From the Bishop: News from our companions in Swaziland

From the Bishop

It is with great sadness that I report to you that Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya died this morning of complications related to COVID-19. Bishop Ellinah was just recovering from hip surgery when she contracted the virus, and had seemingly weathered the initial effect of the virus, having a good night, just yesterday, conversing and laughing with the Anglican nurses that were involved in her hospital care. However, as has been a pattern with COVID-19, she took a swift turn for the worse, and died early this morning, January 19th.

Dean Advent Dlamini and I have been able to talk by phone and we prayed together using the prayer from the Burial service, rite two, that gives thanks for +Ellinah, as our companion and friend. She was both of these things, and as bishops we would often call one another just to check in on how we were doing in our episcopal duties, and yes, tell the occasional stories on the predicaments bishops can often get into with their clergy and congregations!

Though history will know her as the first female Anglican Bishop in Africa, she was truly the Green Bishop of the Anglican Communion, leading her young people and the diocese into dedicating themselves to address climate change as a Christian service. Other ministry goals that she steadfastly sought to hold the diocese to during her time included gender equality, the care for orphans, the most vulnerable among the Swazi population, and the encouragement of the diocese’s capacity to develop its own economic resources, such as expanding agriculture, or building hostels for students. She loved young people, and called them her “Gideons” – the ones who were the ministering leaders for the Gospel.

She visited Iowa several times, addressed our Convention, and led a Clergy retreat on the environment last May via Zoom. Together with Bishop Swift—and Bishop Peyton before him—the three bishops of our tri-companionship grew in that companionship, and in envisioning joint ministry, especially among young adults. She hosted young people from Iowa and Brechin at the Diocese of Swaziland Youth Conference in December 2014; and then brought Swazi young people to meet Iowa and Brechin young adults in attending the “Spirit of Discovery” pilgrimage in Dundee, Scotland, along with Bishop Peyton and me, in the summer 2016. Our hope was to gather again as bishops, with Bishop Swift having succeeded Bishop Peyton, in Iowa for the summer of 2020. Of course, the pilgrimage was cancelled because of COVID, as was Lambeth 2020 where Bishop Ellinah was scheduled to be the preacher at the Inaugural Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral.

Our prayers and condolences go out to Henry, her husband, and her family in Kenya, South Africa and Eswatini. We lift up the mourning people of the Diocese of Swaziland, and join our sorrow with theirs, even as we remember that for the believer in Jesus life is changed not ended. She is caught now in the new creation of the resurrected life by the power of her Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, rest in peace, from where she will rise in glory.

In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa

The Rt. Rev. Ellinah Wamukoya, Bishop of Swaziland Photo: William Witt