The Primate of Central Africa was mobbed on Feb. 22 at the diocesan offices in Lilongwe after he declined to accede to demands made by supporters of an English priest whose election as a diocesan bishop in that province was rejected.

Press reports and accounts relayed by a spokesman for Archbishop Malango indicate that approximately 500 supporters of the Rev. Nicholas Henderson were delivered by bus to the diocesan offices of the Central African Church’s poorest diocese to register their support for Fr. Henderson, who had just concluded a 10-day visit to the diocese.

Archbishop Malango had gathered the clergy at the Lake Malawi diocesan offices to discuss the election process for a new bishop when the meeting was cut short by the crowd’s demands. Both the Primate and the vicar-general of the diocese made their escape unharmed through a back door.

Vicar of a West London parish, Fr. Henderson’s election as bishop of Lake Malawi was rejected by the Provincial Court of Confirmation last fall. A long-time leader of the Modern Churchpeople’s Union (MCU), considered the most progressive of the Church of England’s political factions, Fr. Henderson’s protestations that he did not endorse the policies supported by the MCU were not believed by the Central African bishops who were perturbed by his published theological views.

Allegations that the bishop-elect is gay, a charge denied by Fr. Henderson, played no part in the Court of Confirmation proceedings, a spokesman for Archbishop Malango told THE LIVING CHURCH. Archbishop Malango presented the allegations of heterodox teaching, as president of the court, and after review the bishops declined to ratify his election, TLC was told.

Speaking to the media on his departure from Malawi, Fr. Henderson placed the responsibility for his failed election upon Archbishop Malango. “The difficulties are not between me and the church elders; it’s between me primarily and the archbishop,” he said.

Archbishop Malango came under fire from both supporters and opponents of Fr. Henderson. Supporters have alleged the rejection was a ruse to permit the appointment of an ally to the post and have urged the court to void its finding of unsound teaching. Opponents of the election are perturbed Archbishop Malango did not publicize the reasons for the rejection, and did not prevent Fr. Henderson from touring the diocese before the Feb. 22 clergy meeting.

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