USPG welcomes new diocese in Tanzania

Last week we reported on how the establishment of the Diocese of Tarime; this week it’s the Diocese of Rorya.

Both dioceses are part of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, having been taken out of the Diocese of Mara to better administrate a church undergoing rapid growth.

The new Bishop of Rorya, the Rt Revd John Adiema, said his aim was to reach out to all people in Rorya ‘with the gospel message and a development message’.

Bishop John has appointed administrative staff and established four archdeaconries, in Luoimbo, Girango, Nyanja and Suba.

Suba will be a focus of particular interest, with intense outreach activity and church-building being planned. Bishop John explained: ‘Suba archdeaconry is a missionary archdeaconry because it is an area where we have to reach out and evangelise, plant new churches and form new parishes and deaneries.’

The bishop will also focus energy on meeting a need for new church leaders by training ministers at the Kowak Christian Training Centre (KCTC), in the diocese.

Violence

The region is not without its troubles. According to the Tanzania website Daily News, Rorya recently saw clan and tribal clashes, with people killed and cattle stolen. A ‘police special zone’ was created to contain the violence, and the government appealed to faith leaders to preach peace.

The Revd Archford Musodza, USPG’s Regional Desk Officer for Africa, commented: ‘The bifurcation of the Anglican Diocese of Mara into three dioceses is a welcome development in the history of the Anglican Church in Tanzania in particular, and the Anglican Communion in general.

‘This means more people will be able to access episcopal ministry without having to wait for months, if not years, for a visit from a minister. It also means unreached places within the boundaries of these three dioceses will receive intentional evangelisation and purposeful development.

‘Our prayers are with the people of these three dioceses, especially the two new bishops: John Adiema, in Rorya, and Dr Mwita Akiri, in Tarime.’

• USPG supports a range of Projects run by the Anglican Church of Tanzania. A full list is available here.

Posted on 21.07.2010