The bishops of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola (IAMA) have issued a public letter to their acting primate, the Most Rev. Carlos Matsinhe, asking he retire to protect the image of the church.
The letter, which was read to congregations across the Lusophone province on Sunday 10 December 2023, comes in response to disquiet over the archbishop’s role as head of Mozambique’s election board, which rubber-stamped the outcome of national elections that international observers and the political opposition in Mozambique claimed were fraudulent – giving the ruling FRELIMO party control of all but one of the nation’s towns and cities.
The bishop’s letter began by clarifying their request that he retire for the good of the church, and that they had not demanded he resign. They expressed disappointment that he had misled his Diocesan Standing Committee and had received their delegation with animosity last month in Maputo.
The IAMA was greater than its primate, they noted, and its bishops formed a collective whose deliberations were collegial and prayerful – and not controlled by the archbishop. They further noted Archbishop Matsinhe had not been elected archbishop of the province by the people of the province, but appointed to that post upon its independence from the Anglican Church in Southern Africa.
The pressure exercised by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office for the bishops to elect him archbishop had been firmly resisted, they wrote, leading to his present status as acting primate and archbishop.
They urged Archbishop Matsinhe to consider retiring due to the prevailing situation, the distortion and damage of their image and that of the Anglican Church, and the upcoming presidential elections in Mozambique. The bishops also emphasized the importance of considering the global image of the IAMA and urged him to consider his position.
If he retired now, the church would hold them in high regard, preserving their good name. True love involves advising and guiding someone on the right path, even if it means retirement for his well-being and the Church’s sake.
If he insisted on remaining until 2024, he would not be recognized as acting primate by eight of the eleven bishops of the province, they said.
English language translation of the bishops’ letter
To: Bishop Carlos Simão Matsinhe, Interim Archbishop of IAMA.
Subject: Response to your letter of November 28, 2023.
Your Grace, receive our Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer.
First of all, we would like to thank you for taking the time to respond to our letter dated October 30th of this year.
Likewise, thank you for recognizing the serious and grievous concerns that the Bishops raised in the letter that led us to advise you to retire with full benefits in order to preserve your image and that of IAMA.
Your Grace, we were disappointed to learn that you misinformed your Diocesan Standing Committee in the letter of invitation that was published in the media, that the Bishops asked for your resignation with immediate effect. Our letter did not ask you to resign, nor does it equate to resignation as mentioned in your response letter, point 9. But it advised you to retire with all the benefits, considering the situation in question. It is your image and that of the Church that is at stake, as you noted in your response letter.
We remind you that IAMA is not the Interim Primate; however, IAMA is all of us, we all constitute IAMA hence the College of Bishops with much prayer and reflection and having critically analyzed the entire situation, we gave you our advice.
We were also disappointed to learn that the delegation from the Anglican Council of Mozambique (CAM) whose purpose was to advise you on the current situation, was received with animosity, we found this frustrating and disappointing, it seems to us that His Grace does not want to be advised and , then you can just do whatever you want with the Church of God that Christ died for.
His Grace, after acknowledging the situation in your letter, went on to say that the Bishops should have consulted believers, especially from Libombos before making the decision. We would like to remind you that, when you were appointed Primate, the people of IAMA were never consulted and heard. Only the three Bishops who started IAMA with you were consulted. We must also remind you that when the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office asked us to confirm you, the Bishops refused to confirm you. Which is why your Grace is an Acting Primate.
That said, considering the prevailing situation and how your image continues to be distorted every day and that of the Anglican Church; considering that next year there will be presidential elections in Mozambique, and that there are no guarantees that the current situation facing the Church will change. We would like to continue to advise you to consider the position of your peers if we are, of your retirement, to think about the global image of the Church and not about your position.
If you do it now, we believe that the Church will give you such great consideration and everyone will say that you have in fact done well because after all and as you stated during the statements that you have no decision-making in relation to the CNE and everyone will believe you and give you a lasting embrace, preserving your good name.
Your Grace , sometimes we confuse the true meaning of love for a brother, love is not just supporting the brother even though we see that this brother is following the path of destruction or perdition. Those who truly love you and want to see good in you, advise and show you the right path. But many think the opposite: it is enough for someone to accept positions even if they put the life in danger.
The Bishops of IAMA love you and want to see you in good health, being there as a living library, we never wish you any harm, as we ask you for the most sensible thing to do of your retirement.
Therefore, for your good name and that of the Church, the Bishops reiterate the request contained in the first letter. If His Grace insists on its maintenance until 2024, you will find yourself distanced from the Majority of IAMA Bishops who will not recognize you in provincial leadership.
His Grace knows much more than we do, that Ministry is never about us; it is about the ONE who called us (JESUS CHRIST). The situation in question does not help you to represent us at IAMA provincial level; from now onwards we will not recognize you as acting Primate of this Province IAMA, you can continue at the Diocesan level as Bishop of Libombos.
We further regret to inform you that we do not see a conducive environment for holding Synods, or any conference or meeting at provincial level. Therefore, we will take advantage of this moment from now on to intensify our prayers and reflections regarding the situation that greatly affects and shakes IAMA.
We continue to keep you in our prayers as you consider our advice. And, we believe that the Lord will enlighten you in the right direction.
May God help us and be in charge of everything and everyone!
BISHOPS OF IAMA, DECEMBER 9, 2023.-
THE SIGNATORY ON BEHALF OF THE SUBSCRIBERS OF THE 1ST LETTER,
DOM AUGUSTO DOMINGOS
(Bishop of the Diocese of Cristo Rei and DIAMA eon)
C/C:
- Dom Vicente Msosa – Diocese of Zambézia;
- Dom Lucas MChema – Diocese of Niassa;
- Dom Sérgio Bambo – Diocese of Tete;
- Dom Paulo Hansine – Diocese of Rio Púngue;
- Dom Emanuel Capeta – Diocese of Inhambane;
- Dom Agostinho Buque – Diocese of Maciene;
- Dom Joaquim Bondo – Diocese of Divina Esperança;
- Dom Pedro Jamba – Diocese of Central and Southern Angola;
- Dom Dinis Sengulane – Bishop Emeritus of Libombos;
- Archbishop Anthony Poggo, General Secretary of the Anglican Communion.
To non-Signatory Bishops:
- Episcopisa Filomena Teta – Diocese of Bom Pastor;
- Dom Manuel Ernesto – Diocese of Nampula.
