Posted on 01/20/2007 6:00:21 PM PST by sionnsar
Main Entry: pri'mate
Etymology: Middle English primat, from Old French, from Medieval Latin primat-, primas archbishop, from Latin, leader, from primus
Date: 13th century
1 often capitalized : a bishop who has precedence in a province, group of provinces, or a nation
2 archaic : one first in authority or rank : LEADER
3 [New Latin Primates, from Latin, plural of primat-, primas] : any of an order (Primates) of mammals comprising humans, apes, monkeys, and related forms (as lemurs and tarsiers)
-pri'mate-ship \-*ship\ noun
--pri-ma'tial \pr*-*m*-sh*l\ adjective
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Central African Archbishop Bernard Malango said he will not be intimidated by a pro-gay British cleric whom he thinks is trying to buy a bishopric in Lake Malawi, and will continue to resist all attempts by locals who have been bought with his money to get him the job.
Speaking to members of the Anglican Mission of the Americas meeting here today, Malango recounted the troubled story of the Diocese of Lake Malawi's ill-fated attempt to elect as its bishop a liberal English cleric, Nick Henderson, who was known for raising money for the Malawi region.
When it emerged that Henderson was a leader of the Modern Church People's Union, a pro-gay organization, provincial authorities refused to approve him for consecration for Lake Malawi's bishop. Of this Malango quipped, "I have become unpopular with the British, but I don't mind because I am an African."
However a vociferous group in the diocese has not accepted the refusal of Henderson and has continued to press its case in various ways including in civil court though that move has so far been unsuccessful. Malango believes that some of their actions are being undertaken at Henderson's bidding and that the cleric is using money as an added incentive to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
"The man is not very rich and where he gets his money from, I don't know. His parish is not a rich parish so where does he get his money from," Malango asked.
He himself claims he is not gay, but pro-gay, and "I am not going to accept that. Who will stop him from inviting gay priests" into the province. Malango said his province "wants to maintain the Christian tradition" on sexuality issues.
Speaking of pressures outside his province, he said "the canons you have in the Church of England are not the same as my canons. My stubbornness will lead to success. Money cannot shut me up and he will only accept "clean money" for the glory of God and not "dirty money."
"I don't want their money
"The man is fighting hard and pouring money into the diocese of Lake Malawi," he told VirtueOnline.
"When I visited them I thought they would throw stones at me. I don't care. I will not be intimidated. 2006 is behind us, I look forward to 2007 and having a bishop there who is African and represents out theology and morals."
"People say why should Malango be so stubborn? The West might have the riches (money) but we will stand firm in the faith. They cannot take that from us," he said.
Significantly the Primate linked this dispute in his province partly to Western influences. He said the Archbishop of Canterbury had tried to convince him to accept Henderson, but "the Diocese of Lake Malawi is not under his jurisdiction but under mine," he said.
He accused Henderson of now using "remote control" to seal the offices, repossess the car, and more in an effort to control the outcome and get himself elected bishop. "I have appointed another vicar general to oversee the situation," said Malango.
On a lighter note he quipped: "I don't go for family planning, I go for planting churches...go out and do it."
Asked why Southern Africa supports the Western stand on sexuality issues, Malango replied, "Southern Africa is part of the US. Their standards and style are very pro-Western. Their government has blessed gay civil marriages I don't see any difference between them and the U.S. It is not African or Christian."
Malango said North Africa was faced with growing Moslem extremism. "They are trying to maintain their own traditions. Christians are being persecuted.
Asked by VOL if the African Primates would be seated with the Mrs. Schori, the American presiding Bishop at the upcoming Primates meeting in Tanzania, Malango said the Anglican Communion should not confuse hospitality with agreement. "We welcome you but it doesn't mean we agree with what you are doing. We as Africans don't say no, but you can say no to the agenda of the meeting. The agenda will tell us whether we should continue with the meeting."
He is also reiterated that there would be no Eucharistic fellowship among the Primates in Tanzania. This continues a tradition that started in Dromantine, Ireland.
http://tinyurl.com/2yx8v6
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Sounds like he is calling Desmond Tutu an Uncle Tom.
The South African church does resemble the American...
I'm also curious: Has the South African church been dominated by those of European descent, as the nation had been politically? The number of whites (Dutch and English) and "coloreds" (part-white) is actually significantly larger than the combined totals of Dutch Reformed, Catholic, and English church members, with Anglican (3.8%) being the smallest. Althought Tutu is black, of course, I wonder if he is representative of Anglicans at all...
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