Ad Clerum: Statement from Archbishop Michael Gill on the death of Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba

Ad Clerum

June 24th 2021 Number 04/21

Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba

Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba1

“Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him. Amen”

Today, we have lost a faithful and loyal soldier of Christ, our dear brother, Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba, Bishop Ordinary for the Traditional Anglican Church in Zambia. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his clergy, and all the faithful people of the Traditional Anglican Church in Zambia.

Bishop Andrew succumbed to Covid-19, and his death will be felt throughout the Traditional Anglican Church both in Africa and elsewhere in the world.

Bishop Andrew was one of the founding clergy of the CACZ (The Continuing Anglican Church in Zambia) founded by Fr Pierre Dil. He and Fr Dil worked together to establish the Makeni Ecumenical Centre in Lusaka, an institution that flourishes to this day.

Bishop Andrew’s leadership was recognised by the Traditional Anglican Church College of Bishops, and he was consecrated a Bishop in the Church of God in 2015. Under his leadership the church has grown steadily.

Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba2

Bishop Andrew at his Consecration in Lusaka 2015. He is flanked by Canon Martin Magoleng of South Africa and Bishop Wellington Murinda of Zimbabwe. [Canon Magoleng succumbed to Covid-19 in January 2021]

As a member of the Traditional Anglican Church College of Bishops, Bishop Andrew played a part in the development of the Traditional Anglican Communion (A federation of national churches) into a single, unified global church, The Traditional Anglican Church. His calm demeanour and quiet wisdom made him a valued member of the College of Bishops, and he did much to enhance the role of Africa in the global church and further the work of the Gospel in Africa.

Bishop Andrew was a dedicated Christian, a man of prayer and sound knowledge of the Scriptures. He was a man of the Eucharist, and led his people into a strong faith and an understanding of the need for Jesus to be central in their lives.

Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba3

Bishop Andrew celebrates the Holy Eucharist together with Bishop Wellington Murinda, Bishop Stephen Strawn, Archbishop Michael Gill, Archbishop Shane Janzen (Primate of the Traditional Anglican Church) and Canon Martin Magoleng.

The Church of God is forever moving forward. It is built on the foundation of the Apostles, Prophets and Saints, and is continually built up by the faithful in every generation. Our brother, Bishop Andrew is with the Lord – may His holy Name be praised – but he has left us a strong legacy, one on which we will need to build in our time. We ask our Lord, in all humility, to use us to His glory, as He has used our brother in Christ, Bishop Andrew.

Well done thou good and faithful servant!

Archbishop Michael Gill
Traditional Anglican Church – Africa

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Primate’s Statement on the Death of Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba

Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba

Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba (d. 23 June 2021)

As Primate of the Traditional Anglican Church (TAC), it is with profound sadness that I announce the death of our dear brother in Christ, Bishop Andrew Mukuyamba of Zambia. Bishop Andrew contracted Covid-19 a little over a week ago and died in hospital a few hours ago.

His passing is a tremendous loss to the clergy and people of the TAC Diocese of Zambia, and indeed to us all across the Traditional Anglican Church. Our prayers go out to his family, to Archbishop Michael Gill, and to all of his clergy and flock, whom he shepherded with Christian love, devotion and care.

I had the privilege of traveling to Zambia for his Consecration in October 2015 as one of his Co-Consecrators, along with our late brother, Bishop Stephen Strawn, and Archbishop Michael Gill. It is a memory and moment I will long treasure. Those who got to meet him and come to know him will recall a man of great warmth, piety, scholarship, and humility. Bishop Andrew was a truly faithful Christian, a steadfast Bishop, a devoted Father in God.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

+Shane

Archbishop Shane B. Janzen, OSG, DD
Primate of the Traditional Anglican Church

Primate’s Statement on the Death of Bishop Stephen Strawn

Bishop Stephen Strawn (1958-2021)

The Right Reverend Stephen D. Strawn, AS, BS, STB, DD
II Bishop of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley
(1958-2021)

It is with great sadness that I issue out this statement on the death of our beloved brother in Christ, Bishop Stephen Strawn, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley – a brother Bishop and dear friend.

Bishop Strawn died at home on Thursday, April 29. He was 63 and had been undergoing treatment in the last couple of years for cancer.  Our prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, Annette, their four daughters, Angelique, Christine, Tiffany, and Miranda; their grandchildren, and all his family.  Our prayers go out as well to the clergy and people of Saint John’s Cathedral in Quincy, Illinois; and to all in the Diocese of the Missouri Valley and the Anglican Church in America. His passing is a great loss to the Traditional Anglican Church around the world, to the Diocese which he served so faithfully these many years, and to all who were touched by his life and ministry.

Bishop Strawn was born on January 22, 1958 in Dallas, Texas. Following graduation from Bryan Adams High School (1976), he earned his Associate in Science Degree from Trinity Valley Community College (1989). He went on to study psychology (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) at the University of Texas at Tyler (1990). On May 30, 1981 he married Annette (nee Monier); this year they would have celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary. Shortly after they married, Stephen and Annette moved to Malakoff, Texas where they raised their family.

After a cancer diagnosis in his 20s and a complete recovery which doctors deemed miraculous, Bishop Strawn dedicated his life to God. He studied theology at the Anglican School of Theology, earning a Bachelor in Sacred Theology. He was ordained a Deacon on January 29, 1993 by Rt. Rev. William Millsaps; and ordained Priest by the Most Rev. Louis Falk on August 25, 1993. On October 13, 2007, he was consecrated Bishop and Coadjutor of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley, and became Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese on January 1, 2008 – the second bishop of that Diocese following Archbishop Louis Falk. In 2018, Bishop Strawn was granted an honourary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Saint Bede’s Anglican Catholic Theological College, for his contributions to the unity of the Church and for his promotion and leadership in theological scholarship through the College.

Bishop Stephen Strawn was a faithful Christian, a devout Anglican, a dedicated and conscientious Bishop, loving husband, father, grandfather, a caring friend.  He will be sorely missed.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of thy Lord.

Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord;
And may light perpetual shine upon him.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
Amen.

Primate’s Statement on the Death of Bishop Stephen Strawn (pdf)