Choice of new bishop for northern Mozambique diocese falls to the South African House of Bishops

The Elective Assembly of the Diocese of Niassa has failed to elect a new bishop, leaving the appointment of its next bishop to the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The Primate of the ACSA, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba reports that the assembly meeting at St Bartholomew’s Cathedral in Messumba failed to select a bishop last week following 21 ballots cast over three days. In November 2015 the Rt. Rev. Mark van Koevering, bishop since 2003 was translated to the Diocese of West Virginia where he presently serves as Assistant Bishop.  The Diocese Anglicana do Niassa is one of two ACSA dioceses in Mozambique and comprises the northern half of the country. It is divided into six archdeaconries: Cobue, Lunho, Lichinga, Milange, Rio Chire and Lurio, and has 32 parishes with 426 congregations, approximately 65,500 communicants and 55 priests. Under provincial Canon 4(12)(i)(a) if an electoral synod is unable to agree upon a new bishop, the choice passes to the bishops of the province.

Photo: Niassa elective assembly — courtesy of the ACSA