First African Bishop nominated to lead world body
Ivan Abrahams, whose current term as Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) was due to end in December 2012, has led the six countries of the MCSA (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana and Mozambique) since 2003.
According to a 25 March announcement from the Council offices in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA, he is the unanimous choice of a search committee to fill the post of general secretary of the organisation. As the new General Secretary, Abrahams will succeed Rev Dr George Freeman, who will be retiring. The elections are scheduled to take place at the World Methodist Council meeting from 1-3 August in Durban, South Africa, where Abraham’s appointment to the council position will be confirmed.
“We enthusiastically welcome the nomination of Bishop Abrahams,” said Thomas Kemper, Chief Executive of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. “Bishop Abrahams is among the most theologically sound, administratively capable and charismatically gifted leaders in the worldwide Wesleyan and Methodist communion.”
Bishop Abrahams is currently a member of the World Council of Churches Executive, the chairperson of the Social and International Affairs Committee of the WMC, as well as the chair of the South African Church Leaders Forum. He will be the first African and non-American to serve in this office. It is an honour for the MCSA as well as the whole African Continent.
For more information contact:
Ms B Moyo- Bango
Communications Director (MCSA)
bongi@methchurch.org.za
011 615 0729
According to a 25 March announcement from the Council offices in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA, he is the unanimous choice of a search committee to fill the post of general secretary of the organisation. As the new General Secretary, Abrahams will succeed Rev Dr George Freeman, who will be retiring. The elections are scheduled to take place at the World Methodist Council meeting from 1-3 August in Durban, South Africa, where Abraham’s appointment to the council position will be confirmed.
“We enthusiastically welcome the nomination of Bishop Abrahams,” said Thomas Kemper, Chief Executive of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. “Bishop Abrahams is among the most theologically sound, administratively capable and charismatically gifted leaders in the worldwide Wesleyan and Methodist communion.”
Bishop Abrahams is currently a member of the World Council of Churches Executive, the chairperson of the Social and International Affairs Committee of the WMC, as well as the chair of the South African Church Leaders Forum. He will be the first African and non-American to serve in this office. It is an honour for the MCSA as well as the whole African Continent.
For more information contact:
Ms B Moyo- Bango
Communications Director (MCSA)
bongi@methchurch.org.za
011 615 0729