No ordinary ordination for Nelson’s new bishop
Since Nelson’s Anglican Diocese was founded in 1858, there have been only a handful of processions through the city to commemorate the installation of a new bishop. It is unlikely that any would have matched the colour and celebration that accompanied the official ordination and installation of the 11th Bishop of Nelson, Stephen Maina Mwangi.
Five months after formally accepting the position, New Zealand’s first ordained Kenyan bishop took his place among his new congregation during a Saturday morning service at Christ Church Cathedral.
While his predecessor Richard Ellena’s consecration was undertaken while wheelchair-bound in 2007, Saturday’s service was notable for the African flavour brought to the occasion by family and friends of Maina, from the bright clothing to joyful song that echoed throughout the cathedral.
Following the 21⁄2-hour service, Maina was officially welcomed to the city by Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese before a procession of bishops, clergy, Kenyan visitors and invited guests walked from the Church Steps to the bottom of Trafalgar St, led by members of the Nelson City Brass band.
Joined by 40 fellow Kenyans as well as wife Watiri and their daughters Rinna and Tanielle, the procession made good on Maina’s promise to ‘‘change the colour of the city as we march the streets’’.
A third-generation Anglican minister, Maina’s journey to Nelson has taken him from pastor and church planter with Nairobi Chapel to General Secretary of Church Army Africa, before leaving Kenya in 2009 to become national director of the New Zealand Church Missionary Society in Christchurch.
His new role oversees an area that covers the northern part of the South Island, from a line between Greymouth and Kaikoura.
Speaking to Stuff ahead of his ordination, he said he had a vision for a united church and hoped that, given his experience as the first Kenyan bishop in a predominantly Pa¯keha¯ diocese, he would be able to help both the church and wider community learn to welcome newcomers to the region.