"We have expressed concern several times about the decision taken by the local bishop of the Anglican Church (Canterbury) to ordain deacons who lacked theological training, with a view to the destabilization and disruption of our efforts in the parishes: we have had to find a reply to the allegations that our church is but a fiction, with no link to the TAC: if we were true members of TAC, an Episcopal visit would have confirmed the validity of the ECAC. Due to the serious nature of this situation, the diocesan council has asked for the presence of a French speaking resident assistant or Suffragan bishop, able to visit parishes in the forest, where there are no roads, and also able to communicate in two of the 4 national languages of the country. He would thus be well equipped to perform hi Episcopal and sacramental duties: an urgent need expressed to the Primate of the TAC. We would have liked to have had our 16 candidates for ordination ordained to the diaconate at the time of the 5th anniversary of TAC in Congo."

The priest blasted Hepworth saying that during this time of armed conflict and war in the provinces of eastern Congo, there was no message of consolation and encouragement from the Archbishop Primate of the TAC. "A simple letter from the communion might play an important part in offering comfort and care to those faithful directly affected by the conflict in which so many women and girls have been the victims of rape and sexual violence.

"Other churches established in Congo have responded, such as the Old Catholic church, Liberal Catholic church, Episcopal Charismatic church, Canterbury province of the Anglican Church of Congo, Protestant churches all of whom have sent ministers, bishops and archbishops to offer solace for the pain suffered by the Christians in eastern Congo. Even the Roman Catholic Church has had a delegation of eight bishops sent by Rome to offer comfort to their Christians in the parishes of eastern Congo.

"This lack of consolation towards the faithful of TAC in Congo has led our people to consider carefully the future of the church with regards to the TAC: they have taken note of the silence experienced by the Francophone church as compared to the Anglophone church: so that, despite the work that we have undertaken to establish TAC in Africa, there has been no written encouragement. It is as if our efforts are reduced to be null and void because we are 'coloured' by our language, being Francophone.

"In the Congo, the Anglican Catholic Church (TAC) is vibrant and dynamic, despite material poverty and the lack of servants (clergy and a resident Bishop) - although there are men available who are qualified and trained to take up their Ministry who await their authorization from the Archbishop and Primate of TAC, things were negligent. Our faithful continue to receive the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist 4 times a year in the 9 parishes of the thirteen which make up our church - which is to say 80% of the Christians in Congo. There has been no Sacrament of Confirmation in the past 5 years due to the lack of a Bishop."

The priest said he himself was attacked by the militias leaving him grievously wounded. "I received no message no note of encouragement from Archbishop Hepworth, just some messages from my personal friends, and an e-mail message from Archbishop Haverland."

Describing the attitude of Hepworth and TAC as "negative and dismissive towards the ECAC" the priest said that he was forced to consider the only other "continuum" offshoot in Africa namely the ACC- OP

"We decided that it behooved us to make some research about this original continuum church. As a result of this an Episcopal visit is already being planned shortly after Easter. This has led the Congolese church and I to conclude that, following the words of the Gospel in St. John 10.12-13, that the responsible person of the TAC is a mercenary who is not a shepherd, and to whom the sheep do not belong, as the wolf comes, he abandons his flock and flees, and wolf ravages the flock and scatters them. The mercenary flees because he is an employee, and will not stay and suffer the pain with his flock."

Ayule-Milenge wrote that he has been inspired by Archbishop Haverland, who took pity on them. He is the one shepherd in the heart of the "continuum", who has proclaimed the Affirmation of St. Louis in Missouri in 1977. The priest praised Fr. Alan Koller, David Marriott's family and the Milano family for their help in growing the ACC-Congo during its formative years.

END

FOOTNOTE: Late last night (February 3) I got a call from Archbishop Hepworth in Australia saying that he would respond to this story. When he does VOL will publish his thoughts on this situation.