Bribery allegations false, Archbishop declares: Anglican Ink, November 13, 2012 November 14, 2012
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of North America, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Anglican Ink, Corruption.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje, PEAR-USA
comments closed
The Most Rev. Onesphore Rwaje, Archbishop of Rwanda
Allegations the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (PEAR) solicited a $250,000 gratuity from the Anglican Mission in America and its refusal led to the breach with the African church are baseless, church leaders tell Anglican Ink.
Rumors have circulated on the internet for the past few days accusing the Rwandan primate of graft. “I learned from an unimpeachable source today that Rwandan Archbishop Rwaje had asked Bishop Chuck Murphy for $250,000 to build a home,” one message shared on a popular Anglican news portal alleged.
Speculation attached to the rumor said the refusal of Bishop Murphy to agree to the shakedown might have been behind his “downfall from Rwanda.”
Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje of Rwanda told Anglican Ink the accusations were “not true.”
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Rwanda and AMiA to go their separate ways: The Church of England Newspaper, April 6, 2012 p 7. April 11, 2012
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Eliud Wabukala, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Bishop Chuck Murphy
The Archbishop of Kenya reports that attempts to forge a compromise between the bishops of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) and the Church of Rwanda have failed. In a statement released on 29 March 2012, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala stated that each side wishes the other well as they pursue new opportunities in ministry.
The severing of formal ties between the AMiA and Rwanda after 12 years ends the first sustained “cross border” jurisdictional violation criticized by the Windsor Report – leaving the Church of Nigeria with the only formal overseas-led jurisdiction in North America.
On 13 March 2012 Bishop Chuck Murphy, Bishop John Miller and Canon Mike Murphy of the AMiA, along with the retired primates of Rwanda and South East Asia, Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini and Yong Ping Chung with the Primate of Rwanda, Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and Bishop Laurent Mbanda in Johannesburg to “facilitate relational reconciliation,” a statement from the AMiA said.
The Johannesburg meeting follows upon a January meeting in Nairobi also hosted by Archbishop Wabukala that sought to find a way forward in the rupture between the AMiA’s bishops and the Church of Rwanda. Last year all but two of the AMiA’s bishops quit the African church after the Rwandan House of Bishops pushed for greater financial and organizational accountability of the South Carolina-based jurisdiction.
The split has fractured the AMiA’s 150 congregations. While no numbers have been released by the AMiA, a majority of its congregations appear to have left Bishop Murphy’s oversight—including Bishop Murphy’s former parish and the AMiA’s headquarters, All Saints Church in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
One faction appears set to join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), a second group has pledged its loyalty to the Church of Rwanda but will seek to operate under the oversight of the ACNA, while a third remains with Bishop Murphy and his bishops. Negotiations to find an accommodation are currently underway between the Murphy faction and the ACNA, however the terms publicly set by Archbishop Duncan include reconciliation between Rwanda and the Murphy group.
In his letter from Johannesburg, Archbishop Wabukala said the two sides stated that they had “done the best” to resolve the situation. However, “we mutually agree to release each other to develop our God-given ministries for the advancement of His Kingdom.”
The parties further agreed not to disparage each other. “We will honor all parties involved by promising not to engage in derogatory or judgmental communication,” the statement said.
The AMiA statement said “Bishop Murphy expressed deep gratitude to Archbishop Wabukala for his leadership and thanksgiving for this new beginning for the Anglican Mission.” A member of the Rwandan House of Bishops contacted by the Church of England Newspaper stated his church would not comment at this time, noting the communiqué spoke for itself.
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.
AMiA break with Rwanda and Anglicanism complete: The Church of England Newspaper, January 20, 2012, p 7. January 20, 2012
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Eliud Wabukala, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Bishop Chuck Murphy
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.
Bishop Chuck Murphy along with the other former bishops of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) have rejected the protocol for reconciliation with the Church of Rwanda brokered by the Archbishop of Kenya at the 4 January 2012 meeting in Nairobi.
