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• The Bishop writes ...
• The view from pulpit and pew
• Clergy on the move
• Stop press
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The Bishop writes ... My dear People of God,
Babe in a manger
 Greetings in the name of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, born to us as at this time!
The story of long ago becomes our story. The account Dr Luke, the physician, gives about the birth of Jesus is within an historical context. It is not just a fairy tale but a reality at a point in time in human history. The historical understanding of Jesus’ story is written in the hope that any reader who is estranged from God and his church be brought to a new beginning and a fresh meeting with the Saviour of the world. This is a time of recommitting for those who are disgruntled by cares and frustrations of this life, within or without the community of faith, for a joyful continuation of their journey with God. It is our tale; it is our song, for praising our Saviour all our lives long! (Bornkamm, G: Jesus of Nazareth, 1982).
The Herald of the Angels makes more sense for those who have been privileged to tread where they have gone on their way to worship, in a Bethlehem stable, a babe in a manger. In June 2008 I was overwhelmed by the wonder of being in Bethlehem, a city after which my father, in his wisdom, decided to name me. Though the small town has grown into a city, the pastures of the shepherds and their presence there are visible enough to any tourist. The first angel came with a message to calm all our fears because “a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” has been born (Lk 2:9). Although disaster may strike, we are not without a friend to save us when we humbly believe (cf 2 Cor.4:9). The multitude of the heavenly host which suddenly appears, brings to us the ability to praise the most high God, which enables us to be carriers of peace and reconciliation in the world, rather than carrying red pens finding every wrong in everything around us, eaten up by the bitterness of our past failures and unfulfilled ambitions. The angels herald a time of goodwill among people where hate is no more, but the vision of better things to come is ushered in for a quality of faith in God and the blessing of an increase in all our doings (Lk.2:13-14).
Our response to the invitation is “to go” in line with the mandate Christ himself has given us (Mtt.28:19). The shepherds responded by going to see what has been made known to them by the Lord. They found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. It is with great amazement to notice the difference between being ‘in church’ and ‘in Christ’.
We may be born in the church and grow in her officialdom with long robes and good works, but if we have not found the Babe in the manger of our hearts, it profits us nothing. It is the visitation of justice, love and mercy. It is the kairos of God’s transforming love for each individual and fellow humans. Yet more time is spent by church people back-biting and slandering one another causing unending hurts. We are given a new Command to Love one another. Christmas is that time to love and to embrace; to build and to uplift. Should you have anything against any one, do not hesitate to go (Mtt.18:15-17). At the Bisho meeting of Godly Governance Network (GGN) and Task Team of Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches (ECPCC) on November 11, we rediscovered with thanksgiving to God, that at this point and time in South Africa, we cannot afford to lose our Christian togetherness for a united witness of the Lordship of Christ to those in governing authority and positions of influence and power. Fellowship must abound. Quickly amend your grievances and propagate the Lordship of Christ, our Lord and yours. Sadly, revisionist theology plays down the importance of the Lordship of Christ and the Authority of Scripture as the Holy Writ. Resist this kind of teaching, particularly from those clergy who advocate it. During the sermon take notes and question the preacher. Silence is a wile of the devil to intimidate us and to carry on his programme.
The Propagation of this Gospel is a story yet to be told with passion and urgency. It is the herald of ‘God with us’. It is good news of Incarnation. It is God making his tent with us – among the poor, oppressed, widows, women, children, voiceless, marginalized, abused, in prison and in captivity in our communities. This is the ninth year of our translation to a diocese with three communities who do not know one another. Worse still, it is a community with certain elements of people who refuse to accept one another, with a pile of excuses and making scapegoats of one another. This grieves me. As a Bishop, I enjoy excellent welcome and appreciation from the people of God. It is my duty to display, to enable and to involve the church in acts representing its catholicity and apostolic character; just as it is the duty of every priest we collate to our ministry in every parish the character of the church and her mission to the world (Archbishop Michael Ramsay: The Christian Priest Today, 1999). Yet rejection of one another on racial lines with lots of denials is absurd. This is more vividly displayed amongst the leadership we have in some parishes as we seek to appoint clergy. Some times we often wonder whether we have churchwardens who are ‘officers of the Bishop’ – or wardens of their own self interest and love of power and control with an obscure vision of an incarnate Christ. When shall Jesus live among us in order for
him to live in our communities? When I was on mission in one of our parishes, a lady admitted in sorrow at this evaluation, “Bishop, we do not know one another in this parish. All we know is this church building, with no interaction with one another”. How sad!
