Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

In an extraordinary double ceremony, former USPG staff member Chad Gandiya was first consecrated bishop and then enthroned as the Bishop of the Diocese of Harare, part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA).

In the cold of a Zimbabwe winter morning, more than 5,000 people packed into one of Harare’s sports arenas for a jubilant four-hour eucharist. The service was presided over by the dean of the province, Bishop Albert Chama, from Zambia.

Archbishop Emeritus Khotso Makhulu was the preacher. He asked 'what does it mean to be faithful?' and spoke of the baptismal call to abandon evil and take on godliness.

'Chad,' he said, 'you have your work cut out! But love God, proclaim Christ, and help your people understand the responsibilities of discipleship.'

The atmosphere was at times electric, always prayerful and, above all, pervaded by a sense of hopefulness, a new beginning, for Chad and for the diocese, after a dark and painful period in its history and, perhaps, for the people of the land the church is called to serve.

The celebration went ahead despite last minute attempts by Kunonga, the deposed former Bishop of Harare, to have the ceremony declared illegal, which the courts had dismissed.

The enthronement was set for the afternoon in the cathedral. Staff had to use bolt-cutters to gain access to the building, sealed by opponents in a last bid to halt the proceedings. But as the new bishop reminded the packed congregation 'God is good!' – and they roared back again and again 'God is good – all the time!'

Bishop Chad spoke movingly on the question in Jeremiah: 'Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician?' Speaking of his awareness of the depth of the pain people had experienced in recent years, he gently called us all to listen to the question again – and hinted that it is in the willingness to search for the balm of peace, justice and reconciliation that healing and wholeness are found, even in the midst of the pain. This was not a charge, Chad pointed out, but a call to listen again, together, to the voice of God.

We sensed something extraordinary had happened. And all present were reminded that the love, prayers and solidarity of the world church were firmly behind the people of the diocese and Bishop Chad Gandiya.

Article from: USPG - by Edgar Ruddock, USPG's International Relations Team Director http://www.uspg.org.uk/article.php?article_id=613