"A bishop shall resign at 65 except at special request of Episcopal Synod, which must consult the diocese. In this case Bishop Leonard Mwenda was imposed on this Diocese, a thing that has displeased us as clergy," reads one of the resolutions.

According to a copy of the letter with resolutions attached and addressed to Archbishop of Central Africa and Primate Bernard Amos Malango, the appointment of Mwenda was done contrary to Canon 6:10.

At a conference summoned by the Vicar General Canon Bernard Mkonkholo, the clergy came up with three grounds for rejecting Mwenda and four reasons to challenge the church court over the refusal to confirm Henderson.

"The Elective assembly may either (a) elect by a two thirds majority in a secret ballot a Bishop from among those nominated in accordance with rules. It may also at the same time nominate by fresh election or by successively fresh elections one or more persons," reads a copy of resolutions.

The conference also blasted the Church Court against Henderson describing its verdict as biased, based on allegations and that Henderson should be heard.

"Therefore, we are expressing that there is no real reason for objecting or refusing Reverend Nicholas Paul Henderson to be Bishop of Lake Malawi," say the clergy.

In an interview, Bishop Malango said he had received the resolutions and had already communicated his feelings to the diocese.

"I have told them that it is just a request or advice. It was a decision of the Episcopal synod. I have told them that I will contact Mwenda," said Malango.

END