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| Homepage PAGE 1 • We’re now ACSA - The Bishop writes ...
• A prayer of preparation
• Keeping them in order
We’re now ACSA - The Bishop writes ...
It’s
official, we are now the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) and
no longer the Church of the Province of Southern Africa
(CPSA) since the special Provincial Synod which sat of Friday night 8 and Saturday morning 9 September.
The Bishop writes ... My dear people of God,
Greetings in the name of Christ, our Lord and Saviour!
In
the Provincial Special Synod it has been finally decided that we are
now the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA). This Motion has
reached its third reading as a Measure to amend Article 1 (of the
Constitution).
Connected to this is the position of the Anglican
Church of Southern Africa within the Anglican Communion. We confirm and
affirm that our “Province will and must remain founded as a
Province within the Anglican Communion, connected to the Church of
England, unless and until Provincial Synod resolves to amend the
Constitution at one session, and the amendment is agreed to at the next
ensuing Session of Provincial Synod”.
Another piece of
legislation is a measure to amend Canon 5 of the Election of the
Archbishop of Cape Town. This is to strengthen the participation of the
members of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in the election of
the Archbishop of Cape Town as Metropolitan. It reads “two
persons from each of the clergy and laity of each diocese” will
now participate in process of election, with the Diocese of Cape Town.
We shall send these people to Cape Town Elective Assembly when it is so
convened.
The Bishop-suffragan of Cape Town, elected to the
office of the Bishop of Table Bay, shall have powers, rights and
authority in accordance with that normally afforded to a diocesan
bishop. S/he shall retain suffragan status in relation to the
Archbishop who remains the Diocesan Bishop of Cape Town. There are
duties assigned to the Bishop of Table Bay. This is merely a sharing of
responsibilities and duties, in order to free the Metropolitan for
global ministry as well, which cannot be avoided by this office any
longer.
Lastly, it is our wish to urge and call you to fervent
prayer at this time of controversy in our Communion. There is
absolutely no need to think of schism when we disagree. Disagreements
do not make us cease to be members of our families. Unity is a
fulfillment of Christ's prayer “that they may be one, as we are
one” (Jn 17:22). Our unity is far more important than
homosexuality. Our Church’s position remains the same in that we
do not ordain practicing homosexuals. We call them to celibacy. Further
to this, the traditional view and Scripture is what we uphold, in our
diocese in particular.
Our ministry is of building and of
bringing to wholeness. No one should be hurt. God has called us to be
joyous in Christ. I therefore wish to urge you to continue to pray for
our Communion that it is not ripped asunder by schism because of
homosexuality.  Rather there are many things such as poverty, disease,
crime, building of family life, moral values, which should unite us in
our ministry to build a common life. The ministry of the word, the
Lord’s Table and sacraments etc. all enshrined in the love of
Christ, are greater points of unity. Unity is far more important than
the disagreements of controversies we can sort out as we have done in
years gone by. Stay united and build God’s kingdom.
Yours affectionately in the service of Christ,
Bishop Bethlehem Nopece
Pic: Doing it the Chinese way - Faith Geere, Jenny Cowling and Bishop Bethlehem, at the secretaries lunch.
A prayer of preparation
I come to the Lord’s own service,
Not only to pray for myself and to intercede for others.
These things I shall do.
But that which I come above all to do
Is to take my part in a great action,
This act of worship.
For I come to do, rather than to listen;
To give, rather than to get.
For here all things are done to the glory of God.
Every word spoken,
Every gesture and movement,
Every note of music,
Are not to please man
But are offered to God alone.
Most gracious God, grant that I,
All unworthy though I be,
However dim my understanding,
May offer to you the entire worship of my soul;
That with every word of my lips,
With all the prayers of my heart,
With every thought of my mind,
I may offer to you
A profound adoration of a creature
For the great Creator.
Keeping them in order
Speaking
at the 10th gathering of clergy and their secretaries, Bishop Bethlehem
said, "All CEOs need a secretary to keep them in order, and clergy are
like the CEO of a firm."
 Thirteen parishes, the Bishop's
office, the diocesan office and iindaba were represented at the
lunch held at the Kwai Lok Chinese Restaurant on Tuesday 12
September. Once again Faith Geere had excelled herself in organising
the do and making beautifully iced fruit cakes for each of the women.
 As
always, a wonderful time was had by all as they relaxed, away from all
the stress of their busy parish offices. Faith hopes that next year all
the clergy who have secretaries will honour the work they do by
attending the lunch.
 Pics: 1) First in line - Dennis Burkinshaw
was the first Diocesan Secretary of the diocese. He's with Val Heath,
personal assistant to the present Diocesan Secretary; 2) The veterans - Julia Bradder, Faith Geere and Eddie Daniels have attended all 10 yrs ; 3) The newies - Sipambo Ludidi , rector of St Simon of Cyrene and
Zweli Tom, rector of St Peter's, with parish secretaries - Elvorina
Uys, Nomava Batyi, Erica Barodien and Elsie Williams; 4) In
the front - the first people one meets on entering the diocesan office
are Busi Gwentshu and Debbie Vencencie.Bishop Bethlehem spoke of the
loving and friendly atmosphere his wife, Mazoe, had remarked on when
mentioning a visit to the diocesan office.
.
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