Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue ~ IARCCUM.org
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From the Diocese of the Highveld:
Bishop David Beetge, born in Witbank, South Africa in 1948 worked in commerce for a time, completing his Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators examination and being Company Secretary of ICI (South Africa) Limited.
He received his theological education at St Paul’s Theological College in Grahamstown. He subsequently obtained both his Bachelor’s and Honour’s Degrees in Theology through the University of South Africa.
He obtained his Master’s Degree in Theology from the University of Natal.
Bishop David was ordained deacon at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Johannesburg in December 1980 and was ordained priest at the same Cathedral in December 1981. He has served as curate at St Boniface’s Church, Germiston and was instituted as rector of St. Boniface’s Church, Germiston in April 1984 and as rector and archdeacon of Springs in January 1987.
Bishop David acted as Vicar-General in the absence of the Regional Bishop and was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of South Eastern Transvaal at the inauguration of the Diocese on January 6, 1990. He was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of South Eastern Transvaal on March 9, 1990. In January 1998 the name of the Diocese was changed to the Diocese of the Highveld.
The Diocese Daily faces many pressing and complex issues, including the scourges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, incredible poverty and the challenges associated with the massive influx of immigrants from Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. A large proportion of the population lives in abject poverty, in informal settlements or shanty towns without basic access to water, sewage or electricity. In some rural areas, the rate of unemployment is as much as 80 per cent.
At Provincial level Bishop David has served in a number of key portfolios and is currently Dean of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. In addition to his duties as Dean of the Province, he is Liaison Bishop for Provincial Staff; Liaison Bishop and Chair of Anglican HIV/AIDS programmes for Southern Africa; Co-Chairman of Anglican-Roman Catholic Bishops’ Consultation; Deputy Chairman of the CPSA Pension Fund Board Trustees (including the Pension Board Investment Advisory Committee); the Anglican Consultative Council Episcopal representative (Nottingham 2005); World Council of Churches Episcopal representative (General Assembly 2006); Co-Chairman of the International Anglican/Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission and member of the Lambeth Commission. His Diocesan portfolios include that of Chairman of St. Dunstan’s College Council; Chairman of Highveld Anglican Board of Social Responsibility and Chairman of Board for Theological Education and Reflection.
Website: en.wikipedia.org
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