ACNS - Zimbabwe Anglicans not allowed to celebrate at African saint?s shrine

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Posted On : June 23, 2011 1:04 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: 
<http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/6/23/ACNS4887>http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/6/23/ACNS4887 

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<http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/Zimbabwe>Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Anglicans not allowed to celebrate at African saint's shrine.

<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-standing-with-Zimbabwes-Anglicans/180916288633401#!/pages/Im-standing-with-Zimbabwes-Anglicans/180916288633401>New 
Facebook page established where Anglicans/Episcopalians can express 
their solidarity with Zimbabwe's Anglicans

> By ACNS staff

For the second year running, Anglicans in Zimbabwe have been forced 
to find another place to mark the memorial of African martyr Bernard 
Mizeki after being denied access to their official shrine.

Last year worshippers, who had travelled from all over the country, 
were driven away by the Zimbabwe Republic Police despite assurances 
from the government that they would not be disturbed or harassed.
Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Dr. Chad N. Gandiya called on members 
of the Anglican Communion to pray for the safety of the pilgrims who 
travel to the Marondera Show Ground this coming weekend.

"The love, courage and commitment of Bernard Mizeki to the Lord Jesus 
Christ and the Gospel he preached among the Mangwende people is an 
inspiration to us all as we suffer persecution," he said.
"Like him our people continue to witness to God's love and grace 
regardless of arrests, ridicule and harassments. Celebrations this 
year are particularly meaningful because of what we are going through."

The Anglican Church in Zimbabwe is under attack from an 
ex-communicated bishop, Dr Norbert Kunonga, a supporter of President 
Mugabe, who left the Anglican Province of Central Africa (CPCA) in 
2007 to try and set up a rival church. Kunonga, with the support of 
police and henchmen, has seized CPCA church property and used 
violence to break up church services.

"Anglican lay people, their clergy and bishops are threatened and 
brutalised by members of the police with political support for 
continuing to worship Christ as Lord in their own churches and for 
speaking out for the poor and vulnerable," said Bp Chad. "They are 
warned to conform and their lives are threatened."

"The people, clergy and bishops of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe 
are not linked to any political party and are not servants of any 
former colonial power; they are servants of the Lord. They stand to 
witness to the love of Christ and place their trust in Him alone."

"We appeal to our brothers and sisters everywhere to pray for the 
congregations who week by week are locked out of their churches; to 
pray for the clergy, some of whom have been evicted from their 
vicarages; to pray for the Bishops who are speaking for justice."

Bernard Mizeki was a lay catechist and missionary to the Shona people 
from 1891 to his martyrdom in 1896. He was committed to Christ and to 
the people he served and stood by them despite threats to his life. 
Nationalists claimed that Mizeki was a servant of colonialist rulers, 
but he knew he served Christ alone. As a consequence of his 
commitment he was killed and this was a sign that following Christ 
would be punished. Instead his martyrdom became a sign of 
resurrection and hope.

In addition to praying, members of the Anglican Communion are asked 
to visit and 'like' the Facebook page 
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-standing-with-Zimbabwes-Anglicans/180916288633401#!/pages/Im-standing-with-Zimbabwes-Anglicans/180916288633401>I'm<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-standing-with-Zimbabwes-Anglicans/180916288633401#!/pages/Im-standing-with-Zimbabwes-Anglicans/180916288633401> 
Standing with Zimbabwe's Anglicans to stand in solidarity with the 
Anglicans of Zimbabwe. The aim is to show Zimbabwe's Anglicans that 
they are not alone in their suffering, that fellow brothers and 
sisters around the world are praying for their situation.

> ENDS