend of Richard's spends per month on petrol for his motorbike (R100) to get to Varsity and back - Richard reckons that at some stage the risk is worth it economically. I tend to agree with him. My ever-loving concerned husband perhaps forgets that when he met me I was trundling around on a little red 50cc Suzuki scooter which went max. speed of 25miles per hour downhill with the wind behind me. But of course that was in the then Southern Rhodesia (even before it was called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia which then dropped the Rhodesia part), and the traffic was certainly not as dense in the late 1970s there as it is in the 2000s here now! I think he also forgets that he purloined my scooter after we were married to go to work on - all in the efforts of saving petrol, which was pretty scarce in those days. I had bought the scooter because my petrol ration when I taught in Umtali (Mutare) was 5 coupons (=25 litres) per month. With my desire to travel in the eastern districts and back and forth to family in Salisbury, I needed a way to not use much petrol so that I could 'save' it for use in my 1957 Morris Minor 1000, named Myrtle.
That scooter was also very useful for me when we lived on a large irrigation scheme in the Transkei. It was great to take little son number one around to see cows being milked, calves being fed, owls sitting on fence posts, biplane crop sprayer parked and asking to be climbed on like a jungle gym... Unfortunately, as little son number two grew bigger, I found it a bit difficult, and rather unsteady, driving down bumpy gravel farm roads, with one boy in a kanga pouch on my chest, and another one hanging on to my back from the rear seat - not all that safe!!! - so we sold her. I still hanker for her, and have vaguely considered getting one of those BMW type vehicles with protective screen/roof - but I know I never will.
After all, I wouldn't want to embarrass my sons now, would I???
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday School
I visited our Sunday School this morning. There were about 100 children aged 3 - 12, gathered in the hall for the beginning part of the hour - seated in rows and all sizes mixed up together. The lesson story of the day was told/ read/ enacted mainly by two teenagers. They did a good job in spite of not being equipped in knowing how to grab and hold attention and bring the children into the centre of the story. The message got through mostly - but I wondered about the littlest ones...
The lesson time was followed by praise and worship singing time - with actions accompanying the words. It pleased me to see the smaller ones standing on the chairs so they could see better. I wished that they had done that during the story time. After this, the various age-groups went off with their own teachers to smaller classrooms and continued with application of the story and activities.
Today there were 4 older teachers (over 30 years) and 4 younger teachers (ages 16-21). They do take it in turns to give the main lesson of the week, and not every teacher comes every week. In a church of 900 regular worshippers surely this is not sufficient to cater for the eternal lives of the children among us?
The lesson time was followed by praise and worship singing time - with actions accompanying the words. It pleased me to see the smaller ones standing on the chairs so they could see better. I wished that they had done that during the story time. After this, the various age-groups went off with their own teachers to smaller classrooms and continued with application of the story and activities.
Today there were 4 older teachers (over 30 years) and 4 younger teachers (ages 16-21). They do take it in turns to give the main lesson of the week, and not every teacher comes every week. In a church of 900 regular worshippers surely this is not sufficient to cater for the eternal lives of the children among us?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Youth Ministry
Today we held our Youth Alpha Holy Spirit day - with members of our confimation group plus other youth. The way we do confimation, and the way we conduct youth ministry needs to undergo change. It is screamingly obvious how the youngsters lack both knowledge and any level of maturity that one would expect from those 16 years and older. Before we looked up any scriptures, it was necessary to start from scratch - showing the list of contents (books) divided into Old and New testaments; showing the chapter and verse notations and how to find the places we would be referring to. One comment was: 'the numbers are so small'. Another comment, or rather question, was: 'why don't we see miracles happening anymore'.
I see the lack in the youth as being a natural consequence of what has been happening over the last four decades. When I began teaching in high schools, the trend was growing to place more and more responsibility on the schools for what should have been taught in the home - sex education being the then much talked about concern, followed by religious instruction. Sex education has become a teaching of the biological mechanics of reproduction, with little - if any - attention to moral and relationship values, and with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, its spread, and how people should accept and care for sufferers. Not even the consequence of what to do with the millions of orphans has been addressed in any meaningful manner.
There was a time when ministers were invited into the schools to to RI with the pupils from their denomination. Parents played a lesser role, and directed their efforts towards earning more to ostensibly provide more materially and in the way of opportunities for their children. And the parent-child relationships took a dive as the 'latch-key' kids became a normal phenomenon in society. The 'buck' has been passed to such an extent that, in our secular society where there is no longer Religious Instruction in schools, the youngsters are not learning about faith. A large majority of parents have abdicated both faith-practice and instruction. The youngsters do not know about miracles happening because the parents do not recognise miracles or God's work in their lives and therefore are unable to bring these to the attention of their children or point out the works of God in their children's lives. A sad situation, but where does that leave us as the Church? What is our role and how do we carry it out?