Speaking at a conference in Houston this week, Bishop Murphy reiterated his plans to form a mission society with an international focus from the remnants loyal to him within the former AMiA. The decision to repudiate ties with Rwanda severs the last link to the Anglican Communion for Bishop Murphy and his faction within the AMiA.
Bishop Phillip Jones, one of the resigned suffragan bishops told the Houston Conference, the new group no longer sought to be Anglican or to work within the confines of the Anglican tradition. The Murphy group wanted to be attached to some wider organization, but in its current form it was a non-institutional entity with a global focus, that did not need to be Anglican, Bishop Jones said according to those present at the meeting.
On 17 January 2012, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala released a letter summarizing the 4 Jan meeting in Nairobi. Present at the gathering were Bishop Murphy and Bishop John Miller from the U.S., Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and Bishop Laurent Mbanda from Rwanda, Archbishop Ikechi Nwosu from the Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Wabukala from the Anglican Church of Kenya and four other Kenyan bishops.
Archbishop Wabukala opened the meeting by stating his hope that the parties could be reconciled. The statement noted that Bishop Murphy “began by expressing his profound regret for the broken relationship and stressed his commitment to lead AMiA as a single-minded mission agency. “
He added that he had been “deeply distressed by the public accusations” leveled against him, but remained “determined” to carry on the work he began in 2000.
Archbishop Rwaje “acknowledged his deep distress at the broken relationships” and lauded the work of the AMiA over the past 12 years. However, he was perturbed by the “continuing role” played by retired Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, the “lack of financial transparency and the recently announced plans to separate from the Church of Rwanda and function independently without adequate prayer or consultation.”
The Kenyan archbishop reported that after lengthy discussion the parties agreed that “forgiveness should come from both sides of the divide,” and that Rwanda would “stop looking at AMiA‘s mistakes,” wiping the slate clean. Both parties would also “start the process of forgiveness” and acknowledge the wrongs “between them.”
The agreement also called for the retired archbishops who had been supporting Bishop Murphy to work the “incumbent Archbishop of Rwanda” and for the retired archbishops to acknowledge the “ecclesiastical authority” of Archbishop Rwaje.
The Murphy faction of the AMiA “agreed that they remain canonically under the Church of Rwanda” and would put on hold for six months “plans for restructuring” the organization.
The next step would be for the two leaders to work with their bishops to “begin the work of reconciliation between both groups.”
However, while Bishop Murphy has said the work of reconciliation is continuing, the wider agreement appears ready to collapse as Bishop Murphy told those attending his Winter Conference that they would not accept the authority or directions of Rwanda, sources attending the Houston conference told The Church of England Newspaper.
Anglican Unscripted, January 18, 2012 January 19, 2012
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Anglican.TV.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Kevin and George bring news and opinion about all things Anglican. Which of course has become a very dynamic vivid church — blessed by God in this Century.
Make or break meeting in Nairobi for the AMiA: Anglican Ink, January 4, 2012 January 4, 2012
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Anglican Ink.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Bishop Chuck Murphy
The leader of the Anglican Mission in America, Bishop Chuck Murphy, will meet with the Primate of Rwanda today to seek a resolution to the split that has seen nine AMiA bishops quit the province and the Anglican Communion.
The Archbishop of Kenya, Dr. Eliud Wabukhala will host the 4 Jan 2012 meeting between Bishop Murphy and Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje in Nairobi. Other African and North American church leaders are expected to attend the meeting as well.
Last month Bishop Murphy stated he would travel to London to meet with retired Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini, Moses Tay and Yong Ping Chung to begin the work of finding a new provincial sponsor for the AMiA.
A statement released after the 12-14 December meeting omitted mention of a new home. It did affirm, however, the retired archbishops’ continued support for the missionary society concept advocated by Bishop Murphy.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
AMiA bishops quit Rwanda: The Church of England Newspaper, December 16, 2011 p 6. December 20, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.
The American bishops of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) have quit the Church of the Anglican Province of Rwanda (PEAR), rejecting its discipline and oversight.
In a letter dated 5 Dec 2011, Bishop Chuck Murphy announced that the Lord “is now doing” a “new thing” and that he and all but two of the AMiA’s bishops were withdrawing from PEAR.
