(Via email):
(Church of Uganda) In a 27th August letter to Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Ian Earnest, Chairman of CAPA (Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa), apologized for “embarrassing” the Church of Uganda when CAPA received a $25,000 grant from Trinity Grants (USA) for the All Africa Bishops Conference taking place in Uganda. (Letter is attached.)
In 2003, the Church of Uganda broke communion with the Episcopal Church (TEC) over their unbiblical theology and immoral actions that violated historic and Biblical Anglicanism and tore the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level. At the same time, the Church of Uganda resolved to not receive any funds from TEC.
The 2nd All Africa Bishops Conference was hosted by the Church of Uganda, but the programme and speakers were chosen by CAPA. The Church of Uganda received no outside funding for its role in hosting the 400 Bishops and other participants in the week-long conference. All funds were raised locally within Uganda.
Archbishop Henry thanked Archbishop Ian for acknowledging the awkward position CAPA had put the Church of Uganda in and appreciated his humility and generous spirit in writing.
Highly unlikely, Larry. Not only would there not be that kind of money laying around in the coffers of CAPA, but in fact many Church of Uganda bishops and dioceses have informal relationships with TEC bishops and dioceses from which they derive a variety of benefits. Perhaps it’s cynical and hypocritical, but sometimes people with little to no resources don’t have the luxury of many choices.
My Episcopal parish has strong ties with a diocese in Uganda. It’s a “down low” relationship I suppose. Either Orombi doesn’t know about it or he pretends he doesn’t know about it. We send money, resources, and people there annually for various causes. And, despite what some may think, we aren’t pushing any agenda with them, merely trying help our fellow Anglican Christians in ways that we can.
Not certain how Uganda would return the 25K when it was CAPA that received it.
???
RE: “Either Orombi doesn’t know about it or he pretends he doesn’t know about it. . . . ”
Right — because everybody knows that our Dear Leader, the Primate of TECtania, is also perfectly aware of all parish/provincial relationships, there being so few TEC parishes to keep track of. [roll eyes]
On another note, it’s good to see this public apology. It represents a valuable ascent on the “learning curve” for CAPA and Ian Earnest as well. Good that this is well-aired and obviously much discussed over at the CAPA meeting, so that folks can become more informed/educated.
My understanding that parishes of an orthodox stand on the Current Unpleasantness are generally welcome in one-on-one ministerial relationships. This is as it should be. Otherwise, the Ugandan Church would be failing in its duty to be in relationship (and even succor) orthodox Christians in other less theological salubrious ecclesial situations.
David Virtue reported last week that the $25K check was already returned. Not sure if this has been contradicted in more recent reporting.
Who wrote this e-mail and on what date was it written? It seems that it might be outdated.
Don