Of course, it is to evangelise and encourage people to become disciples and to teach etc. But as far as the Youth is concerned, we need to 'do church' in new creative ways. We will have to take 'church' out into their world rather than insist that they come to the premises where the church buildings are. We need to meet them on their turf and give them a vision of God's presence and action in their hyperactively changing world where so much seems to become obsolete so quickly, and where stability and things eternal are unknown and totally foreign concepts. I believe that we need to take a long hard look at what we have done youth-wise and to whom we have delegated the task of youth ministry. It is not enough to expect a young person or a young married couple to take on the responsibility any more. There needs, I believe, to be more intentional equipping of those who experience a call to this area of ministry. And they need to be properly remunerated for it as well. Gone are the days when it was expected that youth ministry would be a temporary occupation that one would 'grow out of' on the way to becoming ordained. That attitude is, to my mind, downright derogatory and both blind and deaf to the needs and the worth of young people, as well as to those called to this ministry. If you pay peanuts, you cannot expect to get more than monkeys - so the saying goes. Perhaps we should be sending our Youth Pastors on teacher training courses to better equip them towards dealing with and coming alongside the youth.
And then, it's not just the Youth that we need to address more creatively - the parents obviously need something different too - something that would spur them on to active committed faith and the desire to invest in their children's eternal lives. And I wonder whether we as ministers are not in need of radical transformation ourselves. Is it the Wonder and Otherness of God that motivates us to worship? Do we worship in spirit and in truth ourselves? Or are we just trying to keep up to date with the tasks that come our way and the sermons that need to be preached on a Sunday? Are we in living relationships with our Lord and Saviour - or just 'winging it'? I know that it is an ongoing struggle for me to keep on making the time to just be quiet in the Lord's presence - and to keep interruptions at bay from those (family, friends and 'sheep') who believe that I am to be there for them at the drop of whatever.
Where do we go from here?
I see the lack in the youth as being a natural consequence of what has been happening over the last four decades. When I began teaching in high schools, the trend was growing to place more and more responsibility on the schools for what should have been taught in the home - sex education being the then much talked about concern, followed by religious instruction. Sex education has become a teaching of the biological mechanics of reproduction, with little - if any - attention to moral and relationship values, and with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, its spread, and how people should accept and care for sufferers. Not even the consequence of what to do with the millions of orphans has been addressed in any meaningful manner.
There was a time when ministers were invited into the schools to to RI with the pupils from their denomination. Parents played a lesser role, and directed their efforts towards earning more to ostensibly provide more materially and in the way of opportunities for their children. And the parent-child relationships took a dive as the 'latch-key' kids became a normal phenomenon in society. The 'buck' has been passed to such an extent that, in our secular society where there is no longer Religious Instruction in schools, the youngsters are not learning about faith. A large majority of parents have abdicated both faith-practice and instruction. The youngsters do not know about miracles happening because the parents do not recognise miracles or God's work in their lives and therefore are unable to bring these to the attention of their children or point out the works of God in their children's lives. A sad situation, but where does that leave us as the Church? What is our role and how do we carry it out?
Of course, it is to evangelise and encourage people to become disciples and to teach etc. But as far as the Youth is concerned, we need to 'do church' in new creative ways. We will have to take 'church' out into their world rather than insist that they come to the premises where the church buildings are. We need to meet them on their turf and give them a vision of God's presence and action in their hyperactively changing world where so much seems to become obsolete so quickly, and where stability and things eternal are unknown and totally foreign concepts. I believe that we need to take a long hard look at what we have done youth-wise and to whom we have delegated the task of youth ministry. It is not enough to expect a young person or a young married couple to take on the responsibility any more. There needs, I believe, to be more intentional equipping of those who experience a call to this area of ministry. And they need to be properly remunerated for it as well. Gone are the days when it was expected that youth ministry would be a temporary occupation that one would 'grow out of' on the way to becoming ordained. That attitude is, to my mind, downright derogatory and both blind and deaf to the needs and the worth of young people, as well as to those called to this ministry. If you pay peanuts, you cannot expect to get more than monkeys - so the saying goes. Perhaps we should be sending our Youth Pastors on teacher training courses to better equip them towards dealing with and coming alongside the youth.
And then, it's not just the Youth that we need to address more creatively - the parents obviously need something different too - something that would spur them on to active committed faith and the desire to invest in their children's eternal lives. And I wonder whether we as ministers are not in need of radical transformation ourselves. Is it the Wonder and Otherness of God that motivates us to worship? Do we worship in spirit and in truth ourselves? Or are we just trying to keep up to date with the tasks that come our way and the sermons that need to be preached on a Sunday? Are we in living relationships with our Lord and Saviour - or just 'winging it'? I know that it is an ongoing struggle for me to keep on making the time to just be quiet in the Lord's presence - and to keep interruptions at bay from those (family, friends and 'sheep') who believe that I am to be there for them at the drop of whatever.
Where do we go from here?