It is unlikely the bulk of the AMiA’s 152 congregations and its clergy will follow the bishops out of the church. On 9 Dec Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje appointed the two loyal American bishops, the Rt. Rev. Thad Barnum and the Rt. Rev. Terrell Glenn, to oversee those who wish to remain within the Anglican Communion.
In letter dated 30 Nov Archbishop Rwaje chastised Bishop Murphy for disobedience, writing: “you have constantly disregarded the decisions and counsels of the House of Bishops” and have “misused the authority given to you by the Archbishop in advancing your new missionary society interests.”
At the Sept House of Bishops meeting, Bishop Murphy proposed changing the oversight of the AMiA from PEAR to a council of three archbishops that he would select. The Rwandans objected to this plan and directed him to halt work until the bishops were of one mind. However, Bishop Murphy carried on with the work announcing that the proposal would be presented to the 21 Dec meeting of the PEAR bishops for approval.
The PEAR bishops also requested a detailed accounting of funds sent to Rwanda as a tithe of the AMiA’s income after reports reached them that portions of the tithe were being spent on Rwandan related projects that had not been approved by the province.
The AMiA has responded that those portions of the funds not contributed directly to the PEAR central fund had been spent on projects authorized by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. A summary was provided by the AMiA after the split, but no formal accounting of the funds has yet appeared.
However, the PEAR canons do not allow the archbishop to approve off the books transactions. Title IV Article 17 vests control of “all accounts” of the province with three commissioners elected by the synod.”
Title I.6.10 of the Rwandan canons further obligates Bishop Murphy to “make a report” to the primate on the AMiA’s status “according to the manner established by the House of Bishops or Provincial Synod of the Province.” His failure to comply violated the canons and was an act of disobedience the Rwandan bishops argued.
In his letter of resignation, Bishop Murphy said the AMiA was under no obligation to PEAR as there was “no covenant from the Anglican Mission to the Province.” He enumerated several areas of displeasure with the conduct of the archbishop, and added that he had come to the belief that it was God’s plan for the AMiA to quit the Anglican Communion and venture out on its own.
“I now see a parallel between the Exodus story and the present situation” with Rwanda and the AMiA.
“Things have now been made very clear to me, and I am thankful for the clarity that I now have,” he wrote, adding that “we actually see the Lord’s hand in all of this, and we are, therefore, at peace with this change and with this new reality.”
According to a statement released on behalf of the faction allied with Rwanda, the resignation will not affect the AMiA’s churches or clergy.
It is “neither an ordaining body nor a place of canonical residence. The orders of AMiA clergy are held in Rwanda. Likewise, all congregations affiliated with AMiA are resident in Rwanda.”
“The bishops who resigned from Rwandan oversight no longer have any authority over churches and clergy which are canonically resident in Rwanda. Clergy and churches may choose to disaffiliate with the Church of Rwanda, just as the resigning bishops did. But unless they do so, they remain under the oversight and spiritual care of Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje,” the statement said.
Bishop Murphy under threat of discipline: The Church of England Newspaper, December 9, 2011 p 7. December 12, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Bishop Chuck Murphy - Photo: AMiA
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.
The head of the Anglican Mission in America has been threatened with ecclesiastical discipline for contumacy.
In letter to Bishop Chuck Murphy dated 30 November 2011 under the signature of all of the members of the Rwandan House of Bishops, the AMiA leader was chastised for disobedience.
“You have constantly disregarded the decisions and counsels of the House of Bishops” and have “misused the authority given to you by the Archbishop in advancing your new missionary society interests,” the Rwandan bishops said.
At a September meeting of the Rwandan House of Bishops, Bishop Murphy proposed reorganising the AMiA – a mission outreach of the Rwandan Church to the US. Bishop Murphy proposed keeping the AMiA part of the Rwandan Church, but moving the oversight of the Pawleys Island, South Carolina, group from the archbishop to a three-man college of consultors. Bishop Murphy proposed retired archbishops Emmanuel Kolini, Moses Tay and Yong Ping Church as the first college of consultors.
