United Methodists elect Ugandan pastor as new bishop
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A UMNS photo by Andra Stevens Bishop Daniel Wandabula is the newest United Methodist bishop.
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Bishop
Daniel Wandabula is the newest United Methodist bishop. Bishop
Wandabula, 41, replaces the late Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa, who died
last July, as resident bishop for East Africa, which includes Burundi,
Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Wandabula was elected on the
second ballot May 27 during a meeting of the denomination’s Africa
Central Conference on the Africa University campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A
UMNS photo by Andra Stevens. Photo #06-589. Accompanies UMNS story
#315. 5/31/06 |
May 31, 2006
By Andra Stevens*
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church’s newest bishop
is the Rev. Daniel Wandabula of Uganda.
Wandabula, 41, is a pastor and former dean of
superintendents and project coordinator for the Uganda/Sudan District of
the denomination’s
East Africa Annual (regional) Conference.
He replaces the late Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa, who died last July, as resident
bishop for East Africa, which includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda.
Wandabula was elected May 27 during a meeting
of the denomination’s
Africa Central Conference on the Africa University campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Delegates were quick and decisive, giving Wandabula 81 percent of the vote
on the second ballot.
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A UMNS photo by Andra Stevens Bishop
Eben Nhiwatiwa (center) explains the voting process as Bishop Gaspar
Domingos (left) and Bishop Jose Quipungo (right) listen.
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Bishop
Eben Nhiwatiwa (center), of the Zimbabwe Area, explains the episcopacy
voting process as Bishop Gaspar Domingos (left) of the West Angola Area
and Bishop Jose Quipungo (right) of the East Angola Area listen. Bishop
Daniel Wandabula was elected on the second ballot and replaces the late
Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa, who died last July. Wandabula becomes the
resident bishop for East Africa, which includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda,
Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The May 27 election was during a meeting of
the denomination’s Africa Central Conference on the Africa University
campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A UMNS photo by Andra Stevens. Photo
#06-590. Accompanies UMNS story #315. 5/31/06 |
“This was a great and historic event for the church, and you could feel
it,” said Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, leader of the denomination’s Zimbabwe
Area and host bishop for the central conference meeting. “The delegates
have shown maturity, and this bishop has been given to us by God.”
“The Holy Spirit was with the delegates. ? An election that was
expected to take a day or a day and a half was over in a matter of hours,” said
Caroline Njuki, an executive with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
The election got off to a tumultuous start, with
some delegates questioning the candidates’ slate and the voting process.
But, in the end, the delegates opted for an open slate and voting began.
The other two
contenders were the
Rev. Joel Ncahoruri and the Rev. Justin Nzoyisaba, both from Burundi.
In making their choice, the delegates spoke of the need for development, healing,
reconciliation and unity within the church and in their various, strife-plagued
countries.
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A UMNS photo by Andra Stevens Bishop Daniel Wandabula is consecrated May 28 at Ehnes Memorial Church near Mutare, Zimbabwe.
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Bishop
Daniel Wandabula is consecrated May 28 at Ehnes Memorial Church at the
Old Mutare United Methodist Church Mission Center in Zimbabwe. Bishop
Wandabula, 41, replaces the late Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa, who died
last July, as resident bishop for East Africa, which includes Burundi,
Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Wandabula was elected on the
second ballot May 27, during a meeting of the denomination’s Africa
Central Conference on the Africa University campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A
UMNS photo by Andra Stevens. Photo #06-591. Accompanies UMNS story
#315. 5/31/06 |
“We saw in him the kind of character that showed that he could be a
leader to our wounded countries and conference,” explained Godelive Manirakiza,
a lay delegate from Burundi. “It is good to give someone from outside
Burundi the opportunity to lead. It will strengthen unity and promote healing.”
“I am so excited in my heart because we wanted someone who is neutral,
and we now have that in this leader,” said Alice Wasilwa, a lay delegate
from Kenya.
“He is a man from the new generation, and he is strong,” said
Bishop Jose Quipungo, the bishop for East Angola and president of the Africa
Central Conference.
Quipungo and his fellow bishops pledged to assist and support their new colleague,
noting that he faces a tremendous responsibility in the East Africa Annual
Conference.
Seriously divisive issues exist within and among
the different groups, ethnic and otherwise, that make up the annual conference.
Years of war — in Rwanda, south Sudan and northern Uganda in particular — have resulted
in large numbers of orphans and in dilapidated or destroyed infrastructure.
Church members in the area point to a need for more trained pastors and for
skilled professionals to lead development projects to help communities prosper.
“East Africa is an area that is facing a lot of challenges?” Nhiwatiwa
said. “It needs a healing spirit, and we know that our brothers and sisters
there will continue to show maturity and grow with their bishop.”
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A UMNS photo by Andra Stevens Bishop Daniel Wandabula stands with his wife, Betty, following the consecration service.
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Bishop
Daniel Wandabula stands with his wife Betty following his consecration
service May 28 at Ehnes Memorial Church, at the Old Mutare United
Methodist Church Mission Center in Zimbabwe. Wandabula replaces the late
Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa, who died last July, as resident bishop for
East Africa, which includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and
Uganda. Wandabula was elected on the second ballot May 27 during a
meeting of the denomination’s Africa Central Conference on the Africa
University campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A UMNS photo by Andra Stevens.
Photo #06-592. Accompanies UMNS story #315. 5/31/06 |
“He will need to be a man of courage and firm convictions, loving his
people but also helping them to transcend their differences,” said retired
Bishop Emilio De Carvalho of West Angola Conference.
Wandabula was consecrated May 28 at the Ehnes Memorial Church at the Old Mutare
UMC Mission Center. He and his wife, Betty, married in January 2005.
He was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1994 and is studying
for a Beeson International Leaders Doctor of Ministry degree with Asbury Theological
Seminary. He earned both his master of divinity degree (1997) and master of
theological studies degree (1998) from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
in Evanston, Ill., and holds a diploma in practical theology from the Methodist
Training Institute at Kenya Methodist University.
Before going to the United States for graduate studies, Wandabula served as
administrative secretary to the Methodist Church in Uganda from 1991 to 1994
and as project manager for the Methodist Youth Association in Jinja, Uganda,
from 1986 to 1988.
*Stevens is director of information and public affairs at Africa University.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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