Archbishop of Canterbury asks Kunonga to step down

By Lance Guma

26 July 2006

The Head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Rowan Williams has asked Bishop Nolbert Kunonga of Harare to step down from his position. A report by The Rev George Conger published by The Living Church Foundation quotes Williams as saying Kunonga should step down while the misconduct charges against him are pending before the church courts of Central Africa. This is the first time the Archbishop has had to intervene in the affairs of an Anglican province outside the Church of England.

A statement released on behalf of Archbishop Williams said: ‘In the context of a prolonged and political crisis, the Diocese of Harare faces intolerable strain in the form of the very grave and unresolved accusations against Bishop Kunonga. The primary way forward is by dealing with these charges through the church courts in the Anglican province of Central Africa, but this process has been aborted and the matter is unresolved.’

Archbishop Williams further stated that in other jurisdictions a priest or bishop facing such charges would have been suspended without prejudice until the case had been finalized. He went on to say ‘It is therefore very difficult for Bishop Kunonga to be regarded as capable of functioning as a bishop elsewhere in the Communion.’ Williams put pressure on the Head of the Church in Central Africa, Archbishop Bernard Malango to bring the case to a conclusion, ‘consistent with justice, transparency and truth, so that the damage to the health and credibility of the church can be addressed.’

The case of Bishop Kunonga is expected to be taken up by the next meeting of the Central African House of Bishops later this month. A councilor at the Cathedral in Harare, Walter Gwete says the statement by Archbishop Williams was the culmination of months of pressure. He accused the Archbishop of Central Africa, Bernard Malango of protecting Kunonga saying the two have a close bond and that this was a stumbling block towards resolving the case.

NB. Don’t miss Walter Gwete on Behind the Headlines next week as he speaks on behalf of the complainants in the Kunonga trial.