Zimpapers Logo

Aside from the personalities that we continually see in the print media, what exactly is the story behind this episode?

I am aware that the courts have made their ruling on the matter, and no one is above the law, but just like Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua’s case early this year, one is left wondering whether the splits and fights are healthy for the church and for the people.

Why have we not heard the heads of various denominations coming forward to speak about this? And, what is God saying?

I ask these important questions because when we have a repeat in future, people want to know whether time and resources will be spend dealing with issues that have a “how to manual — the Bible”. Are the courts of law the place of last resort for the aggrieved?

There has been a general assumption that people understand how churches operate. Is it true for those people in different denominations and for non-believers as well?

A good example is on church property and ownership. Before we get to the point of saying who has the authority to own that property and/or administer over it, we have to ask ourselves how the church acquires property, and whether all parishioners know the processes of how churches are run.

My 76-years-old mother who is a member of the richest church in the world — the Catholic Church, does she own anything in the church in her individual capacity, or she has to be contend with being a parishioner? The same with these Anglican parishioners who became part of the fight among their leadership?

It is also unfortunate that the two sides are not coming to an amicable and Christ-like understanding at a time when the whole world will soon commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the very persona whom they owe their status to.

Nathaniel Manheru last Saturday gave an incisive historical background of the Anglican Church — its genesis globally and how it started in colonial Zimbabwe.

Some readers might have brushed aside that very important historical aspect, but notwithstanding, the church has a history and some of it is too ugly to fathom, just as we have noticed with the Anglican Church dramas. Acts of the Apostles in the Bible is also a good example.

Thus in essence, the Anglican Church plays a pivotal role in colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe, be it positive and/or negative.

This aspect is well supported by the location of the Anglican Cathedral in Harare — adjacent to the Parliament of Zimbabwe and situated close to a place that used to be Cecil (John Rhodes) Square and now Africa Unity Square. The seat of power and governance (Munhumutapa Building), which used to be called Milton Building, is not very far from the Church. So too, the other arm of government — the judiciary (both the High and Supreme Courts).

Two important street names complete the picture. The Anglican Cathedral is at the corner of Sam Nujoma (formerly Second Street) and Nelson Mandela Avenue (formerly Baker Avenue), with Munhumutapa also at the corner of Sam Nujoma Street and Samora Machel Avenue (formerly Jameson Avenue).

These names alone are a clash of titans in Zimbabwe and the region’s historical narrative. Thus it would be unfortunate to say that there isn’t a political tinge in this church saga. Notwithstanding, I am not in any way exonerating and/or condemning anyone.

The church has an important role in any society, but when the church abdicates its spiritual role, we have to ask whether its actions are advancing the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ because this is the only clear cut role that the church has to play.

A few weeks ago, I remember the president of the Heads of Christian Denominations, Dr Goodwill Shana saying that conservatively, Zimbabwe has a Christian population of about 8 million people.
With such a huge figure out of a population of about 13 or 14 million, why did the Anglican problem drag on and on and in the process causing so much disunity among members of the Church? Was it necessary that it ended up in the courts?

Assuming that the Anglican Church is not a member of the Heads of Christian Denominations, wasn’t it prudent that the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference and now the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (Udaciza) should have taken that leadership role and be arbitrators between the feuding parties, thereby avoiding litigations as the word of God says in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11?

You hear a lot of talk about Archbishop Nolbert Kunonga losing and Bishop Chad Gandiya emerging the winner. Where is the Lord Jesus Christ of whom they are ambassadors in all this? Has He lost and/or won?

You also ask yourself that Jesus is quick to forgive and we cry out for that, but in most of the narrative regarding this saga, forgiveness is starkly missing.

The spirit of embracing one another and allowing the Holy Spirit to take full charge of the affairs of the church is missing. It is all about personalities to the extent that some private media had headings such as “Mugabe bishop gets the boot” or “Rise and fall of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga”.

President Mugabe is a Catholic. Why would one clergyman from another denomination be given the task to minister to the Head of State and Government only, when so many souls need to be saved?

The interview on “Church and State in independent Zimbabwe” which the President had with Sister Janice McLaughlin more than three decades ago is an eye opener and it was an indicator that has seen freedom of worship flourish in Zimbabwe, and also goes to show that the Anglican saga has a political agenda.

When he spoke about the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin in the book of Luke, Chapter 15, the Lord Jesus said: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

The most important element is: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.” And, this is what we need as the church and as the nation.

If there is forgiveness in the church, then we know that we have communities that forgive and release each other and who should not always be talking about fear of violence the moment they hear about elections, but will know that these are passing phases they should participate in without fear or favour.

These divisions and/or squabbles are not limited to the Anglican Church and their leadership. If this were a Kunonga and Gandiya affair, it would have never consumed people the way it has done.

Church leaders should realise the folly of making themselves the epicentres, instead of the Lord Jesus. Paul, the Lord’s greatest apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (NIV) about the folly of such divisions over leaders: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

“My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?. . . For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel — not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

Just like the other example above, the underlying element is: “Is Christ divided?” It is time that the Church reflects Christ’s true being, and not just the Anglican Church.