Pragmatism weakening African refusal of TEC money

The crisis within the 78 million-strong Anglican Christian community, which was so well illustrated in last week’s February 13-16 meeting in Dar es Salaam, could have profound implications for support for the poorest people in East Africa.

While the Church itself is bitterly divided over the issue of homosexuality, there appears to also be a growing division between those dioceses in Africa who seek to cut off all relations with Western Anglican churches who have supported the ordination of gay priests, and those who favour a pragmatic line because of the huge financial support provided to their congregations by Western churches.

This was well illustrated by the statement made by Bishop Mdimi Mhogolo of the Tanzanian diocese of Central Tanganyika, who has broken ranks with the Anglican Church of Tanzania in continuing to accept support from the New York branch of the US Episcopal Church. Read more