wfn.org | Archbishop calls for united Church in Africa

[Theo Coggin, Quo Vadis Communications (+2711) 648-5461]

on behalf of the Anglican (Episcopalian) Archbishop of Cape Town
Monday, January 19, 1998

The time had come for the Anglican Churches in Africa to strengthen
their witness and ties by creating an Episcopal Church of Africa, the
Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, said to
applause in a sermon preached in the Ugandan border town of Kabale
yesterday (Sunday 18 January).

Archbishop Ndungane said the Church had to ask itself how it could
respond to the challenges and opportunities that presented themselves as
the century drew to a close. “How can we share God’s mission in a more
effective way on this continent?” he asked.

He suggested that one way for Anglican Churches to do this was to retain
their regional autonomous structures, whilst striving for the
establishment of an Episcopal Church of Africa that transcended
boundaries “to enable us to speak with one voice, to give spiritual
guidance and support for the people of Africa”.

His remarks came during a colourful service in the new St Peter’s
Cathedral, which was packed to overflowing with thousands of people from
the Diocese of Kigezi, situated in the African Great Lakes region on the
border of Rwanda.

Turning specifically to the witness of Church leaders, Archbishop
Ndungane said bishops should pay particular attention to the issue of
poverty. Poverty, he said, was caused to a large extent by the
international debt that was owed by developing countries to the
developed world, “and which hangs like an albatross around the necks of
the people of Africa”.

Speaking to warm applause from the congregation, he said: “There is a
growing movement worldwide, applying the biblical principle of Jubilee,
for the cancellation of all debts of developing countries by the year
2000. The matter is on the agenda for the Lambeth conference of all
Anglican bishops in July. It is my hope and prayer that African bishops
will take a lead in this debate, ensuring that pressure will be placed
on developed countries for the cancellation of the debt, and that
developing countries will be encouraged to apply sound principles to
ensure their future economic well-being.”

ends statement

Issued by Quo Vadis Communications
on behalf of the Archbishop of Cape Town

The Homepage of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa can be
found at http://www.cpsa.org.za/

Media contact: Ruth Coggin (+2711) 648-5461/2
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Tel: (+2711) 648-5461/1093; Fax: (+2711) 487-1994
Cell: (+27) 82-900-0168
e-mail: coggin@sn.apc.org

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