Sadness
On Tuesday I conducted a memorial service for a member of our church community. The disturbing thing for me was that we did not even know that the chap had been ill. Our Youth Pastor received a call from his daughter - who had been in the confirmation class 2007 - at 06h00 on Friday to say that her dad had died. She was, of course in a state, and Kyle went to see the family and I followed up with a visit later in the morning. Graham had been in hospital for three and a half weeks, being admitted with pancreatitis. They thought that he was pulling through, but then all systems gave up and he died. Fortunately (I believe) they were called by the hospital and were with him and able to say their good-byes at the end. A complicating factor was that he had been addicted to alcohol, and there were many regrets and what-ifs that needed answering. Can one ever answer adequately? Graham himself, and his wife, had not been regular church attenders, although he made sure that his daughters (now aged 16 and 14) went to Sunday School. At a time like this I find it important to get the family to recognise the fruits of faith that had been (hopefully) in the person's life. Graham had been a good father and provider for his family, and been the initiator of much fun. They knew that they were loved - even though they struggled with the effects of his addiction and, consequently, were responsible for arguments and 'bad words' between them and him. However, what I did find encouraging was that the extended family and work colleagues seemed to lend much valuable care, encouragement and support during the time of Graham's hospitalisation, and, according to his wife, prayed much for him and them. So although we ourselves were in the dark concerning the desperate circumstances that the family was experiencing, other parts of the body of Christ were there for them. And this is what it means to be the church, does it not?? I thank God that there are many active, involved, caring members of God's family testifying to their faith and love for God, and bringing hope and comfort to those in need of it.
Friday, February 15, 2008
New Puppy
Meet Bess - a pavement special from the SPCA. She joined our family on 1 Feb.2008 and is allegedly a Bull Terrier Cross. When you look at her face and see her 'smile', this is possible to believe. But as for the rest of her, only time will tell. We wonder about bits of Pointer/ Daschund...... But whatever her ancestry, she is quick-learning and pretty much knows her place in the heirarchy, although Ned still has times of plonking her into the submission posture to Judy - the oldest (and smallest) of the ladies now.
Rumble tries not to pay too much attention to Bess. She is 14 years old, a very good age for a Labrador/ Dalmation cross. She is a bit wobbly at times, having had a bit of a stroke a few months back.
Judy at 16 years of age is pretty sprightly considering - she still catches the occasional bird to supplement her diet. Judy is a Staffie/ Fox Terrier cross, and has been a very good 'ratter' since she joined us at 6weeks old.
One has to face the reality that one's pets do not live forever - hence the new blood brought in at this stage, when the older girls are still able to 'train' the younger and teach her our ways! In time we will get another one to be company for Bess (and be trained by her hopefully) when one of the old girls passes on to the eternal 'hunting ground'! Dogs being a 15 year committment (sort of on average), Bess and her future companion will be the last pets we acquire. A sobering thought!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Chaos in the Zimbabwe Anglican Church
These following came via my brother-in-law from a close friend still living in Zimbabwe:
2. From The Zimbabwe Independent, 1 February
High Court says Kunonga Diocese 'non-existent': Lucia Makamure
High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe yesterday said the Anglican Diocese of Harare which fired bishop Nolbert Kunonga purports to head cannot exist at law outside the constitution of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA). Hungwe said this when he dismissed an urgent application by the diocese represented by Kunonga for a spoliation order against the CPCA and acting Harare bishop Sebastian Bakare. Kunonga's diocese approached the court to bar the CPCA and Bakare from using Anglican property in the capital. "Applicant (Kunonga's Harare Diocese) cannot exist outside the constitution of first respondent (CPCA). It has no separate constitution of its own. It, therefore, has no structures of its own other than those set out in the constitution," Hungwe ruled. "The assets under contention are assets which respondent lays claim to. The question of ownership of these assets is not presently before me." Hungwe said it was clear to him that Kunonga's diocese was nowhere "near demonstrating that it has placed itself within the purview of those who confess to be Anglicans and who abide by the constitution" of their church. There is no claim that there was resolution of the synod of the diocese adopting this alleged breakaway (by Kunonga)," the judge ruled. He said Kunonga by breaking away from the CPCA violated the constitution of the church. What the papers do show is that Bishop Kunonga and the diocesan secretary and a handful of other worshippers have decided to leave the first respondent. They have, however, not followed the church's constitution, as such they cannot seek to rely on a constitution that they have so much violated. They claimed they have been despoiled by the acts of the second respondent (Bakare) whose only offence was to minister members of the first respondent," Hungwe's judgement read.
Hungwe said Bakare did not despoil Kunonga and the Diocese of Harare of anything when he accepted invitations to conduct services in the diocese. "I am unable to hold that where a bishop of one diocese is invited to minister in a different diocese and accepts such invitation by the faithful, such services as he may conduct amount to unlawful dispossession of whatever rights are held by the ordained bishop for the locality," the judge ruled. "In my respectful opinion no unlawful dispossession occurred in this matter|for to argue that entry into a church premise by a bishop of a separate diocese constitutes dispossession would be to stretch the mandament too far." Hungwe said the parties to the dispute, being men of the cloth, ought to resolve their disagreements in a "God-fearing manner".
