Episcopal Press and News
Anglican Churchman Testified In Favor of Namibia at UN
Episcopal News Service. April 20, 1978 [78115]
NEW YORK, N. Y. -- The Rev. Edward Morrow, Vicar General of the Anglican Diocese of Damaraland, testified here before members of the Security Council of the United Nations in favor of Namibia (South-West Africa), it was revealed here in an interview with Episcopal Church officials.
The Anglican churchman said that in January, 1976, the Security Council adopted Resolution 385 which called for the South African Government to withdraw its administration from Namibia, release all political prisoners and permit the return of exiles without penalty so that they can hold free elections under the United Nations' supervision and control in order to determine the form of their government.
The government of South Africa disagreed with the resolution on the number of troops and their location and also insisted on the appointment of an administrator general.
The Council is discussing a compromise agreement on Namibia which has been negotiated between South Africa and the people of Namibia.
The independence of Namibia is set for December 31, 1978, and the elections are supposed to take place sometime in November. This vast territory has one million inhabitants.
Fr. Morrow brought a joint statement by Namibian church leaders which endorses the new agreement of March 30, 1978, called a "Proposal for a settlement of the Namibian situation. " The churchmen hailed the document as "a basis upon which can be founded the long-waited united and free country of Namibia."
The document warned of "the terrible consequences" that may result by hesitating to adopt the new resolution at this moment. It carries the signatures of the heads of two Lutheran Churches, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Namibia and Fr. Morrow on behalf of the Diocese of Damaraland.
The Anglican Church in Namibia has a long history in the defense of the black majority. Three previous bishops have been expelled from the country. The first one, the Rt. Rev. Robert Mize, an American, was expelled in 1968. The bishop now lives in California. The present bishop, the Rt. Rev. Colin Winter, was expelled in 1972 and his assistant, the Rt. Rev. Richard Wood in 1975. Both live in England.
The Rev. James Kauluma was consecrated suffragan bishop of Damaraland in January of this year at Westminster Abbey in London. Immediately following his consecration Bishop Kauluma went to the diocese and confirmed 745 people and ordained two men. Currently studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York, he is the first black African to be elected to this post. Bishop Kauluma, Sally, his American wife, and Nangula, their five-month-old daughter, plan to return to Namibia in June.
Fr. Morrow said that the situation in Namibia is tense due to the harassment by the security forces. He added that on February 22 the South African police security branch raided the Ecumenical Center in Windhoek as well as the office and the house reserved for the Anglican bishop.
He also said that on February 21 some 200 students from St. Mary's Anglican School at Odibo crossed the border into Angola to join the SWAPO liberation movement. The police conducting the investigation harassed Fr. Morrow and other priests and teachers of the mission. Fr. Morrow returned immediately to Namibia on April 16, a few hours after his arrival in New York due to the worsening of the situation in the diocese.
The Anglican Church in Namibia is the third largest Christian group after the Lutherans and the Roman Catholics.