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Vol 19 No 2 March 2008 ONLINE The official gazette of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth: Anglican Church of Southern Africa

Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage PAGE 2  •  Change in Emmaus Walk team  •  Letters to the ed  •  Beautiful CD by Sharon Nell  •  Belles of the Ball  •  Be a ‘letter of love’ to Egypt or Sudan Change in Emmaus Walk team The rector of Alexandria Parish, Terry Beadon, has recently taken over the role as Community Spiritual Director for the Emmaus Walk Community in Port Elizabeth. He replaces Ronnie Allwright. Terry is being assisted by Mark Derry, assistant at the Cathedral, and Godfrey Russell, of the Methodist Church. Letters to the ed  Monkey into a bishop How could Ruthell Johnson, the rector of St Paul’s and an archdeacon, make such a statement? We don’t have a problem with his lengthy reference quoting from the Oxford Dictionary, as well as the Longman’s or his deep knowledge of spirituality and the duties of an archdeacon. Be that as it may, it does not exonerate Ruthell Johnson from using words that are very detestable, unpalatable and have a racial connotation. In the past, words like monkey or baboons were used when referring to blacks. Mr Africa Daniels Mrs Nobulali Daniels (A Steward of St Peter’s Church, Zwide) Mr George Sonkwala Ruthell Johnson responds to the letter To those who could not follow the logic of my argument against giving the title Archdeacon to Lay persons and therefore read some non-existent racial connotation into the article, I unconditionally apologise.  However, I am surprised that a man like Mr Sonkwala, a past high school principal and who has held high office in the Education Department, is one of them. Mr Sonkwala’s argument that the word ‘monkey’ (not baboon) is detestable “because it was used to refer to blacks” takes me by surprise. I’ve always used monkey as a rather affectionate term when applied to persons, meaning someone who is innocently mischievous. I often call my own grandchildren monkeys and it bears no reference to their race or colour.  In any case, my argument is that despite the absence of any restriction in the canons, a monkey could not be made into a bishop. It’s a purposely ridiculous argument to highlight the silliness of giving clerical titles to non-clerical people. So perhaps there is more than a little mischief in Mr Sonkwala’s article. I note from the last communication from our Bishop regarding the new archdeacons that all reference to lay archdeacons has been dropped. If my argument has contributed to that in any way, then it is all worth this little storm in a teacup.  Prejudice against people because of their race or nationality remains a serious problem in our country, but to play the race card in an attempt to silence opposition when intelligent argument fails will benefit neither our church nor society. Bowker/Mitford descendants sought For those of you that don’t know me, I am a descendant of Miles Bowker and Anna Maria Mitford.  ‘The Bowkers of Tharfield’ was published 50 years ago, and much has changed in that time. I am putting together a book which I hope will carry on from ‘The Bowkers of Tharfield’ showing more descendants. I am talking to a publishing house to have it published but need to have it up to a good standard with all correct information, there will be photos included.  I am looking for any information that can be put into the book, descendants’ names, dates of births and deaths, where born and buried and whom they married, photos of homes, graves, places they visited, letters, anything that may interest any other Bowker descendants. Especially information of those born after 1950.  I hope to finish the book by the end of 2008 but that will depend on how much information I receive and will let you know how you are able to obtain a copy if you are interested. Margaret Manning : margaret@manninghouse.co.uk Prayer for Africa I refer to your comment in the December edition of iindaba about the use of the first person in the Prayer for Africa. As I am one of the lay ministers referred to, I would like to explain my reason for preferring the first person in the Prayer for Africa, and should be pleased if you would publish this in the next edition of iindaba.Using the first person pronoun (our and us) is, contrary to the comment made, INCLUSIVE, and far from being selfish, as it acknowledges us as part of Africa, and I feel this very much when I pray these words. However, when we use the third person pronoun (her), we are EXCLUDING ourselves, as we are praying for someone other than ourselves.  