New primate for Tanzania

Bishop Valentino L. Mokiwa of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam has been elected primate of Tanzania, according to Episcopal News Service.

Mokiwa will succeed Archbishop Donald Leo Mtetemela, who has served as primate since 1998 and will retire on May 25.

The election took place in Dodoma on February 28 during a special session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Tanzania. Synod members came from Tanzania's 21 Anglican dioceses, with each diocese being asked to send five delegates -- a diocesan bishop, two clergy and two lay persons. Two dioceses -- Zanzibar and South West Tanganyika -- that are currently without a bishop sent only clergy and lay delegates.

Archbishop-elect Mokiwa will be installed in Dodoma on May 25.

The ENS story is here.

Posted by Helen Thompson on February 28, 2008 12:27 PM | |
Comments (2)

Archbishop Mtetemela is one of the five primates cited as participating in the Communion Partners meeting (and perhaps plan). I wonder how this would affect things. He would still be recognizable as "orthodox" for those who use that label, but would not have the panache of being a Primate. On the other hand, if he is no longer a Primate, his participation specifically might be less a challenge to the authority of the Presiding Bishop, and more free to cooperate without appearing to bind his entire Province in his work.

Marshall Scott

Posted by mscottsail [TypeKey Profile Page] | February 28, 2008 1:26 PM

Marshall,

Radner says its not a problem,
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/28/new-primate-elected-for-tanzania

But then he goes on to say things are further along than I think has been reported anywhere (except Petre's outlandishly inaccurate report (r.e. secret plans for parallel US church)):

“The fact that he is retiring is not a surprise,” Prof. Radner said. “My understanding is that the process of following through on formalizing the partners is in the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

Posted by John B. Chilton [TypeKey Profile Page] | February 28, 2008 8:53 PM

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