A statement from the meeting held in September in Nairobi has now been published on Global South Anglican.
Read STATEMENT FROM THE PRIMATES AND STANDING COMMITTEE OF CAPA IN NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 3RD AND 4TH 2008.
We met as Primates of Africa together with the Standing Committee of CAPA at the ACK Guest House on the 3rd and 4th of September 2008. This meeting provided the opportunity to reflect on our journey since our last Council Meeting in Mauritius in October 2007 and also on our experiences of life in the Anglican Communion; particularly in relation to the two great events of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and the Lambeth Conference.
We felt a deep sense of warmth and fellowship with each other and expressed gratitude to God for his faithfulness. We were however saddened by the absence of our colleagues namely Archbishop Ian Ernest our Chairman who was ill; Archbishops Peter Akinola and Mouneer Anis, who had difficulties with flight connections. We were glad to welcome Bishop Jo Seoka, who represented Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. We welcomed Rev Canon Grace Kaiso our new General Secretary and his Commissioning at All Saints Cathedral was one of the highlights our meeting…
Say what? Nobodies home? Sounds good to me!
Suddenly feel like the art&science of “Kremlinology” needs to make a comeback (i.e., what sort “illnesses” and “difficulties with flight connections” are these?)
Peter Akinola certainly has had travel problems this year. I wonder if his “flight difficulties” were related to a diplomatic passport and no entry visa?
According the Immigration and Passport Office of the Republic of Mauritius, a visa is required for diplomatic passport holders from Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria,Yemen, and Afghanistan.
“I wonder if his “flight difficulties” were related to a diplomatic passport and no entry visa?”
Or maybe that his exalted opinion of himself as Prince of the Church has led him to the misapprehension that he is above laws both domestic and international? Despite his loud protestations to the contrary, he certainly seems to think himslef above at least one of the only two laws that matter to Christians.
Lynn: “According the Immigration and Passport Office of the Republic of Mauritius, ….”
But the meeting was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The statement is in fact remarkably Anglican and quite moderate in tone encompassing the widely divergent views of the 52 or so nations that make up the vast continent of Africa. Akinola’s absence looks like, not Visa problems, but his increasingly beleaguered position as an African spokesman for conservative North Americans who have all but abandoned him.
Rowan Williams take heart – all is not lost in Africa.