To Southwest Florida Via Media Episcopalians

Some of you will remember Bishop Johannes Seoka (Pretoria, South Africa) who visited us at a Via Media meeting at St. Margaret's on May 8.  He spoke to us then about the importance of our work as centrists. Seoka, a protégé of Desmond Tutu's, is the first black bishop of Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. He also serves as an deputy for administration for CAPA (Council of Anglican Primates of Africa) and was instrumental in bringing together Archbishops Akinola (Nigeria, president of CAPA) and Ndungane (Capetown, the distinguished successor to Tutu in the Church of the Province of Southern Africa). The archbishops made an important statement of unity which has been overshadowed by recent statements from Akinola. (There are at least 13 Anglican provinces in Africa, and not all the archbishops are like Akinola. Nor are all the countries like Nigeria. The post-apartheid constitution of South Africa prohibits any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation, for example.)

You may have read Akinola's statement after our recent national election. Donald Fishburne circulated it for us. It is still available (but opens slowly) at http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,6119,2-11-1447_1616586,00.html

After that I emailed Bishop Seoka and asked him for a message to us which he has invited me to share with you.

My dear Canon
Just do your best to educate the sisters and the brothers. Reminding them
that not all Primates speak for their Provinces even though sometime they
think they do. Who, for instance, in his/her right mind would
congratulate Bush? Tell them there that Christianity is a hope based faith.
Love at home.

Bishop Jo Seoka