wfn.org | Creation of dioceses not based on ethnicity

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Title:Tanzania: Creation of dioceses should not be based on ethnicity
ELCT secretary general speaks on divisions in the church

ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA, 26 March 1999 (lwi) The secretary general of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Mr. Amani
Mwenegoha, has cautioned diocesan leaders in the church against using
their ethnic diversities to justify the creation of new dioceses.

Reacting to reports from the Nairobi-based All Africa News Agency
(AANA) about the ELCT's refusal to recognize the unilateral creation
of "the new Mwanga Diocese" in the Kilimanjaro region, northern
Tanzania, Mwenegoha told lwi that the ELCT "will never allow such
divisions in the church." AANA is an ecumenical information service,
providing a weekly service of news and features from all parts of
Africa.

In a statement sent to lwi, the ELCT secretary general pointed out:
"If the blood of Jesus Christ should transcend ethnic diversities,
and enrich our cultural differences, then this is according to the
wish of God that we should be both different and equal at the same
time."

Mwenegoha described the move to create the new diocese in Kilimanjaro
as "ethnic". He said allegations of favoritism and irresponsibility
on the part of the Pare diocese were hatched up by some few
"northerners" to justify their unilateral declaration of autonomy
"which will neither be tolerated nor accepted by the ELCT."

The Mwanga district comprises mainly "northerners" who want to have
their own diocese away from the "southerners", according to the ELCT
secretary general. The current bishop of Pare Diocese, Stephano
Msangi is from the southern part of the district. "For 23 years when
the diocese was led by Bishop Eliewaha Mshana, a 'northerner' from
Mwanga area, there were no complaints," Mwenegoha added.

According to AANA, the head of the ELCT, Bishop Samson Mushemba early
this year announced that the church would not recognize the
unilateral declaration of Mwanga as a new diocese in the Kilimanjaro
region.

Mushemba reportedly emphasized that "as a church we find it difficult
to recognize the Mwanga diocese because the Constitution does not
accommodate such division."

With 85,757 members, Pare is one of the ELCT's 20 dioceses.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/