3. Report on the enthronement of Bishop Bakare - 3 Feb 08 From: "Avondale Parish"
Dear all,
We woke to a beautiful sunny day and praised the Lord for his goodness. When we arrived at the City Sports Centre around 9:15am the car park was already full of buses and cars and people were streaming into the Sports Centre. The Security and Usher teams were in force provided by the Youth and the Bernard Mizeki Guild. They had name cards identifying them and some had sashes as well. The choirs were in magnificent voice and the noise emanating from the inside was wonderful to hear.
By the time the service commenced the Centre was almost full and continued to fill during the morning. The Cathedral and St Stephen's had dressed the altar, lectern and the stage in white and green with two magnificent white arrangements of flowers on pedestals. The chairs for the bishops had white slip covers on them. The playing area had seats arranged in blocks with padded chairs in the front two rows for invited guests and dignitaries. The choirs sang the whole time and every now and then there would be a roar from the congregation. The Mothers Union were present in force and they made quite an impact in their blue and white uniforms. Two large screens had been set up so that people would be able to see some close-ups of the proceedings.The choirs were seated to the right in bays 13,14 and 15 and were all wearing white blouses or shirts.
Just prior to processions of the bishops the servers, sub-deacons, deacons and priests had filed in to sit in bay 16 immediately behind the altar. For those who know the Sports Centre, this bay is where the score board is situated. The service commenced with the arrival of the bishops. The first one was Bishop Peter Hatendi followed by those from Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Each was announced and a brief curriculum vitae given stating where they had been trained, when enthroned as a bishop and other pertinent details. The bishops were led in down the aisle by servers wearing red surplices and priests. The teams rotated so they walked many hundreds of metres. The choirs continued to sing throughout the procession apart from when the announcements were made.
Bishop Bakare commenced the service which was partially in Shona and partially in English. The readings were Nehemiah 2: 11->; Psalm 99:1-9; 2 Peter 1:1-16 and Matthew 17: 1->. The Sermon was on Reconciliation and Rebuilding based on Nehemiah 4:1-4. The sermon was given in English with Rev Chris Tapera translating into Shona.
The Registrar Michael Chingore and the Deputy Registrar Vimbai Nyemba were commissioned by Bishop Bakare assisted by the Diocesan Chancellor Bob Stumbles.
The Peace took several minutes as people milled around greeting friends and passing on the Peace.The Collection Hymn followed with the ushers moving around with large plastic bags to receive the collection. This was then put into a fertiliser bag to present to Bishop Bakare. Perhaps not the most elegant of bags but it served the purpose very well and possibly many were not aware of it, but as we were sitting right near the altar we could see everything.
During the Collection hymn just before the Preparation of the Elements, Bishop Bakare went out of the Sports Stadium for several minutes. We were told by Pam Stumbles and Rhona Harris who went out briefly that this was a News Conference but it seemed strange to us to have one in the middle of the Eucharist. The ciboriums had been filled with wafers and the bottles of wine were put onto the altar, some decanted into the chalice and the consecrated wine was then poured back into each bottle. The Dean of the Province, Bishop Chama conducted the Preparation with Bishop Bakare also participating half-way through. The bishops then received communion, followed by the priests and their sub-deacons and servers. The priests and sub-deacons then administered the sacraments by intinction. Those on the centre section came up to the red carpet in front of the altar to receive and those in the bays moved either up or down as directed by the ushers. It was incredibly orderly and when one considered the size of the congregation took an amazingly short time.
The service had just about concluded at 1:25pm when the power failed and Bishop Bakare announced when the generator started that we would move to Plan B. Plan B was then revealed that as the congregation was so large and so many would like to be present and the cathedral would not accommodate everyone, the enthronement of the Bishop would take place at the Sports Centre. In effect Kunonga had apparently camped at the cathedral all night on Saturday and the cathedral was locked with guards so the service could not take place there. People who had been invited to the Enthronement and went to the cathedral were therefore unable to witness it, but those at the Sports Centre were delighted that they were going to be able to witness the entire ceremony.
The actual Enthronement was very simple as part of the pomp and ceremony could not take place. A chair was placed in front of the altar as the throne. The Dean of the Province presented Bishop Sebastian Bakare to the congregation so "that all may know him to be the rightly appointed and confirmed Bishop of Harare, and to give him that esteem and love which are due to him for the work's sake as one set over you in the Lord."
The certificates of Confirmation of Appointment were handed to the Registrar who also received from the new Bishop the Deeds of his Consecration and Collation. The Registrar having satisfied himself that these were in order then affirmed that "Sebastian Bakare is our undoubted Bishop"
The Bishop responded and thanked the congregation for their welcome and promised "to be a faithful shepherd and servant among us." He prayed that "the ministry which we shall share may be pleasing to God, and that it may strengthen the life of this Diocese and the whole Church of God."
He was led to a "suitable seat" and the pastoral staff was laid on the Altar. He then faced the congregation and promised "to respect, maintain and defend the rights, privileges and liberties of this Diocese and to rule in it with truth justice and love, not lording it over God's heritage, but showing myself in all things an example to the flock of Christ."