The use of the third person pronoun is appropriate when prayer is being prayed outside Africa, that is on this continent. Jack Bicknell - Lay minister, All Saints’, Kabega The editor wishes to point out that when she penned the sentence about the use of the personal pronoun she was not sitting in All Saints’, Kabega, but in another parish church where the lay minister had used the personal pronoun. Her immediate reaction was one of great sadness. Sadness because this tremendous ‘struggle’ prayer, that had seen us through the many years of the civil war for freedom for all, and prayed daily by some of us, weekly in many churches and sporadically in others, was being changed to what she and others feel is selfishly pertaining to ‘us’, South Africa.  It was penned by the great struggle veteran, Trevor Huddleston, a monk who knew Africa, having been the Bishop of Tanzania, and knew that in African culture Africa is “Mother Africa”, and therefore he used the term “her”. At the time of his writing it, some of the struggle leaders asked if his original word “rulers” could be changed to “leaders”. Trevor humbly agreed that the change was right. At no time during the many years of struggle did the people feel that the use of “her” was inappropriate … we knew we were praying for Mother Africa, our beloved land. Trevor Huddleston rose to be Archbishop of the Indian Ocean. He’s the Revd Canon Harold Norman Pobjoy MA The rector of St Margaret’s, Summerstrand, Leon Foster, phoned the iindaba as soon as he saw this photo in the December issue. He was almost sure it was Harold Pobjoy, from photos he remembered seeing at St Saviour’s, East London, when he was much younger!  iindaba finally managed to find the e-mail address of the parish and send them a copy. Their rector, Mark Spyker replied, "We think this was the Revd Canon Harold Norman Pobjoy MA (previously Vicar of Linthwaite, Yorkshire). He was the rector of St Saviour's from 26 November 1934 (date of institution) to 14 January 1945 (last Sunday service). The records show that during his 11 years the parish continued to grow and develop enormously. He returned to England, where he was instituted as the rector of Emley, Yorkshire, 29 August 1945." Jules Carr then sent the following after doing some more searching, "I can confirm that the photo was taken before he sailed out to East London, as the stamp on the photograph shows that it was taken in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, which is the city just a few miles from his former parish of Linthwaite. He has also written a book about Mirfield, and another village in that area of Yorkshire. I have subsequently discovered that the hat badge says DGS (for Diocesan Girl’s School) not CDS as I originally thought." Beautiful CD by Sharon Nell “And I will Trust in You Alone” Revd Sharon Nell Music Active Sharon, as many people know, has a beautiful voice, and,by popular demand she has recorded a CD of 12 spiritual songs.  The title, and main song, “And I will Trust in You Alone” is from Psalm 23. She used to sing this to her son Jacques during his illness and it always calmed him. It was her mainstay and helped her through the very difficult times.  Songs include: Amazing Grace, The Rose (a beautiful  rendition of this), Majesty and O Holy Night.  CD’s available from Sharon at R100 each: 041 367 2440 Belles of the Ball Pic: Seen with comedian Mark Lottering at the House of Resurrection Haven Ball were the Matron, Agnes Bower, and two of the secretaries, Reney Grobbelaar and Joy Lancaster. Be a ‘letter of love’ to Egypt or Sudan  St John’s Church, Walmer, will be going on two outreaches, one to Egypt and one to Sudan, from 12 September 2008 for 10 to 12 days.  If you feel called to be a ‘letter of love’ to the Christians in either of these countries, please contact Lyn Axon at 041 583 4522, Kirsten Roux at 041 365 0000 or Allan Anderson at 041 581 2162. The ideal gift Don’t know what to give the person who has everything? Why not bless them with a gift that will bless others! St John’s, Walmer, now has gift vouchers in denominations of R30, R50, R100 and R150. The proceeds from the sale of these will help our  brothers and sisters in North Africa. Vouchers can be purchased from the parish office Monday to Friday mornings or contact Lynne Axon on 041 583 45322. Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage