Description: Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit.
By Douglas LeBLANC
THE Archbishop of Kenya has ordered churches under his care to stop allowing speeches by politicians during their worship services. The ban moves the Anglican Church of Kenya into a stricter separation of church and states than is common in the United States, where politicians often visit churches and speak f-rom pulpits during their campaigns.
“When the time comes for acknowledging all those who have come, we will do that, but I want to give direction that f-rom today, henceforth in any Anglican congregation, there will be no opportunity for any political leader to have a speech in the Church,” Abp Jackson Ole Sapit said on March 16 while speaking at Nairobi’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
He made his remarks during the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Jonathan Kabiru as Bishop of Nairobi. Kenya’s former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua; the leader of the opposition Wiper Party, Kalonzo Musyoka; and Nairobi’s Governor, Johnson Sakaja, were all in attendance at the service, and were reportedly expecting to speak to the large congregation.
The archbishop said he will allow clergy to recognize visiting politicians during the service and that politicians are welcome to stand and wave. “If they so wish to address the congregation, it will be done outside the sanctuary,” he said.
He also said that the days of politicians making donations amid fanfare are over. “We have already declared and we want to declare today that giving in the Anglican Church will not be announced,” he said. “Just give as God directs you to give. What we give to God, we don’t have to tell human beings what we have given him.”
The Anglican Church of Kenya and the national government have been under scrutiny by layman Mwabili Mwagodi, who has become outspoken about corruption, and has helped stage protests against appearances by politicians at church services.
A protest organized by Mwagodi last June forced Kenyan President William Ruto to curtail his remarks at the consecration service for Bishop of Nyahuru Samson Mburu Gachathi.
“Media reports of politicians living flashy lifestyles and dishing out unexplained millions in fundraisers at churches each Sunday troubled me,” he said in a report by Jesse Masai for The Living Church. “Every Sunday, politicians were on an altar somewhere, peddling lies while making hefty donations.”
The change is especially noteworthy because some African Christians, like the Anglican missionaries who served in Africa, are more relaxed about direct and visible interaction between church and state.
Abp Sapit has made drawing a clearer line a priority throughout his nine-year tenure leading the Kenyan Church. In September 2021, during the leadup to Kenya’s last presidential election, he banned politicians f-rom church pulpits and said that amounts of donations given to churches by political leaders would no longer be publicly announced. Kenya’s Roman Catholic bishops have made similar moves.
Some have credited the shift with playing a role in the relatively peaceful election in August 2022. Kenya’s political system draws heavily on historic rivalries between the country’s main ethnic groups, and several campaigns in recent memory have been marred by mob violence. TAP –The Living Church
IT’S EASTER SUNDAY, a day of unending surprise.
This is a day that the prophets had pointed to long ago. Just when we thought all was lost, God’s redeeming love has broken through. Jesus has triumphed over the grave and now we’re rising with him f-rom the baptismal deep. This is a new parting of the waters, a new exodus – all because of what Jesus has done on the cross.
continue readingI’m excited to share with you that Bp. Joey Royal is joining me as Co-General Editor. Bp. Joey brings his experience as a priest and bishop in the Arctic, his knowledge of the Anglican Church of Canada, gained through serving on various councils of the Church, and his theological expertise. Long-time TAP readers will remember that when this paper got started, it was led by two editors – Peter Molloy and David A. Harris. I believe that returning to this dual editorship model will strengthen this amazing project we call The Anglican Planet. Bp. Joey served in the Diocese of the Arctic as priest and then Suffragan bishop f-rom 2012 to 2024. He is now living in the Ottawa area with his wife Jennifer and son Ben. He serves as the International Relations and Operations Manager for Christian Embassy of Canada. From the whole TAP team, welcome aboard, Bp. Joey! –SDH
continue readingBP. MARIANN BUDDE’S sermon at the National Cathedral’s inaugural prayer service in Washington stirred up a great deal of controversy on social media, including amongst traditionally-minded Anglicans.
continue readingIN THIS powerful picture book about a girl experiencing loss, The Good for Nothing Puddle helps children explore the nature of grief and loss. It does not offer the quick fix of a superficial band aid for those “stuck in sadness.” Instead, it leads them gently and gradually to finding hope in the midst of their pain.
THE Archbishop of Kenya has ordered churches under his care to stop allowing speeches by politicians during their worship services. The ban moves the Anglican Church of Kenya into a stricter separation of church and states than is common in the United States, where politicians often visit churches and speak f-rom pulpits during their campaigns.
BELIEVE IT or not, there is a lot for Christians to celebrate in 2025. Can you guess what crucial event in church history occurred 1700 years ago? What important theologian was born 800 years ago? And what great novelist was born 250 years ago? Look through our pages for clues.
IN THE EARLY 1990s, the Rev’d David Short came to Canada to study under J.I. Packer at Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Bronwyn planned to return to Australia with their two young sons after David received his masters. Instead, in 1993 he accepted the role of rector of St John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver, following in the footsteps of the remarkable evangelical preacher, the Rev’d Harry Robinson. But 2002 proved to be a momentous year as the Diocese of New Westminster and the St John’s Shaughnessy congregation were at the epicentre of some tectonic shifts in the Anglican Communion. Their diocese, which was theologically liberal, became the first Anglican diocese in the world to formally authorize the blessing of same-sex unions
Copyright © 2024 The Anglican Planet. All rights reserved