Defrocked Anglican Church bishop Nolbert Kunonga has finally conceded defeat, saying he would respect the Supreme Court ruling and hand over all church properties to owners, the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA), led by his adversary, Bishop Chad Gandiya.
Report By VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
Although Kunonga — who formed his breakaway Anglican Church of the Province of Zimbabwe (ACPZ) — remained silent during a Press conference called by his officials in Harare yesterday, his spokesperson, Reverend Admire Chisango, said they had surrendered all church properties to the CPCA.
Journalists asked Kunonga several questions seeking his direct response, but he refused to answer, referring the questions to Chisango.
The Press briefing was attended by ACPZ bishops from other provinces — Bishop Morris Brown Gwedegwe (Mashonaland Central), Bishop Alfred Munyanyi (Mashonaland West) and Bishop Harry Mambo Rinashe (Mashonaland East).
“We are a law-abiding institution and all properties which belonged to the CPCA, even the vehicles were delivered to them as a God-fearing church,” said Chisango.
“After the court ruling we had to move out of the churches and I am very grateful to other churches, schools and local authorities that came by our side and are giving us accommodation to worship during our services,” he said.
According to Chisango, the ACPZ still had over 400 parishes and a total membership of over 48 000 worshippers.
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“The ACPZ is alive,” he said.
“All structures are intact, including the clergy and parishioners. It is not in hibernation as some would like to suggest and services are going ahead although this time conducted in different areas outside the church buildings. The clergy and parishioners all maintain their stance which they took in 2007 on the issue of homosexuals that we shall abide by the scriptures and speak against it.”
On another note, Chisango refuted allegations that the ACPZ had allowed immoral activities at church properties during the five years they were in charge.
“There is nothing like that. People were never raped. The police are there to deal with lawlessness and those accusations are baseless,” he said.
Chisango also said they would not attend the Lambeth Conference, which is one of the global Anglican communions, claiming they supported homosexuals.
He said they would instead attend the Jerusalem Conferences, which they would now be aligned to.
“We are now going to attend the Jerusalem Conferences, which have countries like Ecuador, Venezuela and Chile aligned to it because they have also taken a stance against homosexuality. It is a worldwide division and all these countries have already made up their minds against homosexuality,” Chisango said.
He said they had already acquired 10 stands in Harare and would start building their own churches.
