The Bishop of Singapore, the Right Reverend Dr Titus Chung Kiam Boon, was installed as the 7th Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia (‘the Province’) at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Tuesday evening (January 23).
Bishop Titus, 59, who was elected for the role last September, succeeds the Most Reverend Datuk Melter Jiki Tais, the Bishop of Sabah, who has served as Archbishop of the Province since 2020.
As the Archbishop of the Province, Bishop Titus will provide spiritual guidance and direction to the Province in the administration and application of doctrine. He will also represent the Province to the larger global body of the Anglican Church.
As the Archbishop of the Province, Bishop Titus will provide spiritual guidance and direction to the Province in the administration and application of of doctrine.
Established in 1996, the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia was formed as the culmination of more than a century’s worth of missionary work, growth and indigenisation of the Anglican Church in the region.
It comprises four dioceses – namely, the Diocese of Singapore, the Diocese of West Malaysia, the Diocese of Kuching and the Diocese of Sabah – and also extends to Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. It is one of the 42 autonomous Provinces of the global Anglican Communion.
Each diocese has its own Bishop who is eligible to be elected as the Archbishop of the Province. Bishop Titus is the third Bishop of Singapore to be Archbishop of the Province, after Bishop Dr Moses Tay (1996-2000) and Bishop Dr John Chew (2006-2012).
Anglican Church in Singapore “a firm supporter of religious harmony”: President Tharman
The installation service was attended by some 600 people, including former president Dr Tony Tan, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, National Development Minister Desmond Lee, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, Minister of State Desmond Tan, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and Workers’ Party Chairperson Sylvia Lim.
Among the attendees of the installation service were Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Minister for Home Affairs (in blue) and former Singapore President Dr Tony Tan (extreme right).
Global leaders from the Anglican Communion, as well as leaders of other faiths and denominations, were also present.
The service was followed by a thanksgiving dinner at Fairmont Singapore, which was graced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, his wife, Ms Jane Ittogi, as well as Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan.
Speaking to some 900 local and international attendees, Mr Tharman congratulated Bishop Titus on his new appointment and noted that his installation “comes at a time of growing fragility around the world” where, in some countries, political and religious schisms present threats to human well-being and security.
Mr Tharman noted that the Anglican Church in Singapore has been “a firm supporter of religious harmony” and made “significant contributions” in education, healthcare and community service.
“All the more in these times that we uphold universal and humanitarian values, including respect for each other as individuals, an interest in each other’s cultures and creeds, and faith in our common humanity,” he said, adding that this is particularly important in Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.
“Our religious leaders play a key role in this regard, as they both guide their flock in understanding their own religious beliefs and responsibilities, and foster positive and shared civic norms and values.”
Mr Tharman noted that throughout its rich history, the Anglican Church in Singapore has contributed to the cohesiveness and development of society by being “a firm supporter of religious harmony” and making “significant contributions” in education, healthcare and community service.
“These endeavours reflect the Diocese’s commitment to building a caring and inclusive society,” he said.
Bishop Melter hands the Primatial Cross to Archbishop Titus as a sign of the ministry they share with Christ.
Mr Tharman then went on to acknowledge and welcome the presence of Bishop Melter (Bishop of Sabah), Bishop Danald Jute (Bishop of Kuching) and Bishop Steven Abbarow (Bishop of West Malaysia), before commending their “strong episcopal leadership”.
“It is my hope that under the episcopal leadership of Archbishop Titus, supported by all the Bishops of West Malaysia, Kuching and Sabah, the Provincial Anglican Church will continue to promote strong civic values, be an active partner in community service and promote the spiritual well-being of societies in the region,” he said.
A call to serve
In a speech at the thanksgiving dinner, Bishop Titus thanked everyone present for their support and said that it is both an honour and challenge to build on the work of his predecessors in this volatile and complex world.
“Whatever the challenges, I’m confident that we will face them with resolution and unity as one body, one family under God,” he said.
The newly installed Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of South East Asia.
Addressing those under the Province, he added that we have an urgency to carry out the Great Commission to all people by loving God and loving our neighbours.
“These twin teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ should never be decoupled, for it is very dangerous to do so. Spreading the Gospel to the end of the world without love can breed intolerance and extremism. Spreading love without the Gospel is charity without purpose,” he said.
“With the world changing ever so fast and with so much uncertainty around us, we need to discern God’s voice in the wilderness calling out to others and showing the way to truth in our Lord Jesus Christ, that He came to seek and save the lost.
“And to do that, we must follow His example to serve and not to be served.”
Bishop Titus (middle) with Bishop of West Malaysia Steven Abbarow (left) and Bishop of Kuching Danald Jute (right).
According to his biography, Bishop Titus, who became the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore in October 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, was ordained into the Anglican priesthood in 1997 after graduating from Trinity Theological College.
After his ordination, he served within the Diocese of Singapore as a priest, and then vicar, of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit until 2005 before becoming the Priest-in-charge of the Mandarin congregation at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Bishop Titus is also an adjunct lecturer at Trinity Theological College. He has a Master of Theology from the college, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh.
