From the Rector's study ...
On behalf of the CoTT community we heartily welcome the Revd Dr Simon J Tibbs to the College. Fr Simon arrived on Friday 5 August, a delay caused by the late issuance of a temporary work permit and visa. He is a substitute lecturer for Dr Jonathan May who is on sabbatical leave until June 2012.
Simon has a PhD in English Literature from Newcastle University and theology from Cambridge. Having completed his training at Westcott House, Cambridge he has just completed a three-year curacy at the famous Old St Paul’s Scottish Episcopal Church, in Edinburgh CBD.
Simon will be taking all Jonathan’s classes in IAT and CF. Simon will serve as co-tutor with Heloise Dixie of one Formation Group, Fr Bruce Jenneker having taken over Jonathan’s Formation Group. He will reside at Jonathan May’s house at 15 Smith Street.
One of many side-benefits of Simon’s sojourn at CoTT is that he also plays the piano – a shot in the arm for our worship! As I said when I formally introduced Simon on Saturday, it is a kind of welcome home from home for him as his parentage has strong links with the church in South Africa.
COLLEGE WEEKEND: I wish to thank all those who contributed to a lovely College Open Weekend to mark the Feast of the Transfiguration. I believe that the spirit of the Transfiguration, the warm welcome and hearty participation at all the events left an indelible and positive impression on all our guests. I believe that we were all gracious hosts.
We are, indeed, very fortunate to have Bishop Ebenezer so well disposed towards the College to the point that he spent a lot of time with us on Saturday. We value his commitment to support the efforts of the College towards renewal and development at all for a possible.
Sadly, the Revd Canon Prof Wandile Kuse who would have addressed us on his time at St Paul’s College in 1960 did not arrive on time.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu enjoyed himself and he marveled at the exceptional welcome he received from all of us at CoTT. He was genuinely delighted to have been asked to be with us on this occasion.
For the rest of us we have the vision and we have the plans that should keep us all focused on an exciting future for the College. You are also aware that I outlined a programme of fundraising. The College Appeal will occupy a great deal of our time and energies during the coming year. I ask that we continue to pray for the College.
CONGRATULATIONS: It is a matter of great pride to announce that the College of the Transfiguration has been awarded an ISSR Library Award following a competitive bid submitted by the College. It was announced that CoTT will join a select group of some 150 institutions worldwide to receive a full set of the Library. The set consists of 224 volumes spanning all areas of the interface between religion, science and spirituality.
Congratulating the College for a successful bid, Mr Pranab Das, the Executive Editor and Project Manager of the International Society for Science and Religion Library Project based at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge expresses the hope that the collection will add value to the study of religion at the College “for teachers, learners and researchers as well as interested readers.”
He concludes by saying “it is truly a pleasure to have the books go out to such an interesting and productive center of learning.” Bravo, I say!
COLLEGE COUNCIL: The College Council meets on 12 September for a full-day session. It will begin with a workshop on Governance which will focus on King 3, the new Companies Act and how they might affect the College. The AGM of the College will then follow.
We expect that the College Council will finalise the consultation phase of the new Vision and Mission Statement of the College, and adopt the submission of the applications for registration of the College and accreditation of its qualifications. It is also hoped that the Council will approve the College Appeal to be rolled out over the next six months around the country.
COMINGS AND GOINGS: I am pleased to report that I have been invited to and participated in several events around the country:
- SACC Public Policy and Advocacy Workshop, Cape Town 22-23 June 2011;
- 24-28 June London Southwark Cathedral;
- Black Methodist Consultation, National Conference, East London, 8 July 2011;
- Rhodes University: Colloquium on Frantz Fanon, and a Roundtable on Race and Higher Education, July 2011; an excerpt from my paper first delivered at Rhodes on Black Consciousness, Black Theology and Student Activism will be among those published in a special edition of the “Mail & Guardian” end of August;
- 27 July – Nelson Mandela Bay Consultation of Christian Churches, “Listening Afresh to the Voice of God, and Acting together”, St Stephen’s Church, New Brighton.
Forthcoming engagements include:
- 15 August – South African Institute of Internal Auditors on “Leadership and Diversity”;
- 17 August – Wits University and the South African Human Rights Commission “30 Years of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights”;
- 28-30 September 2011 Provincial Standing Committee, Benoni;
- 1-5 October 2011 International Conference of ICDE, Bali, Indonesia;
- 5 October – 4 November 2011 Visiting Theologian, Murdoch University, Perth Australia – to deliver a series of 4 lectures on “Religion and Human Rights”.
ORDINATIONS: The Bishop of Mthatha, the Rt Revd Dr Sthembele Mzamane has advised us that he intends to make the following ordinands Deacons at a service on 27 August at St Augustine’s Church, KwaPayne, Mthatha:
- Luyanda MANGQISHI
- Thembinkosi MAZOMBA
- Mfanafuthi NDAKISA
Please remember them in your prayers at this time.
VISITORS: Fr Roy Snyman ssf, the retired Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral, Port Elizabeth, previously of St Cyprian’s Cathedral Kimberley, and Rector of St Dunstan’s Church Benoni (before it became a Cathedral) led a much-appreciated half-day workshop on Liturgy.
The Bishop of Table Bay in the Cape Town Diocese visited the College on 27-29 July. Bishop Garth Counsell is an alumnus of the College, having been a student at St Paul’s College. He was consulting with the ordinands from the Diocese of Cape Town. His message to the College community was well received that at the heart of our formation is a call to holiness.
The College is also expecting a visit from Bishop Dino Gabriel of Zululand, 25-28 August, and Bishop David Bannerman of Highveld Diocese in October. This is an important opportunity for the College to foster sound and positive relationships with our bishops. Please make them feel welcome.
Jean Daniel FILS: I am very grateful to those of you who have invited Jean Daniel home during the forthcoming short break. Hospitality is a spiritual task. I thank you for opening up your homes and families to one who is among us as a special guest. He has much to learn about South Africa and about our church. In return we too have much to learn from him. Please continue to reach out to Jean Daniel.
FOR OUR PRAYERS: Please remember those who are bereaved:
- Jean Daniel FILS (in Port-au-Prince, Haiti)
- Ms Nontozanele BOLOSHE
- Mrs Vuyiswa JELA
- Mzwabantu MAGADLA
- Zanele BITSHANA
- Fr Isaias CHACHINE
Remember those who have loved ones who are ill:
- Sefularo MOGOPODI (his wife Vivienne)
- Brent and Relize Frieslaar (Brent’s mother).
[ Posted 8 August 2011]
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