General News of Sunday, 25 November 2001

Source: Accra Mail

EDITORIAL: Duncan-Williamses Reconcile

In April this year, Bishop Duncan William, the Presiding Bishop of the Christian Action Faith Ministries (CAFM) announced to a stunned congregation that he was going to be divorced from his wife Francisca. Obviously a most difficult announcement for him to make alone, he received brotherly solidarity from many leaders of other charismatic churches who visited his church that fateful Sunday to pray with him and help him break the news.

The public received the news with mixed feelings. Those who did not support divorce thought it sent the wrong signals. Others also sympathised with the Bishop. To such people, marriage should not be forced and once it starts getting sour, it must be ended.

After the initial interest the news of the divorce generated, the Bishop was very much left to try and pick up the pieces and move on. His congregation was most supportive and remained intact even after the "bombshell".

The Bishop, showing remarkable prescience at the time he was announcing the divorce, remained confident and said he would continue to pray for God's guidance.

His prayers and confidence have paid off because yesterday, he was able to announce to an ecstatic congregation that the Lord has brought him and Francisca, back together again as husband and wife. Rumours had been circulating that there was a patch up between the couple, but it was only yesterday that it was confirmed. According to some sources, though it was the blessing of God, which brought them together again, the couple's consideration for their four children may have had a hand in the change of heart of their parents. They have two boys and two girls. International evangelists like Pastor Jakes, Mrs. Idahosa and others are also said to have helped in counselling the couple.

With the pain of the temporary break up of their marriage behind them, according to a source close to them, they are now going to devote a lot of their quality time to church matters so that they can finish their main church/university building on the Spintex Road.