Sitembele Mzamane Explained

Type:Bishop
Honorific-Prefix:The Right Reverend
Sitembele Mzamane
Bishop of Mthatha
Church:Anglican
See:Anglican Diocese of Mthatha previous Diocese of St John's
Term:2000–2017
Predecessor:Jacob Zambuhle Bhekuyise Dlamini
Successor:Nkosinathi Ndwandwe
Ordination:1975
Ordained By:James Leo Schuster
Consecration:August 2000
Consecrated By:Njongonkulu Ndungane
Birth Date:30 January 1952
Genres:-->
Subjects:-->
Spouse:Hazel Thobeka Gobingca
Spouses:-->
Partners:-->
Children:Sibongiseni * Nangamso * Batwa * Notabizolo * Sisonke
Previous Post:Dean of St John's

Sitembele Tobela Mzamane (born 30 January 1952)[1] is a South African Anglican bishop. He is a former Bishop of Mthatha,[2] and although the first bishop to bear that title, he is the 10th incumbent, since the bishopric was previously known as St John's.[3]

Early life

Sitembele was born in Ngxaza, Tsolo, Transkei in 1952. His mother was Cynthia Sylvia Nozipho Mzamane (née Dlwati) and his father Joab Cornelius Mhlangenqaba Mzamane who was an agriculturalist. Sitembele was married to Hazel Tobeka Mzamane(late) (née Gobingca).[4] His grand father Shadrach Mzamane was also an Anglican lay preacher in the Ngcele area.[5]

Joining the clergy

After receiving a Diploma in Theology from St. Bede's College in Mthatha, Sitembele was ordained to the diaconate in December 1975 and the Priesthood in December 1977.

Church ministry

While Priest in Charge of St. Barnabas Manzana, he completed a Bachelor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa. In 1988 he was appointed rector of St. Peter's, Butterworth, Eastern Cape and archdeacon and served in that position for two years before being appointed dean of St John's Cathedral, Mthatha.

While serving as dean, he completed an honours BA from the University of the Free State (graduating cum laude), an MA from the University of the Free State, and a PhD from the University of Pretoria.

In 2000, Sitembele was elected bishop of the Diocese of St. John's.

During his episcopacy the number of parishes grew so greatly that Mzamane drafted plans to split the area with a new episcopal see centred at Ngcobo.[6] The new Diocese of Mbhashe was established on 16 December 2010[7] out of part of the Diocese of Mthatha.[8]

Views

A former Dean of the diocese's cathedral[9] Mzamane subscribes to the orthodox Anglican stance on homosexuality, and is opposed to the blessing of same-sex relationships.[10]

Honours

In 2013 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, jure dignitatis from Huron University College.[11]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=526 Contact details
  2. http://www.realfact.net/Umtata.article00000181.html Facts about area
  3. Web site: News of renaming . 5 April 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110904020732/http://www.anglican.co.za/Archives/2006-07-09.pdf . 4 September 2011 . dead .
  4. Book: Bishop Sitembele Tobela Mzamane, THROUGH ALL TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: If God be with you then who can be against you?. Blessed Hope Publishing (October 17, 2020). 6137905276.
  5. Web site: Godfrey Callaway, Missionary in Kaffraria, 1892-1942: His Life and Writings.. 1946. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1946.
  6. Web site: Visit to South Africa . 5 April 2008 . 7 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080807160653/http://www.aberdeen.anglican.org/visit%20to%20south%20africa.htm . dead .
  7. News: Immanuel B . Ngubo . Consecration of new Mbhashe Bishop blessed with rain . Umbuliso . Diocese of Grahamstown . 34 . 1 . Lent . 2011 . 2013-04-10.
  8. Anglican Archbishop to Inaugurate New Diocese – and Commend Madiba's Birthday as a 'Day of Thanksgiving' . 22 July 2010 . Anglican Church of Southern Africa . 2013-04-10.
  9. http://www.stjohnscathedral.org.za/history.php 1990-2000
  10. Web site: SOUTH AFRICA: No same-sex blessings for Mthatha Diocese . Beavan . Ed . Virtueonline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism . 30 August 2007 . 2016-01-15 .
  11. Web site: News Archive.