The Acting Dean then enthroned him as Bishop of Harare
The Acting Dean then blessed the Bishop who knelt before the altar. The Acting Dean then took the Pastoral staff from the altar and handed it to him saying " May the Giver of all grace enable you to be so merciful that you be not remiss, so to minister discipline that you do not forget mercy; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear you may receive the never-fading crown of glory."
The Bishop was then presented to the people who welcomed him with a shout, ululation and clapping. The priests then expressed their loyalty to the Bishop while he was seated on the throne. This was followed by messages of solidarity. The first was given by Bishop Nywatiwa of the Methodist Church and a German lady from Africa University. Rev David Bertram (Christchurch, Polokwane - SA), St Aiden's Church Chitungwiza and the Bishop of Rochester had also sent messages. Bishop Hatendi also gave a message of solidarity and a message was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The message concluded with an invitation for Bishop Bakare to attend Lambeth Congress later this year. (Kunonga had not been invited to this meeting.)
The wives of the various bishops were also acknowledged. The service concluded with a Blessing and then the priests, etc. processed out followed by the bishops and lastly the Dean of the Province.We were pleased that so many people were able to witness this historic occasion in the rebuilding of our Diocese but were sad that we were denied the right to have it in the Cathedral. We feel too for those who waited in vain for the Enthronement at the Cathedral as I understand some people waited for at least two hours. Ruth Chard had spent several hours practising on the organ for the service.We hope that we will now be able to move forward in the love of Christ. So much unity and joy was expressed yesterday and our congratulations go to all who made this historic occasion happen so smoothly.
Trish McKenzie. Warden Avondale Church
4. From: "Avondale Parish" <avondaleparish.cpca@gmail.com
Subject: Supporters of pro-Mugabe bishop blockade cathedral - from ZW News 4 Feb 08
From Associated Press, 3 February
Supporters of pro-Mugabe bishop blockade cathedral, locking out worshippers
Harare - Supporters of an Anglican bishop who is a staunch supporter of Zimbabwe's ruling party blockaded Harare's cathedral Sunday, preventing the swearing-in ceremony of his elected successor. Police ignored a court order and did not intervene. Gangs of supporters of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga locked the doors and gates to the cloisters of St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral in downtown Harare and at least two worshippers who tried to enter were assaulted, witnesses said. The High Court on Thursday ruled that the swearing-in of Bishop Sebastian Bakare, voted bishop of the Harare Anglican province by local churches to replace Kunonga, should go ahead and Bakare's followers should be allowed to worship in the cathedral. But from early Sunday, Kunonga's supporters circled the cathedral entrances and barred entry to churchgoers showing up for Sunday services. A few police, watched by witnesses and reporters, did not intervene.
Bakare was later installed in an "investiture" ceremony as the new caretaker Anglican bishop of Harare at a service attended by several thousand worshippers at a sports arena across the city. The standoff was the latest incident in a bitter dispute that has racked the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe since Kunonga last year refused to hand over the cathedral, its administrative offices, its check accounts and vehicles to church elders after losing the election for bishop. In January, Kunonga declared he was breaking away from the Church of the Province of Central Africa, the regional Anglican governing body, and declared the formation of an independent Anglican Harare diocese that retained him as its leader. But in his court ruling Thursday, Judge Charles Hungwe ruled that declaration invalid, saying church elders across the region had not accepted the schism and it violated longstanding constitutional rules of the Anglican church in central and southern Africa.
He dismissed an appeal by Kunonga to bar Bakare from using church property for worship and said "men of the cloth ought to resolve their differences in a God-fearing manner". In an earlier ruling last month, the High Court permitted both Kunonga's and Bakare's followers to hold services in the cathedral at separate times while the issue of the bishop's post was resolved. Scuffles occurred at those services, watched over by armed police, and in one incident Kunonga snatched Bakare's bible from his grasp and threw it across the cathedral nave. In 2004, Kunonga faced a regional church court on allegations of incitement to murder, fostering ruling party politics, ethnic hatred and incitement from the pulpit during the often-violent seizures ordered by Mugabe and the ruling party of thousands of white-owned farms since 2000, and using intimidation against his opponents. That court adjourned in confusion and rancor before it could make a ruling on the behavior of Kunonga, a former lecturer in liberation theology in the United States.
Soon after becoming Harare bishop, Kunonga ordered the removal of memorial plaques and insignia honoring the country's dead before independence in 1980, including those of black soldiers who fought alongside the forces of Britain, the former colonial ruler, in World War II. Last month, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Church, said he unequivocally condemned the use of armed police and state machinery to intimidate Kunonga's opponents. "Kunonga's position has become increasingly untenable within the Anglican Church over the last year, as he has consistently refused to maintain appropriate levels of independence from the Zimbabwean Government," Williams said.
