Clarkebury district receives new bishop
CLAD in the church’s red and white colours, Methodist Church of Southern Africa members cheered, sang, and chanted as they welcomed a new bishop on Sunday.
Formerly the Motherwell circuit superintendent in Port Elizabeth, the Reverend Mongameli President Noqayi was inaugurated as the new bishop of the Clarkebury district at Dr Rev TSN Gqubule Society at Slovo Park in Mthatha.
Two months ago, the Mthathabased Clarkebury district and the entire church in Southern Africa were in mourning over the murder of Noqayi’s predecessor Bishop Thembinkosi Fandaleki, who was shot dead in Mthatha in August.
Presiding Bishop Ziphozihle Siwa, officiating at the induction, said he had confidence in Noqayi’s leadership. “We are still very weak following the murder of Fandaleki,” said Siwa, adding they were happy the bishop’s alleged killers were behind bars.
“We are praying they have arrested the right culprits. We don’t want the wrong people jailed.”
Siwa lashed out at the state capture, corruption, maladministration, political killings and intolerance in the country, saying the church must not remain silent on such social ills.
Noqayi, who grew up in King William’s Town and was bishop of Komani district for three terms, said he was at first reluctant to come to Mthatha.
“I received telephone calls which got worse after the conference [where he was elected]. It was only on Tuesday that I felt ready to serve God in this district. I was afraid to come here, but God spoke to me.”
He said he received encouragement from the former Mthatha John Wesley Society Superintendent Bishop of Grahamstown, Andile Mbete.
“I am here to add value to those who are preaching and to say to all those in mourning, the Fandaleki family, that I am here to walk alongside you,” he said. He will assume his duties early next year with his term running until 2022.
The colourful sermon filled with preaching and melodious music was attended by many bishops from Southern Africa and the national leadership of the church, as well as church members from Motherwell.
Also attending was O R Tambo mayor Nomakhosazana Meth, former Treasury boss Lungisa Fuzile, the Fandaleki and Noqayi families, as well as Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders’ chairman Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana. —