Saturday, April 14, 2012

Anglican Mission Trades Rwanda for Congo



Anglican Mission in the Americas obtains Ecclesiastical Oversight from Congo

In a move that brings closure to a split in the Anglican Mission in the Americas, AMIA Chairman Chuck Murphy announced today that he has obtained ecclesiastical oversight from the Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo , a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.

In a letter to his constituency Bishop Murphy said that Archbishop Henri Isingoma of the Anglican Church of the Congo has received him as a Bishop of the House of Bishops in his Province offering AMIA a new canonical residence.

"In response to a recent letter from Archbishop Rwaje asking our bishops to translate to another Anglican jurisdiction by the end of this month, I had earlier requested that he send my letters dimissory to the Province of the Congo.

"This transfer follows a process of relational reconciliation with Rwanda facilitated by Archbishop Eliud Wabukala. These conversations culminated in our meeting in Johannesburg and the Communiqué in which Archbishop Rwaje agreed to release theAM to develop other jurisdictional relationships.

"Under our accord with the Province of the Congo, we are now secure and validly attached to the global Anglican Communion. Rooted in the East African Revival, the Province of the Congo [formerly Zaire] was originally joined together as one larger province, which also included Rwanda and Burundi. In 1992, all three were subsequently established as separate provinces.

The Anglican Mission's connection with the Congo began at Winter Conference 2012 when Bishop William Bahemuka Mugenyi generously made provision for scheduled ordinations to go forward." Read more


AMiA changes its DNA from Rwanda to Congo

 At the close of this year's Winter Conference, we issued a Communiqué expressing the mind of the gathering. One of the key components and goals of that Communiqué, as well as subsequent communications from our Council of Bishops, was to "diligently seek appropriate jurisdictional connections" with an authentic and orthodox Anglican Communion province. As we continue to celebrate our Lord's Resurrection during this Easter season, it is a particular joy to report the good news that our goal has now been realized. This week, I received an official letter from Archbishop Henri Isingoma of the Anglican Church of the Congo, receiving me as a Bishop of the House of Bishops in his Province and offering us a new canonical residence. In response to a recent letter from Archbishop Rwaje asking our bishops to translate to another Anglican jurisdiction by the end of this month, I had earlier requested that he send my letters dimissory to the Province of the Congo. Read more

Related articles: 
"What’s the Harm in a Little Schism?" - Stand Firm
"Reverse Colonialism?" - A Living Text

No comments: