Southern Africa bishop attends service for first women deacons ordained in Diocese of Botswana
[Anglican Church of Southern Africa] Bishop of Matlosane Stephen Diseko represented the Anglican Church of Southern Africa at the history-making service to ordain 14 women to the transitional diaconate in the Diocese of Botswana.
Diseko, who is leading the process of welcoming the Diocese of Botswana back as a member of the Province of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, was accompanied at the May 4 service by Lesotho Bishop Vicentia Kgabe, as well as the retired bishop of Namibia, the Rt. Rev. Luke Pato, and his wife Essie Pato, who represented the United Society Partners in the Gospel.
The Church of the Province of Central Africa resolved at its last Provincial Synod to split into three new provinces, comprising dioceses in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa resolved at its last Provincial Synod to negotiate the admission of Botswana.
The Diocese of Newcastle, Botswana’s link diocese in the Church of England, was well represented, and Newcastle Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley delivered the sermon at the service.
