Southern Africa primate Thabo Makgoba enthroned in Cape Town
Episcopal News Service. March 30, 2008 [033008-01]
Matthew Davies
The Most Rev. Thabo Makgoba was enthroned as primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) on March 30 in a four-hour service at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu represented the Archbishop of Canterbury and Iowa Bishop Alan Scarfe represented Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori during the liturgy, which was also attended by the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, Anglican Communion secretary general, and the primates of the Congo, Tanzania and the Indian Ocean.
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki formally greeted Makgoba, paying tribute "to past Anglican leaders, and the church as whole, for their role in defeating apartheid," according to SABC News.
Multiple languages representing the constituencies of the multi-national province were use in prayers and hymns throughout the service, said the Rev. Canon James M. Rosenthal, director of communications for the Anglican Communion, who attended the service. "Portuguese was heard alongside English, Xhosa. Sotho, Tswana and Afrikaans.
Expressions of loyalty to the new primate and metropolitan were offered by the Very Rev. Rowan Smith, dean of the cathedral, Highveld Bishop David Beetge, "and other clergy, office holders, laity, and a warm embrace from two young children," said Rosenthal.
Also attending the celebration were members of the Lambeth Conference 2008 Design Group, of which the new Archbishop is a member.
After the anointment by fellow bishops, including Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, Makgoba pledged to work for peace, justice and reconciliation in a changing world, SABC News reported.
Formerly bishop of the Diocese of Grahamstown, Makgoba was elected September 25, 2007 to succeed Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane who had served as ACSA's primate since 1996 and retired December 31, 2007.
Makgoba was "collated" as Archbishop of Cape Town on January 1. At 48, he is the youngest bishop ever to be elected to the office of Archbishop and Metropolitan in the ACSA.
Makgoba, who served as bishop of the Grahamstown diocese since February 2004, follows in the footsteps of his two immediate predecessors, Ndungane and Tutu.
Makgoba is married to Lungi and they have one son and one daughter.
The Rev. Dr. Ian Douglas, Angus Dun Professor of Mission and World Christianity at Episcopal Divinity School (EDS), attended the enthronement. According to a recent EDS News article, Douglas believes Makgoba's leadership will speak to today's Anglican Communion and the wider world, both of which, he says, greatly need "a vision and a promise of healing, where differences are not denied but appreciated as we live together with greater wholeness and greater integrity." Makgoba's particular gift, Douglas says, "is as a pastor for all people."
Makgoba told EDS News that a bishop is the servant of the church. "The bishop listens to where God's people are in terms of the issues and brings the needs and concerns of God's people before God in prayer," he said. "My role really is to hear what God is saying to all God's people."
The ACSA is the oldest Anglican Province in Africa. According to the Anglican Communion Office, British Anglicans met for worship in Cape Town after 1806, and appointed their first bishop in 1847. The 24 dioceses of the Province extend beyond the Republic of South Africa and include the islands of St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha, Mozambique (Lebombo and Niassa), the Republic of Namibia, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Kingdom of Swaziland and Angola.