Africa has elected its first female Anglican bishop. On 18 July 2012 an Elective Assembly meeting in Mbabane elected the Rev. Ellinah Wamukoya as fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Swaziland.
Bishop-elect Wamukoya (61) will be the first female Anglican bishop in Africa and the continent’s second female bishop of a mainline church – in 2008 the Rt. Rev. Joaquina Nhanala was elected the Methodist bishop of Mozambique.
Educated at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, the new bishop has exercised a bi-vocational ministry. She serves as Anglican chaplain at the University of Swaziland and at St Michael’s High School in Manzini. Bishop-elect Wamukoya is also the Town Clerk and CEO of the City Council of the town of Manzini and is a skilled and seasoned financial administrator. Read more
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Is a woman bishop necessary?
ReplyDeleteThere are three possible reasons why this particular diocese may have chosen a woman bishop.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the diocese may have a strong need for a bishop who is an administrator. The Rev. Ellinah Wamukoya may have simply been the most qualified person for the job. Her skills and experience as a civil servant would certainly commend her as an administrator. She also appears to enjoy considerable respect in the diocese.
Second, women traditional rulers and matriarchs are not unknown in traditional African society.
Third, while the Kingdom of Swaziland is an independent country, the Diocese of Swaziland is a diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA). The ACSA is one of the most liberal of the Anglican provinces in Africa. Its former Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a long time champion of the normalization of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion.
Diocesan bishops in the ACSA are chosen by an Elective Assembly or the Bishops of the Province.
Canon C4.4 states:
Method of election
4.(a) In a diocese of this Province where there are ten or more licensed clergy, a Bishop shall be elected by an Elective Assembly.
(b) In a diocese of this Province where there are fewer than ten licensed clergy, a Bishop shall be elected by the Bishops of this Province, who shall follow the provisions of this Canon as far as possible.
Canon C4.7 states:
Membership of Elective Assembly
7. Membership of the Elective Assembly shall be:
(a) (i) the Metropolitan or a deputy, who shall be President: should the Metropolitan or the deputy be unable to preside at the Assembly, the senior cleric present by virtue of section 9(a)(i) shall preside;
(ii) Members elected by Provincial Synod to the Advisory Committee in terms of section 9(a)(i) or (ii) with the right to speak but not to vote;
(iii) All Bishops Suffragan commissioned in the diocese with a vacancy, and all Assistant Bishops licensed therein;
(iv) All clergy licensed in the diocese with a vacancy, other than retired clergy who are not licensed to a pastoral charge;
(v) Lay representatives, who are parishioners of a Pastoral Charge (as contemplated in Canon 27.2) in the diocese with a vacancy and who are elected in such manner and according to such Rules as are provided for the election of Lay Representatives to Diocesan Synod of such diocese, and
(vi) Lay persons elected by the Synod of the Diocese to serve on the Advisory Committee, provided that, if any such person be also a Lay Representative in terms of sub-section (v), then that person shall have only one vote.
Swaziland is a very poor country. It has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world and the lowest life expectancy. This may also help to explain why a woman bishop was chosen.