We have had some excitement at Church, which we could well have done without. Nolbert Kunonga the Bishop of the Diocese of Harare and a bad man, and his political cohorts and episcopal supporters decided they would withdraw the Diocese from the Province of Central Africa, which includes all the other four Zim Diocese and the Church in Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. He cited the Provinces softness toward homosexuality as the reason. He announced at the Provincial Synod he was going to do it and when he got back here held a Diocesan Synod where he overrode the laity and with the support of his supporters in the clergy passed a resolution that they were pulling out. The Province responded by appointing Sebastian Bakare, retired, as an interim Bishop for the Diocese and we have had two factions since then. About 90% or more of the laity are against Kunonga and some clergy. For a couple of weeks there was chaos, as we had services in school halls and eventually got into church halls and last week received a Judicial Order that allowed us into church, but only 90 minutes after the last service of the Kunonga crowd. So our Rector prolonged his service so that the Bakare church service only started about 11.45 instead of 10.45.
What it has done is unite the congregations in a way nothing else ever has. We get 160-200 in our service and the Rector has less than 20 in his three services. The accounts have been separated so none of our money goes to "them". However, we are deprived of the rightful use of the church buildings and other assets. We know the whole thing is politically driven and the Sunday after Christmas we were back from the Doormans in Trelawney and went to Church unaware that there was any sort of problem. On arrival we saw a cop sitting in the parking area and then some 'heavies' with dark glasses on the steps but we all went in. The new Bishop was to take the service and we were delayed. Eventually the church Warden came in and said, "We have a problem". The Rector stalked down to the altar with a face some described as "long as a bad road" and when the Bishop came in, the Rector started shouting at him and the congregation. He said "This is my church so this man can't serve here." The congregation shouted back in unison" This is our Church and we want him to take the service." The CIO heavies tried to take him out so the congregation all filed out onto the lawn and started singing and praying in both English and Shona. The police, CIO and clergy of both factions then met in the vestry to sort it out. The CIO sent a police reservist to shush the singing, the Shona choir sang louder. Eventually the big shots all went to the Police Station and we carried on. We had to leave as we had another engagement. After we left the CIO sent the policeman to arrest the choir master and the choir surrounded him and said you cant have him. Eventually the outcome was no service but a lot of singing to the Lord was done. In other churches the riot police have been sent in to arrest our side when they are in services. We await the next exciting episode.
Kunonga and all his supporters have been excommunicated by the worldwide Anglican Church but he has now said he has formed his own Province and divided Harare Diocese into five Diocese so that it can be a Province. The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he is a bad lad, etc. We will find out tomorrow what is going on we have an 11.00 am service in the Church! We hope! No power, no water, no food, bad roads, and now no Church - darkest Africa returns! The new Bishop is supposed to be enthroned the first week in February we await with interest what will happen as Kunonga refuses to leave the Cathedral.
High Court says Kunonga Diocese 'non-existent': Lucia Makamure
High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe yesterday said the Anglican Diocese of Harare which fired bishop Nolbert Kunonga purports to head cannot exist at law outside the constitution of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA). Hungwe said this when he dismissed an urgent application by the diocese represented by Kunonga for a spoliation order against the CPCA and acting Harare bishop Sebastian Bakare. Kunonga's diocese approached the court to bar the CPCA and Bakare from using Anglican property in the capital. "Applicant (Kunonga's Harare Diocese) cannot exist outside the constitution of first respondent (CPCA). It has no separate constitution of its own. It, therefore, has no structures of its own other than those set out in the constitution," Hungwe ruled. "The assets under contention are assets which respondent lays claim to. The question of ownership of these assets is not presently before me." Hungwe said it was clear to him that Kunonga's diocese was nowhere "near demonstrating that it has placed itself within the purview of those who confess to be Anglicans and who abide by the constitution" of their church. There is no claim that there was resolution of the synod of the diocese adopting this alleged breakaway (by Kunonga)," the judge ruled. He said Kunonga by breaking away from the CPCA violated the constitution of the church. What the papers do show is that Bishop Kunonga and the diocesan secretary and a handful of other worshippers have decided to leave the first respondent. They have, however, not followed the church's constitution, as such they cannot seek to rely on a constitution that they have so much violated. They claimed they have been despoiled by the acts of the second respondent (Bakare) whose only offence was to minister members of the first respondent," Hungwe's judgement read.
Hungwe said Bakare did not despoil Kunonga and the Diocese of Harare of anything when he accepted invitations to conduct services in the diocese. "I am unable to hold that where a bishop of one diocese is invited to minister in a different diocese and accepts such invitation by the faithful, such services as he may conduct amount to unlawful dispossession of whatever rights are held by the ordained bishop for the locality," the judge ruled. "In my respectful opinion no unlawful dispossession occurred in this matter|for to argue that entry into a church premise by a bishop of a separate diocese constitutes dispossession would be to stretch the mandament too far." Hungwe said the parties to the dispute, being men of the cloth, ought to resolve their disagreements in a "God-fearing manner".
