Africa
Diocesan Press Service. March 23, 1973 [73081]
Jeannie Willis
Mirroring the mutual responsibility and interdependence being lived in the Church in the Province of Central Africa are two new bishops -- a Suffragan for Mashonaland and a Diocesan for Botswana.
Bishop Patrick Murindagomo was consecrated early this year in the Cathedral in Salisbury, Rhodesia -- the first African Anglican to be a Bishop in Mashonaland. The bishop will take some of the confirmations for Diocesan Bishop Paul Burrough, who reports that during 1972 he confirmed 5,863 well-prepared candidates, 5,120 of whom were Africans and the balance of 743, Europeans. These figures also reflect the fact that each African priest has pastoral care of seven times as many people as a European.
Bishop Mark Wood of Matabeleland preached at the consecration: turning to Bishop Patrick, he told him that after he'd been consecrated, Archbishop Donald Arden would give him four things :
* A Bible, the foundation of his new life and typifying his responsibility as guardian of the Faith;
* A mitre, to remind him that the Holy Spirit would guide him;
* A ring, symbol of penitence, fidelity, and obedience;
* A pastoral staff, to remind him he is a Shepherd chosen to feed the sheep of God.
Bishop Shannon Mallory was consecrated late last year in Gabarone, capitol of the new nation and new diocese of Botswana -- the first American to be a Bishop in Central Africa. Tiny as Botswana may seem on a map of Africa -- and you won't find it unless you've a recent one -- it's a little larger than France. Land-locked, its neighbors are Rhodesia, the Republic of South Africa, and Southwest Africa. The Kalahara Desert sprawls over most of its land area. Botswana's villages often cluster together in huge complexes of rondavels and thatched huts, totaling some 30,000 population. Official languages are Setswana and English.
Primary needs are education and health services, to keep up with a burgeoning industrialization. "We're a small Church, with under 10,000 members. We have six full time, two retired, and two auxiliary priests. We have a hospital with two qualified nurses, but no resident doctor. We have an inadequate primary school where many of the children must have their classes out under the trees. Both, nevertheless, are producing good results and should expand," assesses Bishop Shannon. "Some parts of Botswana have never been touched by the Christian Gospel. There is plenty of room for pioneers."
(NOTE TO EDITORS: This release was written by Jeannie Willis for Forward Movement Publications for use by the Diocesan Press: Service as an attempt to bring home the relevance of Response, the devotional guide in praying for mission, following the Cycle of Prayer for Anglican Use. Each press release is based on an item listed in Response for that month asking for intercessory prayer.)
(NOTE: For further information about Bishop Mallory, see DPS release #72109, dated August 3, 1972 -- "Canon Mallory Elected Bishop of Botswana," and DPS picture caption #73028, dated January 26, 1973, with photograph enclosed."