Anglicans must reunite

Sunday and many are asking if he will be shocked by the state of his church here.
Definitely he did not find his church (members) walking in love, harmony, in accord with each other, in unity but moving in hatred, disharmony, discord and disunity. I do not envy him, his is a formidable task.
Strife in any organisation, whether secular or religious, destroys, hinders or impedes progress.
The parties to the conflict may believe they are all right and sometimes they are, but it could only be a matter of opinion.
The present war that is currently devastating the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe is extremely sad and unfortunate.
It is so because the pre-strife Anglican Church was a formidable evangelistic and witnessing entity, which I believe was making extremely great strides in winning many souls into the kingdom of Heaven.
Its many para-church institutions like hospitals and schools have been, and I do hope, will continue to be a blessing to many individuals and other institutions, which interact with it on a daily basis. The way the Anglican Church moved forward in leaps and bounds was something commendable and I believe what is happening is only pleasing the devil and his cahoots.
In Chitungwiza, for example, St Mary’s Anglican had been expanded to become a diocese, a Cathedral (from Cathedra meaning bishop’s seat). This means it was going to have its own bishop and this is an illustration of progress.
I do not doubt the diplomatic skills of the Archbishop of Canterbury but diplomacy is not enough.
He needs all the grace that he can muster in order to bring healing and reconciliation to an organisation that is mired in hatred, bitterness and disunity. The hatred and bitterness is spilling to a point of even causing problems on the innocent people who were benefiting from the church’s pastoral work.
He will indeed have to address the fundamental issues that have split the church in Zimbabwe and help mend the relationship.
The demonstration by the Anglican Church of the province of Zimbabwe should not be brushed aside but seen as calling to the visiting Bishop of a church seeking leadership and genuine true leadership.
He needs tact to persuade Bishop Nolbert Kunonga to meet him so that they can talk, not as a boss and his subordinate, but as brothers in Christ, as priests of the Lord and pastors to His people.
Different perspectives must be put aside and unanimity reached for the sake of the Anglican Church and that of the gospel.
What is needed is to concentrate, not on the differences, but on the commonalities. A meeting has to be possibly made to bring both Kunonga and Gandiya to the table so that the two cannot only just sup together, but iron out their differences as brothers.
Without the two parties compromising, the rift that has divided them will continue to widen and the Anglican community becomes the loser.
At the same time, the world is watching to see whether Archbishop Williams has got the leadership skills to bind the two sides together. Failure to do so means greater problems elsewhere where the community is riddled with doctrinal differences on the issues of homosexuality and ordination of women as priests.
With all these teeming problems, one cannot help but compare the present See of Canterbury with his highly popular and charismatic predecessor, Reverend Doctor George Carey who simply was able to glide over the problems of the Anglican community without any problem.
I do not know much about the present Archbishop but I believe he has come a bit late when the division and disaster in his church has reached unprecedented levels. I am optimistic though that the division in the Anglican church can be resolved by the willingness of both Bishops Kunonga and Gandiya to swallow their pride, to talk as brothers and do whatever it takes to ensure God’s church moves together again.
This would entail agreeing on issues of belief in accordance with the holy canon – the Bible.
It would mean reaching a difficult position even if it means both bishops step down to allow a third force to take over, albeit temporarily or even permanently for what does it help if I win the world and lose my soul.
A very interesting story is told in the Bible that happened involving Mephibosheth, Ziba and King David.
King David had been wondering why Mephibosheth had not joined him (he wouldn’t because he was crippled and Ziba who had promised to saddle a donkey for him so that he could join David didn’t fulfil his promise). Ziba lied to David that he (Mephibosheth) was supping with his enemies.
When David told Ziba to take half of Mephibosheth’s property, the latter says words which every man of God, including Brothers Nolbert and Gandiya, should be able to say to each other: “Yea, let him take all, for as much as my Lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.” (2 Sam 19 vs30)
These are not words of defeat but of victory, not words of arrogance but of magnanimity and generosity.
I wish the Anglican Church well.
The church should be a sea of peace and not chaos as that militates against the character of Christ of whom we also are working to emulate.
Dr Williams, bring peace in the communion so that the church can face the end days united.