Henderson Supporters Protest in Lake Malawi

Supporters of London vicar Nicholas Henderson disrupted a meeting of the diocese of Lake Malawi last week, protesting plans by the church leaders to hold new elections for a bishop.

On Oct 20 clergy and lay leaders of the diocese met with the Dean of the Province, Bishop Albert Chama, Provincial Secretary Fr. Eston Pembamayo and the diocese’s vicar-general Canon Bright Mkoko to lay out plans for new elections in light of the decision last month by the Province’s House of Bishops to deny any further appeal of the rejection of Mr. Henderson’s election as bishop.

Members of a group styled the “House of Laity” disrupted the meeting, objecting to plans to go forward with new elections. It said “Bishop Chama’s agenda for the meeting was to dictate to us to hold fresh elections which did not go down well” with its members. As “Bishop Chama was in no compromising mood” the group “decided to close the offices and confiscate the keys of the three diocesan vehicles” to show that “we are serious.”

Lake Malawi has been without a bishop for two years. Factional disputes have led to violence at times, and allegations exchanged of murder and corrupt practices. A church official familiar with the situation told CEN the situation remained tense, but expected the new election would move the diocese forward.