The Rwandan bishops objected to the reorganization and asked Bishop Murphy to halt work on the new structure until the bishops were of one mind on the topic. However, in meetings with AMiA clergy in October, Bishop Murphy said the project was four-fifths complete, and would be presented to the 21 December 2011 meeting of the Rwandan bishops for approval.
The Rwandan bishops repeated their request to halt work on the project, and in the 30 November letter gave the US bishop an ultimatum — repent of your disobedience or go.
The letter stated Bishop Murphy had ignored two requests to halt the reorganization of the AMiA into a missionary society, and had “insulted” members of the House of Bishops “using abusive language.”
He had also “dogged questions of financial transparency” and had not yet complied with a commitment given to the Rwandan bishops in September to provide an accounting of the group’s finances.
The Rwandan bishops asked Bishop Murphy to apologize for his actions, end his moves to re-organize the AMiA, and confirm his “commitment to refocus on AMiA.”
Unless he complied with this request within seven days, the Rwanda House of Bishops would assume that he had “made a ‘de facto’ choice to withdraw as primatial vicar” of the AMiA.
A spokesman for Bishop Murphy told The Church of England Newspaper, the American leader would honour the Rwandan request.
The reorganization debate “required the [AMiA] and the Province of Rwanda to engage in substantive dialogues, and we seek to ensure that our unique cultures are in clear communication with each other,” the spokesman said.
“It has required that we listen carefully to one another in our attempts to fully understand all of the issues involved from one another’s cultural perspectives,” she noted, adding the 30 November letter was “part of that yet unfinished dialogue and it will be addressed as our Archbishop has required.”
Christianity Today picks up the AMiA story: Anglican Ink, December 7, 2011 December 7, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Anglican Ink, Press criticism.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Bobby Ross, Jr.
Bobby Ross Jr., has written a great story of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA). The article at Christianity Today entitled “Leaving Rwanda: Breakaway Anglicans Break Away Again” is rather clever. It draws upon the imagery of “Out of Africa” as well as offering an amusing play on “breakaway – break away”.
He also takes the story forward, reporting that Bishop Murphy and his faction of the AMiA will seek another Anglican Province to serve as its sponsor. They’re out of Rwanda but hopefully not out of Africa — and the Anglican Communion.
I did not envy Bobby when I learned he had been commissioned by CT to do this story. Explaining intramural Anglican affairs is difficult enough to an audience that self-identifies as being Anglican/Episcopal, but making sense of the story for the wider Protestant world (CT’s audience) is harder still.
Yet, he does a great job summarizing the reasons for the split – and he is the first to report in print what the Bishop Murphy’s plans are now that he has cast off the heavy hand of Pharaoh. (For those looking to take offense at my reporting on this issue I offer this one to you as a freebee – it is a reference to Bishop Murphy’s use of the analogy of Moses and the children of Israel leaving Egypt to describe his decision to withdraw from Rwanda and take his followers with him.)
Bobby quotes me in the story, pairing my observations with those of Cynthia Brust the AMiA’s press officer.
Line one: “It’s just a sad, sad case all around,” Conger said. “There are no doctrinal or theological issues. It’s not about women priests or homosexuality or race. It’s entirely about egos.”
Line two: “It’s a dispute of personalities,” Conger said of the recent turmoil. “Archbishop Kolini had a very strong, good relationship with Bishop Murphy and essentially let Bishop Murphy do what he wanted to do.”
The CT story brings Bishop Murphy’s spokesman on board with a response to the concerns raised by Bishop Alex Bilindibagabo that funds the AMiA claims to have given to Rwanda did not make it into the province’s bank account.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
AMiA bishops break with Rwanda December 6, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Anglican Ink.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje
Bishop Chuck Murphy has rejected the godly admonition of Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and he and the members of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) House of Bishops have broken with the Church of Rwanda.
In a letter dated 5 Dec 2011, Bishop Murphy and the AMiA House of Bishops announced that the Lord “is now doing” a “new thing” and that its bishops had decided to reject the discipline and oversight of Anglican Church of Rwanda .
