Mourning Bishop Mhogolo

_{Bishop Mdimi is pictured in the front row far left beside Bishop Michael at Lambeth in 2008.} 

 

It is with great sadness that Bishop Michael Bird joins with people around the Anglican Communion today in marking the loss of Bishop Mdimi Mhogolo, one of the great leaders of our Church in this generation. Bishop Mhogolo served the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in the Anglican Church of Tanzania since his consecration in 1989 with distinction and dedication.

In reflecting upon his life and minstry, Bishop Michael offered these words:

"Bishop Mdimi Mhogolo was a personal friend and a real inspiration to me and it was a privilege to have been introduced to him at the Lambeth Conference in first few months of my episcopacy and to have engaged with him in our small bible study group each day. He was the first Bishop in Tanzania to ordain women and he was a strong advocate for the rights of women and children in that country and beyond. He and I led a theological dialogue between our two dioceses, around the the issues of human sexuality, that eventually was part of a process of dialogue across the Anglican Communion. It is a dialogue that continues to this day. He will be remembered as a man and a Bishop who acted with great courage and profound insight. His was a powerful and prophetic voice that will be deeply missed by us all."

In 2012 Bishop Midimi shared his thoughts in this YouTube video about the unique dialogue which has happened among bishops from Canada, the U.S., and various African countries.

Canon Dr Dickson Chilongani – the Provincial Secretary for the Anglican Church of Tanzania– asks "all in the Anglican Communion to remember his wife Irene and his children Nyemo, Lisa and Wendo and their families in your prayers." 

_{With files from the Anglican Communion News Service.}