Anglican Church of Kenya
Encyclopedia
The Anglican Church of Kenya is part of the Anglican Communion
, and includes 30 dioceses. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Kenya.
were divided into separate Provinces.
, Kenya, Tanzania
) in 1884, with James Hannington
as the first bishop; however, Anglican missionary activity had been present in the area since 1844, when Dr. Johann Ludwig Krapf
landed in Mombasa. The first Africans were ordained to the priesthood in 1885. In 1898, the diocese was split into two, with the new diocese of Mombasa governing Kenya and northern Tanzania (the other diocese later became the Church of Uganda
); northern Tanzania was separated from the diocese in 1927. Mass conversions of Africans began as early as 1910. In 1955, the diocese's first African bishops, Festo Olang’ and Obadiah Kariuki, were consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury
in Uganda (Olang’ would be elected the first African archbishop in 1970); in 1960, the province of East Africa, comprising Kenya and Tanzania, was formed with Leonard James Beecher
as archbishop. Tanzania seceded from the province in 1970 and was created as its own province
. Manasses Kuria
was the Archbishop of Kenya from 1980 to 1994. The current archbishop is Eliud Wabukala
.
is fixed at Nairobi. Previously styled "Archbishop of Kenya and Bishop of Nairobi", the current title is "Archbishop of Kenya and Bishop of All Saints' Cathedral Diocese". The current Archbishop is the fifth since the Province of East Africa was divided into separate and autonomous Provinces of Kenya and Tanzania.
The polity of the Anglican Church of Kenya is Episcopal church governance, which is the same as other Anglican churches. That is, headed by bishops from the Greek word, "episcopos," which means overseer or superindendant. The church maintains a system of geographical parish
es organized into diocese
s. There are 30 of these, each headed by a bishop:
Each diocese is divided into archdeacon
ries, each headed by a senior priest
. The archdeaconries are further subdivided into parish
es, headed by a parish priest. Parishes are subdivided into sub-parishes, headed by lay reader
s.
is used.
, includes:
The threefold sources of authority in Anglicanism are scripture, tradition, and reason. These three sources uphold and critique each other in a dynamic way. This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of Richard Hooker
, a sixteenth century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.
. In October 2009, the Kenyan Church's leadership reacted to the Vatican's proposed creation of personal ordinariate
s for disaffected traditionalist Anglicans by saying that although he welcomed ecumenical dialogue
and shared moral theology
with the Catholic Church, the current GAFCON structures already meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of conservative Anglicans in Africa.
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, and includes 30 dioceses. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Kenya.
Official name
The Church became part of the Province of East Africa in 1960, but by 1970 Kenya and TanzaniaAnglican Church of Tanzania
The Anglican Church of Tanzania is a member of the Anglican Communion based in Dodoma. It consists of 26 dioceses headed by their respective bishops. It seceded from the Province of East Africa in 1970, which it shared with Kenya...
were divided into separate Provinces.
History
The church was founded originally as the diocese of Eastern Equatorial Africa (UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Kenya, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
) in 1884, with James Hannington
James Hannington
James Hannington was an Anglican missionary, saint and martyr.-Life:Hannington was born at Hurstpierpoint in Sussex, England, on 3 September 1847. A poor scholar, he left school at fifteen to work in his father's Brighton counting house. At twenty-one, Hannington decided to pursue a clerical...
as the first bishop; however, Anglican missionary activity had been present in the area since 1844, when Dr. Johann Ludwig Krapf
Johann Ludwig Krapf
Johann Ludwig Krapf was a German missionary in East Africa, as well as an explorer, linguist, and traveler. Krapf played an important role in exploring East Africa with Johannes Rebmann. They were the first Europeans to see Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro...
landed in Mombasa. The first Africans were ordained to the priesthood in 1885. In 1898, the diocese was split into two, with the new diocese of Mombasa governing Kenya and northern Tanzania (the other diocese later became the Church of Uganda
Church of Uganda
The Church of the Province of Uganda is a member church of the Anglican Communion. Currently there are 34 dioceses which make up the Church of Uganda, each headed by a bishop....
); northern Tanzania was separated from the diocese in 1927. Mass conversions of Africans began as early as 1910. In 1955, the diocese's first African bishops, Festo Olang’ and Obadiah Kariuki, were consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
in Uganda (Olang’ would be elected the first African archbishop in 1970); in 1960, the province of East Africa, comprising Kenya and Tanzania, was formed with Leonard James Beecher
Leonard James Beecher
The Most Rev Leonard James Beecher CMG, ARCS, MA, DD was an Anglican archbishop in the third quarter of the 20th century.He was born on 21 May 1906, educated at St Olave's Grammar School and Imperial College London and ordained in 1929. He was a CMS Missionary in the Diocese of Mombasa from 1930,...
as archbishop. Tanzania seceded from the province in 1970 and was created as its own province
Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Anglican Church of Tanzania is a member of the Anglican Communion based in Dodoma. It consists of 26 dioceses headed by their respective bishops. It seceded from the Province of East Africa in 1970, which it shared with Kenya...
. Manasses Kuria
Manasses Kuria
Manasses Kuria , was the second African Archbishop and Bishop of Nairobi in the Anglican Church of Kenya.- Early life :Kuria was brought up by his parents at Kabuku in Limuru, Kiambu District. He first attended St...
was the Archbishop of Kenya from 1980 to 1994. The current archbishop is Eliud Wabukala
Eliud Wabukala
The Most Reverend Dr. Eliud Wabukala is the fifth Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, elected 24 April 2009. He succeeded outgoing Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi who retired....