Whether the clergy and congregations of the AMiA will follow their bishops into schism and out of the Anglican Communion is not known at this time. However by this second secession in eleven years along with the adoption of a distinct Roman Catholic ecclesiology and sacramental theology, the AMiA appears to have given up its claim of being Anglican in order to follow its leader, Bishop Murphy.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Recant or resign, Rwanda tells Chuck Murphy: Anglican Ink, December 5, 2011 December 5, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Anglican Ink.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje, Terrell Glenn
comments closed
Bishop Chuck Murphy Photo : AMiA
The head of the Anglican Mission in America has been threatened with ecclesiastical discipline for contumacy. Unless Bishop Chuck Murphy repents of his disobedience and apologizes for his offensive statements within seven days, the Rwanda House of Bishops will assume that he has “made a de facto choice to withdraw as primatial vicar” of the AMiA.
In letter from the Rwandan House of Bishops to Bishop Murphy dated 30 Nov 2011, the AMiA leader was chastised for disobedience and abuse of office.
“You have constantly disregarded the decisions and counsels of the House of Bishops” and have “misused the authority given to you by the Archbishop in advancing your new missionary society interests,” said the letter signed by the Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and the Rwandan bishops.
The censure follows a 17 Nov 2011 meeting in Washington between Bishop Murphy and Archbishop Rwaje, which sources described as having had a full and frank exchange of views.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
AMiA denies resignation rumours: The Church of England Newspaper, December 2, 2011, p 6. December 2, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper.Tags: Chuck Murphy, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
Bishop Chuck Murphy : Photo - AMiA
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.
The Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) has denied speculation that its chairman, Bishop Chuck Murphy, has offered to step down in the wake its dispute with its parent church, the Province of Rwanda.
On 28 November 2011, a spokesman for the AMiA told The Church of England Newspaper that a report in the Christian Post that stated Bishop Murphy was going to retire was incomplete.
The resignation of AMiA Bishop Terrell Glenn coupled with a show of no confidence in Bishop Murphy over the planned reorganisation of the American church group by the Rwandan Church had led to speculation the American leader would step down. Sources in the AMiA told CEN they also had been briefed by senior leaders that Bishop Murphy was going to retire, however, the AMiA’s spokesman stated this was incorrect.
“While Bishop Murphy has indicated for quite some time that he plans to step down as Chairman of the Anglican Mission sometime around December 2013, he has not made any ‘formal announcement’ either internally or externally,” spokesman Cynthia Brust said.
At a 27 September 2011 meeting, Bishop Murphy unveiled the reorganisation strategy to the Rwandan bishops. The new arrangement would provide stability and continuity for the Pawleys Island, South Carolina-based organisation by moving oversight from the Archbishop of Rwanda to a self-perpetuating college of consultors, led by Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini, Moses Tay and Yong Ping Chung.
Rwandan leaders told CEN that they understood that Bishop Murphy had been asked at the September meeting to halt the implementation of the planned change. However, a series of meetings was subsequently held in Pawley’s Island discussing the status of the transformation. On 31 October 2011, Archbishop Rwaje wrote to Bishop Murphy “requesting that all procedures toward the formation of the new missionary society be halted until we go through the Jerusalem moment (are of common mind).”
The Archbishop’s letter also contained a strong word of rebuke, asking Bishop Murphy to reflect on “the spirit of rebellion and lawlessness.”
Last week Bishop Murphy met with Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje of Rwanda in Washington to discuss the AMiA’s reorganisation proposal. Details of the meeting have not been released, while a January meeting has been set for the bishops to discuss the future of the AMiA.
AMiA in rebellion, Rwanda charges: The Church of England Newspaper, November 18, 2011 p 7. November 18, 2011
Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper.Tags: Chuck Murphy, John Rucyhana, Onesphore Rwaje
comments closed
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.
The Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) has come under sharp criticism from the Church of Rwanda over its plans to pull away from the oversight of the African church.
On 31 Oct 2011 Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje directed AMiA Bishop Charles “Chuck” Murphy to suspend work on a proposal that would change its oversight from a “personal prelature” under the Rwandan primate to a missionary society overseen by an independent “college of consultors”.
