Umbuliso/ The Greeting
Newsletter of the Diocese of Grahamstown
Volume 31 No 2, Easter 2008
20 May Elective Assembly for new Bishop
Andrew Hunter installed as Dean
The Vicar-General
writes… Christ is risen!
Conflict
Resolution Workshop for AWF
Private
institutions do care about orphans
Computer
literacy the key to employment
HIV/AIDS
education for primary school
From Northern
Ireland with love
Aids Ministries:
Anglican Diocese and Raphael Centre tie the knot
Siyafundisa in the Diocese of Grahamstown
From the Department of
Spirituality: What is a Celtic Retreat?
Highlights of
Thabo Makgoba’s ministry as Bishop of Grahamstown
(part 2 of a two-part feature)
Umbuliso
uyakubulisa (short items of news and greetings)
Printer gift for
Diocesan Bernard Mizeki Guild
Godspeed, Archbishop Thabo!
A tapestry made by the Keiskamma embroidery project, depicting the architecture
and creatures of the Grahamstown diocese, was among gifts presented to Thabo
Makgoba at his last function in Grahamstown before leaving to take up his new
role as Archbishop of Cape Town. He and his wife Lungi showed it to the guests
at the farewell tea.
On 23 February, local Anglicans
joined with
The Makgoba family moved on 27 February, in
preparation for the installation of the archbishop on 30 March in
20 May Elective Assembly for new Bishop
The Diocese of Grahamstown has received a
mandate to elect a new Bishop, and the election will take place in the
Cathedral on 20 May (and succeeding days if necessary). Those eligible to take
part in the election are priests of the diocese holding the Bishop’s licence, and lay representatives elected by all
the parishes of the diocese of Grahamstown at their Vestry meetings.
Andrew Hunter
installed as Dean
A blessing from the Archbishop: Andrew Hunter sits in his stall as
Dean of Grahamstown, surrounded by canons and choir.
Andrew Hunter was installed as
Dean of Grahamstown, Rector of the Cathedral of St Michael and St George and
Archdeacon of Grahamstown by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba on
Saturday 10 February. At the service local Anglicans were joined by Chapter
members and others from around the diocese, and greetings were brought by the
Mayor and representatives of Rhodes University, the College of the
Transfiguration, ecumenical friends and even a representative of the Jewish
community, Alan Kirkaldy, who is related by marriage
to the Hunter family. Relatives of Claire and Andrew gathered from
In the same service
Claire Nye Hunter, the Dean’s wife, a priest and theologian in her own right,
was given a General Licence. She is to join the Revd Melany Adonis in mentoring
the Vocational Deacon candidates of the diocese, and will assist with other
aspects of Training for Ministries.
General licence: Claire Nye Hunter signs the Oath at her
licensing.
The Vicar-General writes… Christ is risen!
As is the custom, the Dean, Andrew Hunter, has
been appointed Vicar-General to look after the diocese while it is without a
bishop.
Dear People of God
“Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” I wish you all a very
happy and joyful Easter. The Easter shout of joy is ringing in our ears. The
intensity and hard work of Lent is behind us. We have returned from the
wilderness, sharpened, tested, strengthened, for the challenges of ministry and
witness that wait for us. We were amongst the disciples who welcomed our Lord
into
The resurrection of Christ is at the heart
of the Christian faith. From earliest days, Christians gathered at Easter to
proclaim the victory of Christ, by his cross and resurrection, over sin and
evil and death. “By his death he has destroyed death. By his rising again he
has restored to us eternal life.” We are an Easter people. We live in the hope
of the resurrection. We live, knowing that Jesus Christ has defeated the powers
of evil. We live, knowing that “the power at work within us is the same power
that raised Christ from the dead.”
Because we are an Easter people, we know
that God is the one who brings good out of evil, light out of darkness, joy out
of sadness. We weep with families of the diocese and elsewhere who have been
bereaved in recent days, or for whom this Eastertide is a painful anniversary.
May you know the comfort of the One who is our Comforter.
We think especially of those families bereaved in the bus accident in
As an Easter people, we are all too aware of
hurt caused by the video made by students at the University of the
Because we are an Easter people, we go
prayerfully and with faith and trust into the next six weeks, as we prepare for
the Elective Assembly. Elective assemblies can be times of great excitement,
much eloquence, fervent prayer. They are times when we
see the church at its best. But they can also be times of rivalry, division,
bitter words, anger, competing agendas, power plays –
the church at its worst. May our preparations, and the assembly itself, be a
sign of the Risen Christ: this is how the people of God conduct themselves:
peacefully, graciously, with courtesy, with love, as we try to find God’s will
together.
Conflict Resolution Workshop for AWF
By Pinky Ngcebetsha
It was an inspirational and heartwarming occasion when AWF members from all
branches in the diocese attended a workshop on Conflict Processes, Management
and Resolution, at
The newly-installed AWF Chaplain, Godfrey
Walton, convened the workshop. He emphasised the emotions, perceptions and
behaviours involved in a conflict. He pointed out that each individual had to
make choices in conflict situations, either to avoid, give in, be passive or
aggressive, use “bully” tactics, compromise, problem-solve
or be on the winning side.
In his conclusion Walton stated that
conflict is part of our living and working together as we journey with Christ,
because we are all interdependent, and we need to listen to our inner selves.
Latest news from Tshwaranang
Zolile Ntlale, Director of the Northern Region’s
development and resource centre, Tshwaranang, sent Umbuliso news of some of the
projects.
Private institutions do care about orphans
Umjelo, a small home
caring for seven abandoned and abused children in Sada, has received welcome
assistance from
The situation of the children was
highlighted in the local press after a two-week-old child was found abandoned
near the Queenstown branch of Spargs Supermarket some
months ago. Umjelo is not funded, and the plight at
the safety home caught the eye of the Hewu Hospital
Management. After Tswaranang had briefed them on this
project, they promised to do something.
The Matron and her staff delivered
food-stuffs and clothing worth R3000 and further undertook to provide groceries
worth R500 per month for ten months. This donation will ease the financial
burden of the safety home. Tshwaranang offers sincere thanks to the Matron and
staff.
The home does not only serve the children
that are resident, but offers after-school care, assists needy Sada children
with meals at least twice a week from donations made by individuals and Church
organisations, and helps with social needs like grant applications, as well as
health and spiritual matters. The Anglican Aids Health Trust and the Bishop’s
discretionary fund are involved in providing uniforms for the children and
stipends for six caregivers. Tshwaranang assists with vegetables from the
Centre’s gardens.
Chilling at Tshwaranang: Sada children cared for by the Umjelo Home were taken out on a picnic. Tshwaranang Centre
was the last visiting point. The Centre wishes to express thanks to the
Anglican Aids Health Trust for funding the picnic. The outing has had an impact
on the mental state of the children, who felt loved and cared for.
Computer literacy: key to
employment
Mandisa Mlotywa, a former trainee of Tshwaranang, subscribes to the
view that computer literacy is the key to job opportunities. She had been
looking for employment for the past three years without success because she was
not computer literate. She was finally
placed in employment after she completed computer training at Tshwaranang. When
asked how she felt, she had this to say “I have been looking for a job for the
past three years without success. I have been invited to a number of interviews
but would be turned down because of lack of computer skills. I am indebted to
Tshwaranang Centre for giving me this opportunity. I urge the youth to grab
this opportunity with both hands”.
Empowered: Mandisa Mlotywa is now employed by
Wendy’s Building Constructors, Engcobo, as an
administrative officer.
HIV/AIDS education for primary school
Because of the high rate of
ignorance around issues of HIV/AIDS the Centre has targeted schools with the
view of educating learners. On 21 November 2007, Zoleka
Stemela of Tshwaranang visited
From Northern Ireland
A visitor from Northern Ireland
made 12 February a special day for the volunteers and clients at the Sinikithemba (“We Give Hope”) HIV/ AIDS nutrition project
at St Augustine’s Grahamstown.
Sheila Jennings lives in the
The Diocesan AIDS Management Committee
under Archdeacon Moses Madywabe has recently given Sinikithemba 40 chairs and five steel tables so that
clients can sit in comfort to eat their meals.
Giving clothes, shoes and hope:
St Luke’s Nxaruni MU
news
By Queen Luxa
Mrs Selina
Malgas, Honorary Member of the MU, celebrated 100
years of age on 14 January 2008. She joined the MU in 1937, and received a
merit award for over 50 years’ continuous membership in 2008. She never missed
the Lent and Advent offerings, nor her ticket. A Lent
Evensong was held in her house on 20 February 2008.
Mrs Lillian Mzaza, an
active MU member, is a diabetic with a prosthesis following a leg amputation.
She is very positive about herself. Alice Gedze of
the Mothers’ Union of St Luke’s Nxaruni sent this photograph of some of the 75
members of the Mothers’
AIDS Ministries
Anglican Diocese and Raphael Centre tie the knot
By Georgina Barrett, a Raphael Centre volunteer
After many years of close collaboration, the
Raphael Centre was formally affiliated to the Anglican Diocese of Grahamstown
and the Raphael Centre on 19 February.
Formal
affiliation will allow the Raphael Centre and the Diocese to expand their
fundraising capacity to assist the people of the
Nikithemba provides an indispensable service to these
communities, helping hundreds of people receive HIV/AIDS education and access
to testing services, with support from volunteer councillors and medical staff
working on the project. Local support groups have been established in the
communities to provide
succour to those in the community who most need it.
Funding Crisis hits Nikithemba
Nikithemba has recently hit a funding crisis,
resulting in the suspension of services to the rural communities since January
2008.
A
huge funding drive is under way to find new money for the project. The Raphael
Centre is desperate to continue delivery of these services to other rural
communities in the
Matter of fact
In the Lent edition, front page article on the
Reading Camps, it should have stated that the Scottish Borders
African Aids Group also donated £500 towards making the camps possible in
Grahamstown Diocese. Many thanks to the generous Scots, who are not stingy at
all, but only “canny”, which means they like to put their money where it will
be well used.
This dolly comes from
Denise
Herbert, a former sub-dean of Grahamstown Cathedral who was instrumental in
starting up the Raphael Centre, is now ministering in
One of
Denise's parishioners, Pat Hunter, even though she is over 90, organized a
group to knit baby clothes and dolls for the orphans and vulnerable children.
Retreats for clergy &
spouses, 2008
Weekday Retreat: Tuesday 9 September 12 noon to Friday 12 September 13h00, led by Dean
Fed Pitout, Dean of Pietermaritzburg
Weekend Retreat: A Celtic Retreat – Friday 19
September 16h00 to Sun 21 Sept 13h00, led by Brother Andrew OHC.
Both Retreats to be held at the Monastery
Guesthouse, Hillandale, Grahamstown.
From the Department of Spirituality
What
is a Celtic Retreat?
By Brother Andrew OHC
The Celtic peoples
are typified in the Scottish, Irish and Welsh people of today but the name
really applied to anybody who wasn’t of the classical Greek civilization of
long ago. It is synonymous with “pagan” or “country people.” Like most country
people they were close to the earth which gave them food and nourishment. If
they lived near the sea, they depended on the changes of wind and weather to
keep them safe.
Celtic spirituality draws us back to our
roots – roots born in the desert, the seas, and the forests and fields.
It is Incarnational
– Jesus is no remote Spirit but the living One who walks with us and whose care
surrounds us. The Saints live among us, present to us and praying with us. Our
God is Trinity, binding us into one, empowering and protecting us and our
children.
The Celtic retreat will bring us into the
mystery of God who is immanent, present with us in our times and struggles, our
joys and praise.
HIV/AIDS Ministries
Siyafundisa in the Diocese of Grahamstown
By Songeziwe Qoza
The Anglican Church of Southern
Africa, through the Anglican AIDS and Healthcare Trust has begun a programme
that deals with the prevention of HIV and AIDS within the church. Our diocese
was blessed to be one of the five out of 19 Dioceses chosen to pilot this
programme in 2006. Within this diocese, five parishes were chosen for the
Piloting Stage with the blessing of Bishop Thabo. These parishes are St Peter’s
Ezibeleni, St Matthew’s Keiskammahoek,
Siyafundisa’s
Peer Education programme is aimed at youth between 10 - 24 years of age. First,
there a process of selecting parishes to be involved, by the diocesan HIV/AIDS
co-ordinator. Supervisors (chosen by their parishes) are then trained to run
the programme within that parish. At this point, 12 youth aged from 14- 25 yrs per
parish are then trained to educate their peers on issues such as Protection,
and Influences as well as Gender. These lessons then form the basis of HIV/
AIDS and sexuality lessons targeted at youth in the Church.
