The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent
REVEREND Luke Chigwanda is now new Anglican diocesan dean of the Cathedral. He is now called Canon The Very Reverend Luke Chigwanda following last Saturday’s consecration attended by over 600 Anglicans and Non-Anglican friends in Christ.
The carnival ceremony of institution and installation was punctuated by choral music and devotional episodes. All of them were led by the Lord Bishop Erick Ruwona. At every turn of response, the new dean of the Cathedral confidently confirmed his pledge to duty and office in the Anglican Church, please note, humbly remembering to say, ‘‘I do, God being my helper,’’ in each response.
The Lord Bishop Right Reverend Erick Ruwona certified that by his mandate, the new dean had been appointed to the Rector of the Cathedral and instituted to the cure of the souls in the Parish of St John the Baptist.
The Cathedral is the principal Parish of the Diocese, the place of the Bishop’s chair, and is a particular focus for Diocesan liturgy, ministry and evangelism. The dean as Rector of the Cathedral shares with the Lord Bishop and with Diocesan Clergy and laity in the oversight of the Anglican pastoral ministry.
The Bishop confirmed Reverend Chigwanda’s dedication to God’s work.
“His ministry will continue the good work done through the years in the Cathedral and Diocese. It is part of the work and witness of the whole Church,” he said.
“It is a new ministry because Luke brings particular gifts to our life and work together.”
After colourful institution and installation, the dean-designate accompanied by the Vicar General, took and subscribed to the Oath of Canonical Obedience proceeding as he did to the principal points of the Church.
In his thankful reply, the new Dean of the Cathedral emphasised the need for Church to invest in Sunday school and the young. “Church must attract all ages, particularly the children. They are members tomorrow’s Church. Accommodate them and recognise their interests. Do not be rigid and stiff holding on to ancient ways of worship that put children off,” he said.
“Children love exciting participation. They love music and guitars . . . no more hosho (rattles) nengoma (the African drum). Let them sing in the musical renditions they love.
“Let them enjoy Church. They love screening, television. They have lots of energy. They are techno-savvy and love use of technology even in Church. Children are full of energy and are active. Accommodate their creativity,” he pleaded.
He appealed to parents to allow their children to take Church seriously.
The new dean brought the roof down when he chronicled the ordeal of his battered old Datsun which he desperately clung to in the midst of modern top-of-the-range cars.
“The ramshackle ended up costing more than I bought it for. The daily purchases of spare parts for daily repairs were a financial nightmare. Then the spare parts were nowhere to be found . . . not even in Harare. I ended up under the 1952 Datsun more than I was in the car.
“It was such an ordeal. All because I wanted to stick to my old car despite the expensive nightmare and inconvenience it had become! Every car on the road behind or in front of me took all the passengers while I stood there watching . . . even during moments I wanted a few extra dollars to buy fuel. No one wanted a ride in a ramshackle that had broken doors and wooden benches for seats . . . an imitation of a car no better than walking. At one point all my catch rushed out of my car into a new D4D.
“Then at last I almost killed my wife. She was almost run over by a hind wheel when she slipped and fell after I asked her to help me push the ‘stubborn’ Datsun. That was when I decided to abandon the sell the thing to my young brother who also sold the dangerous car after a few months.”
“The Church must not hold on to stereotypes that are old and useless . . . if not dangerous.” That was the lesson in the story.
The institution and installation of the new dean was attended by the Very Reverend’s nuclear and extended family.
While the enemies of the Anglican Church, especially those within, continue to throw mud at everything the man of God, Erick Ruwona, says and touches, vilifying him directly and indirectly through rumour mongering and mud-slinging . . . even in the newspapers, the Anglican Church continues to shine for itself and the community, for God’s sake. Certainly what the Church does well is far more than what goes wrong; though witch-hunters specialise in the bad news than the good news.
May be this is the tragedy in all Churches in Zimbabwe today. Bad apples every day look for what goes wrong at the expense of the good Church does for humanity and community.
When the Anglican Church runs the best schools with the best examination results, the enemies keep silent. When it ‘‘adopts’’ pupils from St Charles Luangwa devastated by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and gives them places to continue with their education in its best schools, the enemies do not speak.
When it becomes the first Responsible Authority to launch a Teachers’ Association, they do not comment. The list of good things the Anglican Church under Bishop Ruwona is too long. But when one Anglican misses the tune and tenor of the song, they stand on top of the hill to shout out to the world.
People, especially we Zimbabweans, must learn to accept and appreciate being led. We cannot all be leaders at the same time, can we? When things go wrong, as they will do from time to time, we must not foolishly lose our heads and become irrational beings.
Even when push turns to shove, there are procedures of rectifying wrongs that are better than going mad or behaving like typical ragamuffins. We must also learn to write and speak well about other people than addicted to character assassination and mud-slinging.
The Canon Very Reverend Luke Teddy Chigwanda’s consecration was also attended by Father Charlie Moore from the Diocese of Southwark in England, Fr Paulo Hansin from the Diocese of Lebombo in Mozambique and Fr Canon Basvi from the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe.
The Very Reverend was born in 1975 in Nyanga. He acquired his primary education at Nyajezi Primary School in Nyanga. He went through Form 1 to 4 at St Mary Magdalene’s High School in Nyanga from 1990 to 1993. He went to Marist Brothers-Nyanga Boys High School to do Advanced Level education from 1994 to 1995.
The new dean is a holder of a Diploma in Systemic Family Counselling (Connect), a BSc Honors Degree in Economics (UZ), BA Honors-Theology and Pastoral Studies (Leeds University), MSc Degree in Disaster Management (NUST). He is currently studying for a PhD with ZOU, a Bachelor of Health Services Management (Africa University) and a Diploma in Leadership and Development Studies (Springdale College).
Dean Chigwanda is married to Betty Mandisodza. The couple is blessed with 3 beautiful girls and one princely young boy.