Dear all,
We woke to a beautiful sunny day and praised the Lord for his goodness. When we arrived at the City Sports Centre around 9:15am the car park was already full of buses and cars and people were streaming into the Sports Centre. The Security and Usher teams were in force provided by the Youth and the Bernard Mizeki Guild. They had name cards identifying them and some had sashes as well. The choirs were in magnificent voice and the noise emanating from the inside was wonderful to hear.
By the time the service commenced the Centre was almost full and continued to fill during the morning. The Cathedral and St Stephen's had dressed the altar, lectern and the stage in white and green with two magnificent white arrangements of flowers on pedestals. The chairs for the bishops had white slip covers on them. The playing area had seats arranged in blocks with padded chairs in the front two rows for invited guests and dignitaries. The choirs sang the whole time and every now and then there would be a roar from the congregation. The Mothers Union were present in force and they made quite an impact in their blue and white uniforms. Two large screens had been set up so that people would be able to see some close-ups of the proceedings.The choirs were seated to the right in bays 13,14 and 15 and were all wearing white blouses or shirts.
Just prior to processions of the bishops the servers, sub-deacons, deacons and priests had filed in to sit in bay 16 immediately behind the altar. For those who know the Sports Centre, this bay is where the score board is situated. The service commenced with the arrival of the bishops. The first one was Bishop Peter Hatendi followed by those from Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Each was announced and a brief curriculum vitae given stating where they had been trained, when enthroned as a bishop and other pertinent details. The bishops were led in down the aisle by servers wearing red surplices and priests. The teams rotated so they walked many hundreds of metres. The choirs continued to sing throughout the procession apart from when the announcements were made.
Bishop Bakare commenced the service which was partially in Shona and partially in English. The readings were Nehemiah 2: 11->; Psalm 99:1-9; 2 Peter 1:1-16 and Matthew 17: 1->. The Sermon was on Reconciliation and Rebuilding based on Nehemiah 4:1-4. The sermon was given in English with Rev Chris Tapera translating into Shona.
The Registrar Michael Chingore and the Deputy Registrar Vimbai Nyemba were commissioned by Bishop Bakare assisted by the Diocesan Chancellor Bob Stumbles.
The Peace took several minutes as people milled around greeting friends and passing on the Peace.The Collection Hymn followed with the ushers moving around with large plastic bags to receive the collection. This was then put into a fertiliser bag to present to Bishop Bakare. Perhaps not the most elegant of bags but it served the purpose very well and possibly many were not aware of it, but as we were sitting right near the altar we could see everything.
During the Collection hymn just before the Preparation of the Elements, Bishop Bakare went out of the Sports Stadium for several minutes. We were told by Pam Stumbles and Rhona Harris who went out briefly that this was a News Conference but it seemed strange to us to have one in the middle of the Eucharist. The ciboriums had been filled with wafers and the bottles of wine were put onto the altar, some decanted into the chalice and the consecrated wine was then poured back into each bottle. The Dean of the Province, Bishop Chama conducted the Preparation with Bishop Bakare also participating half-way through. The bishops then received communion, followed by the priests and their sub-deacons and servers. The priests and sub-deacons then administered the sacraments by intinction. Those on the centre section came up to the red carpet in front of the altar to receive and those in the bays moved either up or down as directed by the ushers. It was incredibly orderly and when one considered the size of the congregation took an amazingly short time.
The service had just about concluded at 1:25pm when the power failed and Bishop Bakare announced when the generator started that we would move to Plan B. Plan B was then revealed that as the congregation was so large and so many would like to be present and the cathedral would not accommodate everyone, the enthronement of the Bishop would take place at the Sports Centre. In effect Kunonga had apparently camped at the cathedral all night on Saturday and the cathedral was locked with guards so the service could not take place there. People who had been invited to the Enthronement and went to the cathedral were therefore unable to witness it, but those at the Sports Centre were delighted that they were going to be able to witness the entire ceremony.
The actual Enthronement was very simple as part of the pomp and ceremony could not take place. A chair was placed in front of the altar as the throne. The Dean of the Province presented Bishop Sebastian Bakare to the congregation so "that all may know him to be the rightly appointed and confirmed Bishop of Harare, and to give him that esteem and love which are due to him for the work's sake as one set over you in the Lord."
The certificates of Confirmation of Appointment were handed to the Registrar who also received from the new Bishop the Deeds of his Consecration and Collation. The Registrar having satisfied himself that these were in order then affirmed that "Sebastian Bakare is our undoubted Bishop"
The Bishop responded and thanked the congregation for their welcome and promised "to be a faithful shepherd and servant among us." He prayed that "the ministry which we shall share may be pleasing to God, and that it may strengthen the life of this Diocese and the whole Church of God."
He was led to a "suitable seat" and the pastoral staff was laid on the Altar. He then faced the congregation and promised "to respect, maintain and defend the rights, privileges and liberties of this Diocese and to rule in it with truth justice and love, not lording it over God's heritage, but showing myself in all things an example to the flock of Christ."
