New Anglican bishop believes background, experience will help in new role

Anglicans in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario have selected the first Black person to be their bishop — and the first who was born in Africa.

Naboth Manzongo, 40, currently rector at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in downtown Winnipeg, was elected to be the 14th bishop of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land last Saturday.

He succeeds Geoffrey Woodcroft, who stepped down for health reasons.

Manzongo, who came to Canada from Zimbabwe seven years ago, had previously served as priest at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Dryden, Ont. He arrived at Holy Trinity in September.

Manzongo, who is married with three children, will begin his new role as bishop in September.

Being the first Black and African bishop is both a burden and an opportunity, in his view.

“It’s a burden to be the first of anything,” he said, adding he can be an inspiration to Black youth and to youth from other marginalized communities.

His immigrant experience will help him relate to other immigrants and refugees in Manitoba, he said.

Manzongo acknowledged he wasn’t keen on letting his name stand for bishop when it was first suggested, because he had just started his new job at Holy Trinity, and because of his young family, with children ages 11, seven and nine months.

“I never thought I would be chosen,” he said. “But when God calls, you can’t resist.”

Manzongo is sorry to be leaving Holy Trinity when plans are in the works to repair the historic building and save it for future generations.

“It’s a bittersweet time for Holy Trinity,” he said. “They are happy for me, but sad for themselves.”

As he looks ahead to his new role, there are a number of challenges and opportunities on his mind.

“The diocese is increasingly diverse,” he said. “I want to be a bridge builder, to create space for dialogue between the various groups.”

He also wants to keep building bridges to other faith groups.

“Too many wars have been fought over religion,” he said. “I want to look for the values that unite us all, the glue that connects us, see what we can learn from each other.”

Then there are the challenges of an aging membership and buildings that are old and costly to maintain and repair, along with financial issues.

“I have deep respect for tradition, but I want to be open to innovation,” he said of how he hopes to approach those issues. “I want to look at the structures of the church, see what works for us today, and see what new things need to be brought to the table.”

One issue that divides some Anglicans is welcoming and affirming LGBTTQ+ people. Manzongo marched in Sunday’s Pride Parade.

“All are created in the image of God… I see God in every person,” he said. “My goal is to welcome everyone, not to say who is in and who is out. As a person of colour, I can understand what it is like to be marginalized, I can empathize.”

Noting that the issue also divides Anglicans in North America and Europe from many Anglicans elsewhere, Manzongo said he might be able to play a role in bridging that divide.

“Maybe I can be a connector… I understand both contexts, north and south, having lived in both. There are many things we in Canada don’t understand about Christians in the global south, and many things they don’t understand about us.”

Wilson Akinwale is rector at St. Bartholomew Anglican Church and St. George’s Anglican Church in Transcona and national President of Black Anglicans of Canada.

He welcomes Manzongo’s election.

“It shows the church is not only ready to speak about diversity, but to act, a church that is willing to practise what it preaches.”

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