.
Membership
Today, there are at least 1,500,000 Anglicans out of an estimated population of 30,700,000.Archbishops
The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Kenya. The SeeEpiscopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
is fixed at Nairobi. Previously styled "Archbishop of Kenya and Bishop of Nairobi", the current title is "Archbishop of Kenya and Bishop of All Saints' Cathedral Diocese". The current Archbishop is the fifth since the Province of East Africa was divided into separate and autonomous Provinces of Kenya and Tanzania.
- 1970-1980
- The Most Rev'd Manasses KuriaManasses KuriaManasses Kuria , was the second African Archbishop and Bishop of Nairobi in the Anglican Church of Kenya.- Early life :Kuria was brought up by his parents at Kabuku in Limuru, Kiambu District. He first attended St...
, 1980-1994 - The Most Rev'd David Mukuba Gitari, 1996-2005
- The Most Rev'd Benjamin M. Nzimbi, 2006-2009
- The Most Rev'd Eliud WabukalaEliud WabukalaThe Most Reverend Dr. Eliud Wabukala is the fifth Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, elected 24 April 2009. He succeeded outgoing Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi who retired....
, 2009-present
Structure
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es organized into diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s. There are 30 of these, each headed by a bishop:
- The Diocese of All Saints Cathedral
- The Diocese of Bondo
- The Diocese of Bungoma
- The Diocese of Butere
- The Diocese of Eldoret
- The Diocese of Embu
- The Diocese of Kajiado
- The Diocese of Katakwa
- The Diocese of Kericho
- The Diocese of Kirinyaga
- The Diocese of Kitale
- The Diocese of Kitui
- The Diocese of Machakos
- The Diocese of Maseno North
- The Diocese of Maseno South
- The Diocese of Maseno West
- The Diocese of Mbeere
- The Diocese of Meru
- The Diocese of Mombasa
- The Diocese of Mount Kenya Central
- The Diocese of Mount Kenya South
- The Diocese of Mount Kenya West
- The Diocese of Mumias
- The Diocese of Nairobi
- The Diocese of Nakuru
- The Diocese of Nambale
- The Diocese of Nyahururu
- The Diocese of Southern Nyanza
- The Diocese of Taita-Taveta
- The Diocese of Thika
Each diocese is divided into archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
ries, each headed by a senior priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. The archdeaconries are further subdivided into parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es, headed by a parish priest. Parishes are subdivided into sub-parishes, headed by lay reader
Lay Reader
A lay reader is a layperson authorized by a bishop of the Anglican Church to read some parts of a service of worship. They are members of the congregation called to preach or lead services, but not called to full-time ministry.Anglican lay readers are licensed by the bishop to a particular parish...
s.
Worship and liturgy
The Anglican Church of Kenya, like all Anglican churches, embraces the three traditional Orders of ministry: deacon, priest, and bishop. A local variant of the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
is used.
Doctrine and practice
The center of the Anglican Church of Kenya's teaching is the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic teachings of the church, or catechismCatechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
, includes:
- Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. He died and was resurrected from the dead.
- Jesus provides the way of eternal life for those who believe.
- The Old and New Testaments of the Bible were written by people "under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit". The Apocrypha are additional books that are used in Christian worship, but not for the formation of doctrine.
- The two great and necessary sacramentsAnglican sacramentsIn keeping with its prevailing self-identity as a via media or "middle path" of Western Christianity, Anglican sacramental theology expresses elements in keeping with its status as a church in the Catholic tradition and a church of the Reformation...
are Holy BaptismBaptismIn Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
and Holy EucharistEucharistThe Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance... - Other sacramental ritesAnglican sacramentsIn keeping with its prevailing self-identity as a via media or "middle path" of Western Christianity, Anglican sacramental theology expresses elements in keeping with its status as a church in the Catholic tradition and a church of the Reformation...
are confirmation, ordinationOrdinationIn general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, marriageMarriageMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, reconciliation of a penitentConfessionThis article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
, and unction. - Belief in heavenHeavenHeaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
, hellHellIn many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, and Jesus's return in glorySecond ComingIn Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
.
The threefold sources of authority in Anglicanism are scripture, tradition, and reason. These three sources uphold and critique each other in a dynamic way. This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of Richard Hooker
Richard Hooker
Richard Hooker was an Anglican priest and an influential theologian. Hooker's emphases on reason, tolerance and the value of tradition came to exert a lasting influence on the development of the Church of England...
, a sixteenth century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.
Ecumenical relations
Like many other Anglican churches, the Anglican Church of Kenya is a member of the ecumenical World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
. In October 2009, the Kenyan Church's leadership reacted to the Vatican's proposed creation of personal ordinariate
Personal Ordinariate
A personal ordinariate is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church enabling former Anglicans to maintain some degree of corporate identity and autonomy with regard to the bishops of the geographical dioceses of the Catholic Church and to preserve elements of their distinctive Anglican...
s for disaffected traditionalist Anglicans by saying that although he welcomed ecumenical dialogue
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and shared moral theology
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
with the Catholic Church, the current GAFCON structures already meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of conservative Anglicans in Africa.