Founded by Evangelicals in response to what it saw as the abandonment of the classical Anglicans in the United States, Bishop Murphy and Bishop John Rodgers were consecrated on 29 January 2000 at St Andrews Cathedral in Singapore by the Archbishop of Southeast Asia and Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. It has grown rapidly under the leadership of Bishop Murphy, but has begun to witness internal tensions as well as stresses in its relationship with Rwanda.
Citing personal disagreements with Bishop Murphy, the Rt. Rev. Terrell Glenn, an assistant bishop, last week announced his resignation. Questions have also been raised over the transparency of the AMiA’s finances and leadership structure. Criticisms have also been raised over new canons prepared by a former Roman Catholic clergyman now serving in the AMiA that have incorporated a Roman Catholic ecclesiology and sacramental theology.
The AMiA is not synodicaly governed but operates under the sole authority of its leader, Bishop Murphy, who acts as a primatial vicar for the archbishop. Rwanda’s Title II Canon 15 hold there are seven sacraments of two kinds, while Canon 17 teaches the doctrines of Transubstantiation and the Sacrifice of the Mass – a stance that puts the church at odds with Articles XXV and XXVIII. The canons also follow the Roman Catholic teachings on confirmation, penance, matrimony, ordination, holy unction as well as baptism.
At its 2011 Winter Conference, Bishop Murphy indicated there would likely be a change in the AMiA’s relationship with Rwanda in light of the retirement of Archbishop Kolini. Only two Rwandan bishops had been in office when the AMiA had been formed and the “institutional memory” was fading away, he noted.
A June 2011 meeting in Rwanda brought matters to a head. The Rwandan Church asked for an accounting of funds collected by the AMiA and designated for the East African province. Questions were also raised about the degree of accountability the AMiA had towards the Rwandan House of Bishops. The Rwandan bishops also declined to approve Bishop Murphy’s assistant bishop nominations.
Bishop Murphy noted that the AMiA had no canonical obligation to send money to Rwanda – it had however, contributed an average of 12 per cent of its income over the last seven years to Rwanda’s general fund. However, no public accounting of the disbursements has been made so far.
He also charged the Rwandan bishops with “reverse colonialism” – seeking to oversee a church half a world away. This had not worked during the age of colonial expansion when London missionary societies oversaw African churches and could not work today, he argued.
At a 27 Sept 2011 meeting, Bishop Murphy unveiled the reorganization strategy to the Rwandan bishops. The new arrangement would provide stability and continuity for the Pawleys Island, South Carolina-based organization by moving oversight to a self-perpetuating college of consultors, initially led by Archbishop Kolini. While Bishop Murphy told CEN he believed the meeting went well, the Rwandan bishops were left nonplussed.
In an open letter to Bishop Murphy, Bishop John Rucyhana deplored the plan which would “take AMiA from its original intent.” He believed the AMiA was being ungrateful, as “this move may hurt the relationship” between the AMiA and Rwanda, “which stood alone in the whole world with AMiA in the most difficult times.”
He was also distressed by what he saw as the AMiA’s taking Archbishop Kolini out of the Church of Rwanda. “It may be extremely hard to comprehend for the retired Archbishop Kolini who led AMiA as a mission of Rwanda and now moves with AMiA out of the province during his retirement.”
On 31 Oct 2011, Archbishop Rwaje wrote to Bishop Murphy “requesting that all procedures toward the formation of the new missionary society be halted until we go through the Jerusalem moment (are of common mind).”
The AMiA also needed to address Rwanda’s concerns over the “painful visit” at the June House of Bishops meeting, the charge of “reverse colonialism” leveled by Bishop Murphy, the “assumption that the new Archbishop does not make decisions,” and to reflect on “the spirit of rebellion and lawlessness.”
Bishop Murphy told CEN it was “absurd” to suggest he was in rebellion. He denied the AMiA was seeking to withdraw from Rwanda and stated his relations with the archbishop remained strong. A meeting is scheduled next week in Washington between the AMiA and the primate to review the tensions before the 21 Dec 2011 meeting of the House of Bishops in Rwanda.
