Mauney Disputes Ugandan Secretary's Letter to Griswold
Episcopal News Service. December 23, 2003 [032312-1]
Officials at the Episcopal Church Center dispute claims contained in an open letter to Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold signed by the Church of Uganda's Provincial Secretary, accusing the Episcopal Church of ignoring the refugee situation in northern Uganda.
The letter, signed by the Rev. Stanley Ntagali, purports to express "the strong feelings and concerns of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Provincial Assembly Standing Committee and the Enthronement Organising Committee."
It castigates the Episcopal Church for recognizing same-sex unions and ordaining an openly gay cleric as a bishop, declaring that as a result the Church of Uganda has "cut" its relationship with ECUSA, except for those dioceses that have dissociated from the two actions.
"Considering those things, we were shocked to receive a letter from you informing us of your decision to send a delegation to the enthronement of our new Archbishop in January, and your intention for the delegation to bring aid and assistance for the people who live in desperate conditions in the camps in Gulu that you have ignored for years," the letter said. Ntagali went on to announce that the Ugandan church would be "pleased to receive an official delegation from the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses, and Parishes who remain Committed to Biblical faith and with whom our relationship steadfastly continues."
But the Rev. Patrick Mauney, director of the Episcopal Church's Anglican and Global Relations program, had a different version of the events leading up to the open letter. Shortly after Thanksgiving, he said, Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo, the current primate, wrote Griswold a "warm" letter in which he mentioned in passing that he was ready to hand over the office to Bishop Henry Orombi.
In his response, Griswold noted his pleasure that a "deputation from this Province" would be present for Orombi's installation. The deputation, composed of several bishops, was organized some months ago by the director of Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Partnership Office for Africa to visit refugee camps in West Africa. Since the deputation was to be in Africa at the same time as the installation event, Uganda was added to the itinerary, which would also then include a visit to refugee camps in northern Uganda, Mauney said.
On December 17 Griswold received the letter from the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda stating that a deputation could not be received.
Mauney said in an email on December 18 that Ntagali's accusation regarding the Gulu camps in northern Uganda is "demonstrably untrue."
"The Washington Office of TEC has advocated more than once before Congress on the issue; ERD generously funds the Church of Uganda's PDR (Planning, Development and Relief) Department, the provincial body responsible for outreach to the area; the Presiding Bishop spoke with bishops of northern Uganda about the situation when he was in Uganda earlier this year, "said Mauney.