The Secretary-General, Bishop Anthony Poggo has visited the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, as a guest to meetings of their Synod of Bishops and their Provincial Synod. The meetings took place between 23-27 September, hosted by the Diocese of the Highveld.

Topics discussed by the Synod of Bishops included theological education, pastoral ministry, worship and ministry, governance, episcopal leadership, the Anglican Communion, ecumenical and interfaith relations and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Addressing the bishops, Bishop Anthony urged Anglicans in the Province to consider forming a local arm of the Compass Rose Society, a voluntary organisation that raises funds to supplement the provincial assessments that finance the work of the Anglican Consultative Council.

The Synod of Bishops also heard a report on the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) from Bishop Patrick Djuulume of Namibia, and welcomed the Venerable Kofi deGraft-Johnson, General Secretary of CAPA.

Bishop Vicentia Kgabe and Bishop Dalcy Dlamini of Eswatini also updated the Synod on meetings of Africa's six women Bishops which have begun, the first of which took place in Kenya recently.

The full communique from the Synod of Bishops can be read here.

Themed “Flourishing like a Garden: Listening, Reconciling, and Celebrating God’s new creation” the ACSA Provincial Synod followed the Synod of Bishops.

Bishop Anthony Poggo gave a homily at the Morning Eucharist on Friday 26th September. The celebrant was the Revd Seipati Ngcobo of the Diocese of Natal. Later that day, Bishop Anthony addressed the Synod and gave an update on the Anglican Communion Office.

He urged Anglicans in the Province to consider forming a local arm of the Compass Rose Society, a voluntary organisation which raises funds to supplement the Provincial assessments which finance the work of the Anglican Consultative Council. The Provincial Synod coincided with the end of the Season of Creation. The bishops discussed environmental action and creation care, hearing from Rachel Mash and other members of the Green Anglicans movement.

Bishop Anthony blessed a tree to be planted at the Diocese of the Highveld. Many Anglicans around the world are planting trees, as part of a reforestation initiative called the Communion Forest, which was launched at the Lambeth Conference in 2022. 

Bishop Anthony blesses a tree to be planted at the Diocese of the Highveld. Environmental action and creation care were key issues at the meetings of the Synod of Bishops and Provincial Synod of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Credit: The Anglican Church of Southern Africa

The synods were also joined by other Communion partners including Reverend Phillip Jackson of Trinity Wall Street (virtually), Archbishop Hosam Naoum of Jerusalem (virtually), and by Reverend Duncan Dormor and Fran Mate of USPG and Archdeacon Kofi deGraft-Johnson of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa. 

Speaking of his visit to the ACSA, Bishop Anthony Poggo said: “It has been a joy to spend time with Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and the Synod of Bishops and Provincial Synod. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa are valued sisters and brothers in our global Anglican family and I thank God for their ministry.”

Archbishop Thabo Magoba said: "Bishop Anthony touched our hearts in a very special way. He embodied the 'oil' of the Instruments of Communion, with his presence, preaching and teaching. We are all the better for having shared our time with him. We loved having him at both synods and we wish him strength as he helps glue the Communion’s fabric together for mission."

The full communique from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Synod of Bishops can be read here.