ANOTHER TRANSFER STIRS ANGLICAN CHURCH

MANZINI – It seems there is never a rest at the Anglican Church, as infighting continues to plague the congregation.

The latest controversy involves the transfer of Reverend Wandile Dlamini, which has sparked division among University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Anglican Congregation church members. Tensions are running high among the congregants who are questioning the method used by Bishop Dalcy Dlamini when effecting the transfer of their local clergyman at UNESWA. During a heated meeting, which took place at UNESWA yesterday, the church members expressed their discontentment with the transfer of their local leader, which they termed as unjust.

According to some of the church members, Bishop Dalcy did not follow the correct procedure when transferring Reverend Wandile to Mhlume/Tshaneni Parochial with effect from January next year. They were of the view that the bishop was militant and did not take into consideration their concerns on the transfer issue. As a result, they resolved to write a letter to the relevant church authorities, reversing the transfer of their reverend. Some church members insinuated that the bishop was purportedly dealing with all those who were against her election of being bishop. They made utterances that cannot be repeated in this publication as they could not be proved. In the past few months, the church hogged headlines when the bishop transferred All Saints Rector Advent Nhlanhla Dlamini.

Lawyers

The leadership of the Cathedral Parish in Mbabane, represented by All Saints Church wardens, approached lawyers from Robison Bertram to act on their behalf after the bishop purportedly continued with the transfer of Reverend Nhlanhla. The rector will not serve in another country. Meanwhile, according to one church member, Canon 25 Subsection 1 stated that when any pastoral charge or office became vacant, a right of presentation shall be exercised by the bishop of the diocese in consultation with the parish council, or church, or chapel warden. The church member reiterated the consultation aspect in the Canon, which they claimed was not exercised by their bishop when transferring Reverend Wandile. They further cited Regulation 7(5), where it is mentioned that a priest in charge of any independent pastoral charge, rests with the bishop. It was further quoted that the rector shall be appointed by the bishop after consultation with the Parish Council concerned and cathedral.

“We were not consulted. We only received a letter from a deacon and not the bishop. He came here on Thursday and we told him that he is not the bishop and asked him to return and ask the bishop to come here, or she asks us to meet her one-on-one,” explained another church member. The church member claimed that the bishop never bothered to consult them, but instead used her power to do things her way. The member questioned if there was any God in someone who did this. He was of the view that the letter had already been written before the church members of the UNESWA congregation were informed.

“May we clarify this; we are not against the transfer of the priest, but we are against the injustice of the bishop. This is because it is the standard of the Anglican Diocese. She was supposed to reveal the person who was coming here, but she didn’t. If you will call her, inform her that we are not against the transfer but against the manner in which the consultation was not done,” the church member reiterated. He further alleged that the bishop never came from Mbabane to consult them but sent someone to send the letter of transfer. Another church member revealed that they learnt as a church that their reverend was not getting his salary on time. Instead, he said the priest would receive his salary on a later date, contrary to his other fellow clergymen. “Bazalwane, we are not against the bishop. You cannot just operate like you are invincible. If she continues to  break this church, she can have the Anglican Church and we can be an inter-denominational church,” the aggrieved church member said.

Tolerate

Another church member said they would not tolerate the bishop’s alleged militant approach, which was allegedly destroying the church. He said this was not just a physical fight but a spiritual one, which they ought to partake in through prayer and fasting. He said he knew that in faith, they would win the battle. Another church member recalled that a senior priest was chucked out like a dog during a meeting. The member claimed that the clergy remained silent and did not do anything about it. Nonetheless, it was reported that the meeting resumed despite the attack. A submission from another member was to the effect that they asked the bishop why the male priest was transferred at St Michael’s and the response was that it was for personal reasons.

Anglican’s Dr Sicelo Dlamini acknowledged that transfers were mandatory in the Anglican Church and that anyone was transferred from time to time. According to Sicelo, they were advised by the internal structures of the church that handled such matters, and everyone was aware. He said they would like to uphold the advice given by the structures. “For now, we don’t have a comment. We will only comment once we have heard the allegations,” he said.

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