Ntagali warns against campaigns for successor
Summon. Archbishop Stanley Ntagali preaching at St John’s Cathedral of Ruwezori Diocese in Fort Portal during his farewell visit at the church on Sunday. PHOTO BY ALEX ASHABA
What you need to know:
Caution. Archbishop Ntagali said the issue of transition requires both Christians and the retiring archbishop to be neutral.
The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, the Rt Rev Stanley Ntagali, has cautioned Christians and the clergy against lobbying for candidates, who are seeking to succeed him.
Archbishop Ntagali is set to retire next year. He urged the Anglican faithful to be calm during the current period of transition of power in the Church of Uganda.
The Province of the Anglican Church of Uganda will soon elect the 9th Archbishop, to succeed Archbishop Ntagali.
During his farewell service at St Paul’s Cathedral in Kasese Town on Saturday, Archbishop Ntagali reminded the congregation that the issue of transition requires both Christians and the retiring archbishop to be neutral.
“The issue of transition sometimes even in church is very tricky, because we have also got some politics in the church. But I want to tell you that my hands are clean. I am not campaigning for any bishop to become the 9th Archbishop. God has the candidate, God knows,” Archbishop Ntagali said.
South Rwenzori Diocese is in the process of electing the third bishop to replace Bishop Jackson Thembo Nzerebende.
“I have never campaigned for anything because leadership comes from God,” the Archbishop said.
He was responding to some highlights in a report of the Diocesan Bishop, who requested the process of electing the next bishop for the diocese to be expedited.
Call for unity
Archbishop Ntagali asked Christians to avoid creating factions as the House of Bishops handles the process of electing the next bishop for the South Rwenzori Diocese.
The Archbishop also announced that Bishop Nzerebende will be the next Provincial Dean, a title that is equivalent to Assistant Archbishop.
Earlier, in his sermon, Archbishop Ntagali appealed to the youth to avoid abuse of alcohol, fornication and prostitution.
Church in mourning
He said the Church of Uganda was mourning Mary Luwum, the widow of the late Archbishop Jonani Luwum, who was murdered by former President Idi Amin in 1977.
Mary Luwum died last week and will be buried on August 17 in Muchwini Village in Kitgum District where her late husband was buried.
Archbishop Ntagali is on a visit to all the 37 dioceses of Anglican Church of Uganda to bid his farewell to Christians.
