The Western region of Buganda in Uganda has recently witnessed a significant development within the Anglican Church, capturing public attention due to a proclamation by the church leader regarding the prohibition of prayer services at funerals for believers who passed away without being baptized.
As reported by the Daily Monitor magazine, the church asserted that this decision was primarily motivated by the desire to minimize conflicts between priests and leaders from different churches during the burial ceremonies of the church members.
Pastor Moses Kayimba, the secretary of the Diocese, disclosed that Bishop Henry Katumba of the Western Diocese of Buganda was responsible for making this decision, according to the Daily Monitor.
Rev Kayimba elucidated on the decision, stating, “This is to ensure that matters pertaining to faith are conducted in an appropriate manner. Over the course of time, we have encountered similar incidents during funeral rites, prompting the leadership to arrive at this resolution.”
The impetus behind this decision became evident after the bishop played a role in mediating disputes arising from disagreements among priests during the burial of certain church members.
Furthermore, Reverend Kayimba expounded on the potential benefits of this measure, emphasizing its role in curbing instances of believers switching from one church to another, thereby preventing clashes among religious leaders during funeral proceedings.
Drawing an analogy, Pastor Kayimba likened the confirmation of citizenship to the official identification provided to all citizens. He explained that in the Anglican Church, each baptized Christian receives a baptism card as a tangible confirmation of their participation in the faith, according to the report.
