The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have condemned state interference with Zimbabwean Anglicans’ freedom to worship on Christmas Day. Zimbabwe-based Nehanda Radio reported that police threatened members of most Anglican churches in the capital city of Harare.
 
“They drove people out and stopped those that were trying to get in,” said the Rt. Rev. Chad Gandiya, who was consecrated as the Bishop of Harare in July 2009.
 
“We condemn unequivocally any move to deny people their basic right to worship,” the archbishops said in a joint statement dated Dec. 27. “To prevent people from worshipping in their churches on Christmas Day — unable to receive the church’s message of hope — is a further blow to civil liberties in Zimbabwe. Such unprovoked intimidation of worshippers by the police is completely unacceptable and indicative of the continued and persistent oppression by state instruments of those perceived to be in opposition.”
 
Bishop Gandiya replaced the Rt. Rev. Nolbert Kunonga, who broke away from the Church of the Province of Central Africa and formed the Anglican Church of Zimbabwe. Bishop Kunonga, a supporter of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, claimed that the province was weak on Church teachings regarding homosexuality.
 
The province excommunicated Bishop Kunonga, who says that he remains the rightful Anglican Bishop of Harare. The archbishops reject that claim.
 
“We stand in support of the dioceses of Harare and Manicaland under The Church of the Province of Central Africa in this regard,” the archbishops said. “For many people in Zimbabwe, ground down by unceasing unemployment and lack of basic services, the church is their only lifeline.”
 
The Living Church has a new look! Get the next 52 weeks of The Living Church Online, plus convenient access to more than a year of archived issues, all for just $25! Click here to start your subscription to the TLC Online Edition today!