 Bishop Beetge R.I.P.The Right Revd David Beetge, Bishop of the Highveld, has died at the age of 69 after a long battle with lymphoma for which he had been undergoing chemotherapy.As "Dean of the Province", Bishop David was the most senior bishop next to the Archbishop of Cape Town, and also served the worldwide Anglican Communion with great distinction as co chairman of the International Anglican/Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). Archbishop Thabo describes him as "an outstanding and exemplary leader of our church, a man of deep spirituality and prayer, and we give God thanks for his life and witness". In England he is particularly remembered as an advocate of Christian unity, and a champion of the poor and those living with HIV/AIDS. "The Anglican church worldwide has lost an exceptional man warm, intelligent, utterly dedicated, imaginative and many of us have lost a deeply valued friend," said the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, David Beetge was born in Witbank, South Africa in October 1948. He worked in commerce until his late 20s, completing his Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators examination and becoming company secretary of ICI. He received his theological education at St Paul's Theological College in Grahamstown and subsequently obtained both his Bachelors and Honours Degrees in Theology through the University of South Africa, obtaining his Master's Degree in Theology from the University of Natal.
Other Stories in this edition:
Meeting of Bishops A regular meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in Gauteng reviewed the ongoing mission, ministry and witness of the Church and some of the challenges of the context in which we live. "Friendly Critics" Some points on the role of the Church from Archbishop Thabo's latest encyclical letter Bishop Beetge R.I.P. The Right Revd David Beetge, Bishop of the Highveld, has died at the age of 69 after a long battle with lymphoma for which he had been undergoing chemotherapy. New Dean at St. Paul's Durban Archdeacon Ndabazinhle Sibisi, the current Rector of St. Paul's Durban has been appointed to succeed the Very Reverend Fred Pitout as the new Dean of the Cathedral and senior priest of the Diocese Ordained in 1979 he has served in the parishes of Newcastle, Wentworth, Inanda, Umhlali and fi nally St Paul's, Durban which has many points of similarity with that of the Cathedral. New ecumenical agency KwaZulu Natal has more ecumenical/inter church agencies than any of South Africa's other eight provinces. Biblical Garden at St John's School Inspired by a visit to a churchyard in the Karoo, St John's matric student Sarah Horner has single-handedly created a similar 'Biblical Garden' in a patch of bare earth alongside the school chapel where she is this year's senior Sacristan. The Diocesan Companion Link Moses Thabethe Writes:As Link Officer, I was invited by the bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, George Cassidy, for a month long visit to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham in the UK. Underberg tragedy Near the conclusion of the Sunday Eucharist in Himeville a clearly distraught parishioner hopped over the altar rail into the sanctuary and approached the priest (who is also a highlt trained paramedic) telling him of the collapse of a tent at the Underberg Farmers' show. New area of pastoral ministry for Dean Fred Pitout Dean Fred Pitout, who retires from the Cathedral at the end of the year, has decided after much prayer and consultation to move into a different area of ministry by taking up a post at Michaelhouse as Secretary to the Old Boys' Association and Community Partnerships Manager
This will include, as a non-stipendiary priest, involvement in the school's programmes of social action for boys and staff such as AIDS Hospice in Lidgetton, Sunfi eld Home in Howick and Asithithuke School near Nottingham Road, as well as seeking and developing new partnerships and programmes in underprivileged and under-resourced communities.
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