In this Issue:

Can you Catch the Spirit off the Beaten Path?

Bridge-Building, in the spirit of John Paul II

People, Parishes, and Pictures across the Diocese

From the Bishop: Breaking Barriers

St. Stephen's Covington: Faithful ot the Kingdom

For Kentucky's Junior Miss, Allison Asay, faith matters every day

A tainted Easter message

Questionable decision

Peace for Teri Schiavo

Navajoland Bishop Stephen Plummer dies at 60

Reflection: Time-out

X-ercizing: Burgers, forgiveness, and alleluia

Pope John Paull II dies at 84: A message form the Presiding Bishop

Archbishop - Pope's last days a 'lived sermon'

Resources

Diocesan Calendar

Advocate Information

Past Issues

Questionable decision

Of all the consequences of the consecration of a non-celibate homosexual person as Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire, none seems quite as tragic as the result of the severed relationship between the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of South Rwenzori in the Church of the Province of Uganda. When the Ugandan diocese suspended its relationship with Central Pennsylvania because of “theological conflict” over the New Hampshire consecration, it meant that a request for $350,000 to support an HIV/AIDS program in South Rwenzori would be withdrawn. That amount was to be used to battle the AIDS pandemic in a region of the world that has been particularly devastated by the disease.

Also refused is $1,500 Central Pennsylvania has been sending to South Rwenzori to help the Bishop Masereka Christian Foundation, which assists children from families that have lost one or both parents because of HIV/AIDS. In addition, the planned visit to Uganda by a group of physicians and other medical personnel this summer has been postponed.

Bishop Jackson Naerebende Tembo of South Rwenzori, who originally alerted the Anglican world to the need in his diocese, now writes in a letter that his diocese “upholds the Holy Scripture as the true word of God,” and in refusing the money from Central Pennsylvania, he adds, “we pray and believe that our God who created and controls silver and gold in the world will provide for the needs of his people.”

The needs of God’s people in the Diocese of South Rwenzori are great, and are likely to increase as a result of the severing of the relationship with Central Pennsylvania. We would expect that members of the American diocese, who had established a “prayer friend” program with the Ugandans, will want to continue and perhaps increase their prayers.

It is one thing for the dioceses of the global south to declare that they are no longer in communion with those who supported the New Hampshire consecration, and for them to reject financial assistance, but when the sick and orphans become the victims of a stand on theological principles, Bishop Tembo’s judgment has to be questioned. We hope the bishop turns out to be right, that God in his mercy will indeed provide for the needs of his people.

(—This editorial appeared in The Living Church, April 17, 2005, and is reprinted here with permission.)

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