Times Of Swaziland: ANGLICAN’S ADVENT CANON NHLANHLA LEAVING FOR SCOTLAND

ANGLICAN’S ADVENT CANON NHLANHLA LEAVING FOR SCOTLAND
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 11/09/2023 09:09:00


MBABANE – It is final, Cathedral of All Saints Rector Advent Canon Nhlanhla
Dlamini is leaving the church for Scotland.
This follows that the All Saints Cathedral Church has been rocked by
controversy, among which the advent canon and his archdean were transferred to
Mhlume and recently the revocation of his pastoral licence. However, the above
remains in the past now as Advent Canon Nhlanhla requested to join a ministry
outside of the Diocese of Eswatini. According to the Chairperson of the Anglican
of Southern Africa Safe and Inclusive Church, Lay Canon Rosalie Manning, the All
Saints Parish will be led by a retired senior priest. Manning stated that Bishop
Dalcy Dlamini would also assist the parish with moving on and to prepare the
church for a change in pastoral ministry. The chairperson further stated that at
this stage, it was not considered prudent to proceed with disciplinary action
while allowing the work of transformative justice to take place.
“Bishop Dalcy has committed to leading the work of healing, restoration and
building within the Diocese of Eswatini as necessary,” Manning said. Manning
added that a task team to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of
this process, particularly the transformative justice process, would be
established and it would comprise members of the Cathedral of All Saints Parish
and the Diocese of the Safe and Inclusive Church. On the issue of Advent Canon
Nhlanhla, she said currently they would be reaching out to where he had
indicated that he would prefer to be placed in Scotland. “We have already
started that process and Bishop Dalcy will write the letter of recommendation
and speak to a bishop in Scotland, which has to be approved by the
archbishop,” Manning added.
Sabbatical
Manning noted that it had been agreed that Advent Canon Nhlanhla would
officially leave the All Saints Cathedral on October 31, 2023 after his term of
office comes to an end and thereafter have a two-month paid sabbatical that
would be followed by a 55 days paid leave. Sabbaticals are periods of paid time
away from work, which are agreed between the employer and employee. She said
Advent Canon Nhlanhla indicated that he would appreciate support with
transitioning within the parish and pastoral support would be made available to
him and the parish. Manning said what they discovered was that the parish of All
Saints Cathedral really loved advent Canon Nhlanhla. She said they had to
explain that the movement and transfer of Advent Coan Nhlanhla was entirely the
prerogative of the bishop. Manning said there was a process to be followed and
in this instance, it was followed to the letter. She said Bishop Dalcy would
make available some pastoral support to the parish and she had also undertaken
to get a retired bishop to be the pastor of the All Saints Cathedral and also
make herself available to assist.
Manning said it had been a time of great pain and hardship to everybody and at
this time they did not think it would serve any purpose to institute
disciplinary hearing and a recommendation of transformative justice was made to
be overseen by a task team, which comprised of members of the cathedral, diocese
in leadership and the Safe and Inclusive Church. She said they were privileged
as a church to have Reverend Michael Lapse, who is an expert in the work of
transformative justice and would reach out to him. When questioned if she was
happy about the decision by the commission, Bishop Dalcy said she was pleased.
On the other hand Advent Canon Nhlanhla said he did not have a comment. Deris
Hlophe, who is the Church Warden at All Saints, said they would comment after
seeing the media statement.