New Archbishop of Cape Town

THABO Makgoba, the former Archbishop of Grahamstown, was installed yesterday as Archbishop of Cape Town and head of the 160-year-old Anglican Church of South Africa.
After his anointing by fellow bishops, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Makgoba pledged to work for peace, justice and reconciliation in a changing world.
President Thabo Mbeki said the government would work closely with him to find ways to address poverty and other social ills. (source)

From the Mercury:

Makgoba touched mostly on the spiritual aspects that challenged Christians, saying that churches had to be active in communities to remain relevant.

"From local community issues to questions about the global environment and our own carbon footprints, Christ calls us to join his Spirit-led mission of peace and reconciliation, of empowering and transforming grace," he said.
Makgoba was greeted with ululation as he walked through an adjoining marquee and entered the church.

The services, in which several people read from passages in the Bible, was conducted in four languages - English, Xhosa, Portuguese and Afrikaans. Makgoba's ascension to the highest seat in the southern African province of the Anglican Church was greeted with sounds of kudu horns from a marimba band.

From the Archbishop's sermon:

This is what I pledge myself to pursue today. I believe myself called to be Sekgo sa Metse: a vessel for peace with justice and reconciliation, and for cultivating a “yeast” for healing the bruised, crushed and broken in God’s world.

Yet I do not think it is a call only for me. In describing the calling of a bishop, the Prayer Book says “You will not do this on your own.” Bishops are to work with other bishops – and also with priests, deacons, and laity, as, and I quote again, we “lead God’s people in their mission to the world”. God’s mission is the mission of all the baptized. It is the life of worship, witness and service to which we commit ourselves in confirmation. The whole Church of God, regardless of denominational boundaries, and, dare I add, those of other faiths and none, are summoned to this work of God’s healing action and reconciling love.

This is why the service today is called a service of Installation and Rededication. I am inviting all of you to join me in rededicating ourselves to be Sekgo sa Metse, Spirit-filled channels of peace with justice, and yeast for forgiveness and reconciliation, in whatever ways God calls us in this new chapter of our lives. (source)

From the consecratory prayer for a bishop (An Anglican Prayer Book 1989, Church of the Province of Southern Africa):

Almighty Father, fill him with the grace and power which you gave to your apostles, that he may lead those committed to his charge in proclaiming the gospel of salvation. Through him increase you Church, renew its ministry, and unite its members in a holy fellowship of truth and love. Enable him as a true shepherd to feed and govern your flock; make him wise as a teacher, and steadfast as a guardian of its faith and sacraments. Guide and direct him in presiding at the worship of your people. Give him humility, that he may use his authority to heal, not to hurt; to build up, not to destroy. Defend him from all evil, that as a ruler over your household and an ambassador for Christ he may stand before you blameless and finally, with all your servants, enter into your eternal joy.

May he worthily follow in the footsteps of Tutu and Ndungane.
--the BB