BISHOP’S MOVE ?

A report of strange events……

The Reverend Nick Henderson is a Parish Priest in London. For many years he and his Parish have had strong links with the Diocese of Lake Malawi in the Anglican Province in Central Africa. These links have included major financial support, the provision of resources for the Diocese, and active involvement in long-term visits to the area. There has been a true partnership in mission. Nick Henderson is well-known and much respected in the Diocese.

When the Bishop of Lake Malawi died last year a significant number of clergy and laity from the Diocese asked Nick Henderson if he would allow his name to go forward for nomination as the new Bishop. He initially declined, believing it important that a Malawian priest should be consecrated, however the requests continued and, after consultation and prayer, he allowed his name to go forward. He was duly elected as Bishop of Lake Malawi in July last year. The practice after Election of a Bishop is that the appointment be confirmed by a meeting of the Synod of the Province in question. This is when the trouble began.

After the announcement of the election a small group of clergy (five in all) placed objections before the Archbishop of Central Africa on the ground that Nick Henderson would bring “strange customs and practices” to the Church in Lake Malawi diocese. This objection seems to have been motivated by the knowledge that the Bishop elect had been previously General Secretary of the Modern Churchpeople’s Union – a long-standing, much respected organisation in the Church of England, which promotes theological discussion and debate, and which is perceived by some to “liberal” in its theological stance. In fact “MCU", as it is known, has no theological position of itself and exists as a forum for healthy debate and discussion. A diocesan bishop (John Saxbee of Lincoln) is its President and two other diocesan bishops serve on its Council.

Subsequently the objection appeared on several American websites, together with unspecified allegations about Nick Henderson’s stance in the Homosexuality debate in the Anglican Communion. There were also, it seems, speculations about his domestic arrangements and his singleness, though these were quickly withdrawn. By this stage however, the Church media (and the secular media) were on to the story At no point, it seems, did the objectors or the American webmasters attempt to contact the Bishop elect. It should be said that the place for objections is during the election process, during which Nick Henderson provided a full CV, career history and personal statement.

Nick Henderson willingly gave assurances to the Archbishop of Central Africa about his theological/ethical orthodoxy and that he had not publicly taken any stance in the sexuality debate, conforming in doctrine and practice to the standards of the Church.

However, on 29^th November the Court of Confirmation of the Province of Central Africa resolved by majority vote not to confirm Nick Henderson’s election as Bishop. This was on the grounds of his being “formerly a General Secretary of the Modern Churchperson’s Union”. Nick Henderson was not invited to attend or be represented at the Court, and only discovered its decision by contacting the Secretary the following day. In all this, and subsequently, he has acted with integrity and graciousness although the experience must have been deeply hurtful to him personally.

In reaction to this almost all the clergy of Lake Malawi Diocese wrote to the Archbishop protesting about what had happened and questioning the appointment of a retired Bishop in place of the Bishop elect. There is serious disquiet in the Diocese, not only because of the denial to them of the Bishop they had chosen, but also the way in which Nick Henderson has been treated.

Does this sad and sorry tale matter to us ? Yes, it should, primarily because of issues of natural justice. For anyone to be discriminated against on the ground of hearsay, gossip, and misunderstanding, and to be excluded simply because of membership of an organisation, that is actually much respected in the Anglican Communion, is unacceptable. That those making decisions about confirmation of election should allow themselves to be lobbied in such a way without actively seeking to discern the truth,

and without close liaison with the Bishop elect is equally unacceptable. Those who know Franz Kafka’s novel “The Trial” might find some eerie parallels here. How can the church speak for justice, for the voiceless and discriminated against, when this course of action is pursued? The Bishops of London and Willesden have both issued statements to this effect (and it should be said that neither Bishop is a “liberal” theologically ! )

There has been disturbing “politicking” in this unfortunate business, and perhaps all parties have found themselves dragged, with varying degrees of unwillingness, into the battle between “conservative” and “liberal” factions, which is being promoted by some in the Anglican Communion. That one who is by all reports, a good, faithful and orthodox priest should be a casualty, and that a Diocese should be denied its chosen chief pastor, is intolerable.

Pray for the Diocese of Lake Malawi, for the Province of Central Africa and Archbishop Bernard Malengo, and especially for Nick Henderson and the Parish he serves.

Roger Clarke, February 2006