Shared ministry to Africa announced

The Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church have entered into a new partnership that will enable them to “maximize resources of mission” and cooperate in fostering their relationships with Anglican churches in sub-Saharan Africa.

Under an arrangement that was announced in a press release today, the Rev. Canon Dr. Isaac Kawuki Mukasa, who works as the Anglican church’s Africa relations co-ordinator, will also become the Africa relations officer for The Episcopal Church.

“Our church welcomes this opportunity to share the benefits of Canon Kawuki Mukasa’s experience as a bridge-builder between African and North American Anglicans,” said Archdeacon Michael Thompson, general secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada. “We are delighted that his wisdom and insight can serve the wider church.”

Bishop Stacy F. Sauls, Episcopal church chief operating officer, said the partnership “builds on the efforts of the leadership of both churches to build relationships here in North America.”

Sauls said he had seen Kawuki-Mukasa in action as coordinator of the Canadian and African bishops in dialogue and had observed his “considerable gifts and his deep understanding of African and North American cultures.” He added, “I have no doubt that he will help us be the good and faithful partners that we want to be with our sister Anglican churches in Africa.”

Part of his job will be to provide advice and counsel about the Anglican Communion provinces and churches in Africa, said the release. Kawuki-Mukasa will continue his work in the Canadian church even as he will serve in an “ambassadorial role” on behalf of The Episcopal Church.

Kawuki-Mukasa joined the faith, worship and ministry department of the Anglican Church of Canada in 2008 as co-ordinator for dialogue: ethics, congregational development and inter-faith relations. Prior to that, he served as a consultant in congregational development for the diocese of Toronto.

Ordained a priest in the Church of Uganda in 1985, Kawuki-Mukasa has been exercising his ministry in Canada since 1992. He has served in the ecumenical shared ministry parishes of Lynn Lake and Snow Lake, Man., diocese of Brandon. He was also a member of the faculty of the Centre for Christian Studies and a consultant for ethnic ministries for the United Church of Canada.

Kawuki-Mukasa completed a PhD in theology and interdisciplinary studies from the Toronto School of Theology in 2005. He has a masters degree from the University of Zimbabwe, a master of divinity from the Nairobi School of Theology, and a bachelor of arts in political science from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.