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St Bernard Mizeki Men’s Guild Provincial Conference
National Initiative for the Reformation of South Africa (NIRSA)
Mission to Seafarers Sea Sunday, 13th July 2008
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ
I write to you in the immediate aftermath of our Elective Assembly. How special it was to be together for this momentous event in the life of our Diocese. Thank you to the wonderful teams of people who worked to prepare for our gathering: diocesan and provincial members of the Advisory Committee; the Diocesan Office staff; Cathedral volunteers; host families and parishes in the Archdeaconry of Grahamstown; our caterers; those who planned and led our worship. And we thank the Bishop of Pretoria, Bishop Jo Seoka, for agreeing at short notice to chair our Elective Assembly. It has been a very special time together as the family of God.
We warmly congratulate Archdeacon Ebenezer St Mark Ntlali on his election as the Bishop of Grahamstown, and extend to him and Noncedo the assurance of our love and prayers and support in the months and years ahead. What a huge challenge he and Noncedo face! The questions asked of the Bishop-elect at the service of consecration are so central at this time of expectation and anticipation: “Will you as shepherd and leader… Will you devote yourself…Will you teach… Will you accept… Will you be faithful… Will you strive…” and the answer to these huge and overwhelming questions is “With God’s help, I will”.
May Almighty God give to our Bishop-elect the grace and power to do all that he will be called to do in the time ahead.
Please pray for our Bishop-elect in the months that lead up to his consecration. And please continue to pray for me as your Vicar General. The Prayers of the Church, Form A, should read as follows: "We pray for your Church throughout the world and especially for this diocese, and for Ebenezer our Bishop-elect and Andrew our Vicar General, together with Thabo our metropolitan." Form B should read: "We pray for your servant Ebenezer our Bishop-elect, and Andrew our Vicar General, together with Thabo our metropolitan..." Form C should read: "Lord Jesus, you sent your apostles to make disciples of all nations: bless the bishops of this province, especially Ebenezer our Bishop-elect and Andrew our Vicar General, together with Thabo our metropolitan, and all other ministers of your Church." The Third Eucharistic Prayer should read: "Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love, together with Ebenezer our bishop-elect, Andrew our Vicar General, and all the clergy."
As always, there are a number of issues that I need to bring to your attention, for information and for your prayers. Let us be a praying community as we hold one another in the love of God, and in our love.
The Diocese of Lesotho, in their Elective Assembly held on
the same day as was ours, the Revd Mallane Adam Taaso, assistant
priest at St Saviour’s
Enclosed with this Ad Clerum is a letter written to us all, at my request, by Archdeacon Mark Spyker. The GtC program is an exciting and innovative one, helping us both to stir up our passion for the Gospel, and to explore contemporary ways of spreading the good news of Jesus and being church in today’s world, and in our very diverse diocese. Please give this your full support.
The Archbishop has written two very helpful statements on
the recent outbreaks of xenophobic violence, and the Myanmar/Burma situation. The
statement on
Regarding the xenophobic violence, Archbishop Thabo, in a statement dated May 15th, 2008, wrote as follows:
“Much of the appalling violence being inflicted by our
people on foreigners in Alexandra and elsewhere is rooted in deep frustration
arising from our failure to distribute the gains of economic growth in
You may have seen on TV that the Anglican parish in
We have been asked to remind everyone about the Provincial
Conference 2008, to be held at St Barnabas School,
This was attended by Archdeacon Ebenezer Ntlali, representing the diocese and the Vicar-General. His report is enclosed with this Ad Clerum. The Declaration of Intent, issued at the end of the Conference, is available from the Bishop’s office. It can also be viewed on the diocesan website.
A copy of the relevant letter is included with this Ad Clerum. Please give this your support.
News, joys and sorrows
We grieve the sad passing of two of our senior clergy. Canon David Matebese died on 13th May 2008 and his funeral was on Friday 23rd May. We pray for his wife Thandeka, and the family. Fr Aaron Hobongwana died on Saturday 17th May 2008. His funeral was on Saturday 24th May. We pray for his wife, Monica, and the family. We thank God for the gifts, ministry and witness of these wonderful faithful servants of God who are now at rest.
Canon Lucas Sentsho, of the Diocese of Matlosane, died at the end of April.
The Dean of the Province and Bishop of the Highveld, Bishop David Beetge, has been diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Further tests have revealed that this is a stage 2 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. With correct treatment this can be brought into remission. Bishop David began this treatment the week of our Elective Assembly. We uphold him and Carol in prayer in the weeks ahead.
Feziwe Vulindlu, the young woman who has been working in the Diocesan Office from January 2007, has resigned and moved onto another place of work. We are very sad to see her go and thank her for her work amongst us. We wish you well, Fezi!
Please continue to pray for clergy to be found for the following parishes, and for those who are leading the search processes:
Good Shepherd,
Holy Cross, Mdantsane (Archdeacon Wilson Ntlola)
St Barnabas, Sada (Archdeacon Reg Morgan)
St Peter’s, Ezibeleni (Archdeacon Reg Morgan)
St Alban’s,
Yours in the love and service of our Lord
The Very Reverend Andrew Hunter
Dean of Grahamstown and Vicar General
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