The Acting Dean then enthroned him as Bishop of Harare
The Acting Dean then blessed the Bishop who knelt before the altar. The Acting Dean then took the Pastoral staff from the altar and handed it to him saying " May the Giver of all grace enable you to be so merciful that you be not remiss, so to minister discipline that you do not forget mercy; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear you may receive the never-fading crown of glory."
The Bishop was then presented to the people who welcomed him with a shout, ululation and clapping. The priests then expressed their loyalty to the Bishop while he was seated on the throne. This was followed by messages of solidarity. The first was given by Bishop Nywatiwa of the Methodist Church and a German lady from Africa University. Rev David Bertram (Christchurch, Polokwane - SA), St Aiden's Church Chitungwiza and the Bishop of Rochester had also sent messages. Bishop Hatendi also gave a message of solidarity and a message was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The message concluded with an invitation for Bishop Bakare to attend Lambeth Congress later this year. (Kunonga had not been invited to this meeting.)
The wives of the various bishops were also acknowledged. The service concluded with a Blessing and then the priests, etc. processed out followed by the bishops and lastly the Dean of the Province.We were pleased that so many people were able to witness this historic occasion in the rebuilding of our Diocese but were sad that we were denied the right to have it in the Cathedral. We feel too for those who waited in vain for the Enthronement at the Cathedral as I understand some people waited for at least two hours. Ruth Chard had spent several hours practising on the organ for the service.We hope that we will now be able to move forward in the love of Christ. So much unity and joy was expressed yesterday and our congratulations go to all who made this historic occasion happen so smoothly.
Trish McKenzie. Warden Avondale Church
4. From: "Avondale Parish" <avondaleparish.cpca@gmail.com
Subject: Supporters of pro-Mugabe bishop blockade cathedral - from ZW News 4 Feb 08
From Associated Press, 3 February
Supporters of pro-Mugabe bishop blockade cathedral, locking out worshippers
Harare - Supporters of an Anglican bishop who is a staunch supporter of Zimbabwe's ruling party blockaded Harare's cathedral Sunday, preventing the swearing-in ceremony of his elected successor. Police ignored a court order and did not intervene. Gangs of supporters of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga locked the doors and gates to the cloisters of St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral in downtown Harare and at least two worshippers who tried to enter were assaulted, witnesses said. The High Court on Thursday ruled that the swearing-in of Bishop Sebastian Bakare, voted bishop of the Harare Anglican province by local churches to replace Kunonga, should go ahead and Bakare's followers should be allowed to worship in the cathedral. But from early Sunday, Kunonga's supporters circled the cathedral entrances and barred entry to churchgoers showing up for Sunday services. A few police, watched by witnesses and reporters, did not intervene.
Bakare was later installed in an "investiture" ceremony as the new caretaker Anglican bishop of Harare at a service attended by several thousand worshippers at a sports arena across the city. The standoff was the latest incident in a bitter dispute that has racked the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe since Kunonga last year refused to hand over the cathedral, its administrative offices, its check accounts and vehicles to church elders after losing the election for bishop. In January, Kunonga declared he was breaking away from the Church of the Province of Central Africa, the regional Anglican governing body, and declared the formation of an independent Anglican Harare diocese that retained him as its leader. But in his court ruling Thursday, Judge Charles Hungwe ruled that declaration invalid, saying church elders across the region had not accepted the schism and it violated longstanding constitutional rules of the Anglican church in central and southern Africa.
He dismissed an appeal by Kunonga to bar Bakare from using church property for worship and said "men of the cloth ought to resolve their differences in a God-fearing manner". In an earlier ruling last month, the High Court permitted both Kunonga's and Bakare's followers to hold services in the cathedral at separate times while the issue of the bishop's post was resolved. Scuffles occurred at those services, watched over by armed police, and in one incident Kunonga snatched Bakare's bible from his grasp and threw it across the cathedral nave. In 2004, Kunonga faced a regional church court on allegations of incitement to murder, fostering ruling party politics, ethnic hatred and incitement from the pulpit during the often-violent seizures ordered by Mugabe and the ruling party of thousands of white-owned farms since 2000, and using intimidation against his opponents. That court adjourned in confusion and rancor before it could make a ruling on the behavior of Kunonga, a former lecturer in liberation theology in the United States.
Soon after becoming Harare bishop, Kunonga ordered the removal of memorial plaques and insignia honoring the country's dead before independence in 1980, including those of black soldiers who fought alongside the forces of Britain, the former colonial ruler, in World War II. Last month, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Church, said he unequivocally condemned the use of armed police and state machinery to intimidate Kunonga's opponents. "Kunonga's position has become increasingly untenable within the Anglican Church over the last year, as he has consistently refused to maintain appropriate levels of independence from the Zimbabwean Government," Williams said.
Please be Politically Correct
While Eskom apologizes for the recent load shedding, we would also like to remind our customers that it is no longer politically correct to refer to an area as suffering from a blackout.
These areas should now be referred to as 'previously lit'.
These areas should now be referred to as 'previously lit'.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