Finally, next year is the Fortieth Anniversary of our diocese. The story of Christmas is to be told in celebration, mission and evangelism, teaching and music. The Bishop aims to arrive on a Wednesday afternoon, staying until Sunday in each parish for teaching, mentoring and discipling, God helping us. We pray to the lord for quality followers who are enabled to live for him who ‘loved us and died our death’ - and to make a difference in the work place and community in articulating their faith with confidence and joy (Gal.2:20). Mazoe and I wish you a merry, blessed Christmas lived out every day; and a bright, happy New Year, full of grace, peace and prosperity.
Pic: Bishop Bethlehem and Mazoe enjoying themselves.
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The view from pulpit and pew
- iindaba congratulates our first bishop, Archbishop Emeritus Philip Russell, who celebrated his 90th birthday in Australia last month. The archbishop suffered a stroke shortly before he was due to come to South Africa some time ago, but, as ever, has continued his interest in the diocese, the clergy, and the people. His daughter June Walters and her husband Paul, who live in Grahamstown, travelled to Australia to celebrate with him and other members of his family. We salute this great man as we give thanks to God for his leadership for the then new diocese.
- Port Elizabeth bade farewell recently to Mary Jourdan who moved up to Pretoria to be close to her family. Mary is the widow of Philip Jourdan, a retired priest who died some years ago. iindaba wishes Mary a happy time closer to her loved ones.
- Come rain or sun, wind or calm, a group of brave individuals can be seen swimming every Saturday morning. The ‘leader’ is none other than retired priest, John Dunn, who has been having his Saturday swim for many years, which began when he was rector of St Margaret’s, Summerstrand. He is joined by a group of three ladies and one gent, some of whom join him for breakfast afterwards. The thought of that cold water in winter sends shivers down iindaba’s spine.
- St Peter’s in Kinkelbos celebrated its 100th birthday in July with a weekend of much action, worship, eating and reminiscing. Last month it was the turn of their brothers and sisters in Christ from the Nanaga Me
- Andrew Jantjies joined the body of the retired at the end of last month. However, as Alice his wife knows, clergy continue to be used by God in his church for many years after ‘retirement’. Andrew, a self-supporting priest, is attached to All Saints’ in Kabega Park. However he didn’t begin his adult career as a clergyman, but as a traffic officer (or traffic cop as they are usually called). For those who have good memories, in the old days they were people who rode around on motorbikes, and stood on point duty when there was a power failure.
- Three other clergy are retiring next year – Christopher Holmes (St Hugh’s) at the end of May; Ralph McGuigan (St Cuthbert’s) at the end of July; and Howard Lancaster (All Saints’) at the end of November. Christopher and Leon had just been ordained (14 December) when the new Diocese of Port Elizabeth was born. Howard was ordained at the same time, but remained in the ‘mother’ Diocese of Grahamstown! Leon retires at the end of 2011.
- The October edition of the ACSA magazine, “Southern Anglican”, contains an interesting article - with a photograph - on St Peter’s Theological College in Alice. The photo includes Aelred Stubbs, the principal of the college, and a few other faces which can be recognised – Dennis Jacobs – formerly a priest in this diocese, and uncle to Charles Jacobs, Godfrey Ashby, a lecturer who became bishop of St John’s (now retired), and two of the four clergy who were ordained priest by Bishop Philip Russell in 1970: Wilberforce Nkopo (now deceased), and a young-looking Leon Foster!thodist Church who celebrated their centenary – also a weekend filled with much action, worship, eating and reminiscing. On behalf of all Anglicans, iindaba wishes the Methodists of Nanaga every blessing, congratulations, and prayer, as the two congregations seek God’s will for their future. Both congregations have over-whelmingly voted for a future United Church.
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Clergy on the move
- Michael Julius will take over as Provost of the Cathedral from 1 February 2010.
- David Grobbelaar will move to St Mark and St John as their new rector from on 1 February 2010.
- Vincent Mdidimba is now the Assistant Priest at St Augustine’s (still under the direction of the rector of St John’s, Robert Penrith).
- Zandisile Ndzwane, formerly of the Mthatha Diocese, has been appointed as a curate at St Cyprian, KwaZakhele from 1 February 2010 (under the direction of Archdeacon Zweli Tom).
- Mark Barth and Sandla Koltana will be furthering their studies at CoT in Grahamstown in 2010.
- It is anticipated that Maria Allens and Anna Plaatjies will be ordained priests at the Cathedral on Wednesday, 16 December at 11h00.
- Mario Hendricks has taken over the appointment as Dean of Studies.
- Eddie Daniels has taken over the portfolio of Internship Training.
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Stop press iindaba asks for prayers of its readers for:
- a well loved former priest in this diocese, Brian Jackson. He has mercury poisoning and is very ill. Those wanting more details can contact the rector of St John’s, Robert Penrith or retired priest, Peter Bowen.
- The family of Clive Newman who was murdered at the College of Transfiguration. Clive was deaconed in this diocese and priested in the Diocese of Grahamstown where he was lecturing at CoT. [ Back to top ]
Tag Lines 
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
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