These learners are educators! Young people aged 14-25 years learn
how to teach their peers how to avoid HIV and AIDS, at a training session in Hogsback.
To find out more:
contact the Fieldworker working for the
Anglican Aids and Healthcare Trust in this Diocese:
Ms. Songeziwe Qoza.
Tel/Fax: 040 654 1428
Cell:
082 6000 800
Email:
serurubele1@yahoo.com
Obituary
Garlic Hlathi Sonti
By Chris Kokoali
The Revd Canon Garlic Hlathi Sonti died in Zastron on 27
January 2008 at the age of 71, and was buried in
His
interest in ministry was the healing ministry which he performed diligently. He
served in a number of parishes in
Father Sonti also had a skill in
organising the building of schools, churches and chapelries wherever he served.
He
came to his home diocese in 1996/7 and served at St Michael’s Herschel. In 1999
he suffered a stroke from which he could not fully recover, and he took early
retirement on the grounds of health. His death was due to prostrate cancer and
failure of the kidneys.
Our
prayers and sympathy go to his widow Selina and the
family, including his brother Sisa, a priest at St Michael Herschel.
Learning about Unit Committees: Workshop for Alice
By Phillis
Mabuya
Mrs Mbekela of St
Mark’s and
Doing “new things” under God
Some highlights of Thabo Makgoba’s ministry in Grahamstown Diocese
Part 2 of a two-part
feature
Strengthening the Toronto
In September 2004, the new
Bishop of Grahamstown and his wife Lungi visited the Diocese of Toronto, where
they were present at the installation of the new Bishop of Toronto, Colin
Johnson. This visit strengthened the link between the two dioceses forged by
their predecessors, and paved the way for the formal signing of a twinning
agreement, which took place at the Grahamstown Diocesan Synod of August 2005.
On this occasion Bishop Colin and his wife Ellen were guests of the Diocese of
Grahamstown.
Linked: Colin Johnson, Bishop of Toronto, and Bishop
Thabo at the signing of the twinning agreement at the 2005 Synod.
Stewardship and Giving
Bishop Thabo’s episcopate was characterised by a determination
that Grahamstown diocese should be free of debt, and should be able to budget
for growth and ministry. As a start, the Bishop challenged parishes and
organisations to produce “Love Gifts” to wipe out the diocesan debt. The
Stewardship Committee under Archdeacon Ebenezer Ntlali
declared 2006-2016 the “Decade of Stewardship and Giving”, and initiated regular diocesan and regional
Family Days, when congregations come together to give sacrificially and
joyfully to Christ’s ministry. A booklet about Stewardship was published in
four languages, to explain the reasons for giving, and a strategy for achieving
financial growth in the diocese. The proceeds of the Lent Appeal of 2005 went
towards setting up a Ministry Development Fund to assist in providing ministry
in parishes which are not yet able to bear the cost of paying their own priest.
Giving joyfully, the people process into
Ecumenism
As a Head of Church
in the
Anglican responsibilities
In addition to his many
responsibilities in the diocese, Bishop Thabo was ACSA Liaison Bishop for
Theological Education, and sat on a number of Boards and Councils. His duties
extended still further, as he was invited to be part of the Design Committee
planning for the 2008 Lambeth Conference. As its meetings have been taking
place at least twice a year for some years, in
Birth of a new Diocese
Bishop Thabo’s
special concern for ministry among the scattered congregations of the northern
part of the diocese led to discussions taking place to discern the best way of
offering ministry in this area.
A Commission met, which included members
from neighbouring Free State Diocese, and presented a report which recommended
the inauguration of a new diocese in this area. This proposal was approved by a
special sitting of the Grahamstown Diocesan Synod in February 2007.
The Commission hoped that the new diocese
would include some parishes from
Focus on Spirituality
A focus on spirituality has
characterised Bishop Thabo’s ministry, demonstrated
by the formation of a Department of Spirituality, which organises retreats and contributes
a regular column to Umbuliso. The old Rectory at Bholothwa has been
converted into a small retreat house, in addition to the facilities offered by
the Benedictine Brothers at Mariya uMama weThembu Monastery and
Guesthouse, just outside Grahamstown.
Nondumiso Retreat Centre
A quiet place: the Retreat Centre in
Bholothwa opened its doors towards the end of 2005. Since January, Canon Lisa Nzukuma has been the Centre’s Warden. Nondumiso
charges are still being kept to a minimum.
For bookings, and information about costs for
individuals or groups as well as the facilities that are now available,
contact:
Canon Nzukuma: 083
769 8880
Umbuliso uyakubulisa
The Archbishop ties the knot
Umbuliso greets Godukile Mbolekwa and his bride Nolumanyano, who were married by Archbishop Thabo on 4
January 2008 , in St Philip’s
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee, which
will deal with the process of receiving nominations for the post of Bishop of
Grahamstown, will be chaired by Prof Geoff Antrobus. The Dean of the
Archdeaconries under new management
Before his departure, Archbishop
Thabo announced the appointment of three Acting Archdeacons. While Dean Andrew
Hunter is Archdeacon of Grahamstown,
Congratulations
Isaias Chachine,
a lecturer at the College of the Transfiguration, and his wife Ilda are rejoicing in the birth of their second daughter
Michelle, a sister for Suzanne.
Vacancy
In addition to those mentioned
in the previous issue of Umbuliso, the parish of St Barnabas Sada is
looking for a Rector. Please contact the Archdeacon of Queenstown, Reg Morgan.
Clergy moves
A belated welcome to Moses Sibamba, a self-supporting deacon ordained in the Diocese
of Mthatha, who
moved back to his home district of Sterkspruit
last year. He is assisting at St Michael’s. Sadly, his wife Thobeka
died in December 2007. We pray for him and the three children.
Velile Sono is now ministering at St Mary’s
Sterkspruit, having moved from St Michael’s in
September. Apologies for not announcing these moves earlier.
For Prayer
Please hold up in prayer Mackie
Summers, who has cancer. He is the husband of Sharon, one of the priests at St
Alban’s
A number of clergy
families have recently suffered the loss of adult children, and we hold them in
our prayers: Zikatile and Gertrude Msingata who mourn their daughter Notuthuzelo,
Elliot and Nomthandazo Masoka
on the death of their 22-year-old son Siyabonga, and
Archibald and Nolist Fudumele who also lost a daughter, Unathi.
Godfrey Walton’s
mother died most unexpectedly in February, and Barry Wittstock’s brother Rod died in March. We pray for them and
their families.
Printer gift for Diocesan Bernard Mizeki Guild
Jabulani Madodana! The Diocesan Council of the Bernard
Mizeki Guild was delighted to be given a printer by
the Revd Themba Mdedelwa
(3rd from right, standing). The purpose of the gift is to enable the Guild to
be run in a professional way.
From the diocesan diary
April
8 Tue Diocesan Council
15 Tue Clergy & Dependants’ Benevolent Fund
May
12 Mon Diocesan Finance Committee
13 Tue Chapter
19 Mon Advisory Committee meets
20 Tue Elective Assembly for a new Bishop of Grahamstown (and ensuing days if necessary)
June
21 Sat Vocational Guidance Conference, King William’s Town
July
14—5 August Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops, Kent, UK
Umbuliso is your diocesan newspaper!
Contributions welcome
Deadline for next issue: 20 May 2008
Please send news to:
P O Box 181, Grahamstown 6140
Tel: 046 622 7803
Fax: 086 685 3968
Please note change of fax number.
E-mail: umbuliso@diocesegrahamstown.co.za
Umbuliso is published by the Diocese of Grahamstown, edited by Maggy Clarke