Theophilus Naledi
Encyclopedia
Theophilus Naledi is a retired Bishop of Botswana in the Church of the Province of Central Africa
, who was born at Bothithong near Vryburg
in South Africa
in 1936.
where he studied for three years prior to ordination.
Naledi was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in 1959, and as a priest the following year. He served the diocese for 10 years.
, Botswana
. “Back then, we used the Trinity building and we belonged to the Matabeleland Diocese
under Bishop Kenneth Skelton,” Naledi recalled.
Anglicans in Botswana felt at the time that being part of the Diocese of Matebeleland meant that their church remained “foreign in its own country” (previously it had been part of the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman). In 1972 the Diocese of Botswana was inaugurated with Shannon Mallory, an American, as its first Bishop. Malory served for six years and during his tenure Gaborone’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross was built.
Theophilus Naledi was serving at Lobatse (where he was appointed Archdeacon in 1976) in the south of Botswana at the time that Mallory was succeeded by Archbishop Khotso Makhulu in 1978. At this time Naledi furthered his studies, firstly enrolling with UNISA for the degree of Bachelor of Theology.
He was appointed principal of the Botswana Theological Training Programme which was founded by a number of churches including the Anglican and Lutheran Churches, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
and the Church of God in Christ. Naledi served as principal for three years before going, in 1983, to King's College and being awarded, in 1985, a Master of Theology degree by the University of London
.
Naledi was ordained to the episcopate and was consecrated as Bishop of Matebeleland in September 1987. He was translated to the Diocese of Botswana as Bishop of Botswana in December 2000.
Naledi was succeeded by Bishop Musondo Mwamba.
, South Africa.
Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Church of the Province of Central Africa is part of the Anglican Communion, and includes 15 dioceses in Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Central Africa; Albert Chama is the current Archbishop, being installed on 20 March 2011, succeeding...
, who was born at Bothithong near Vryburg
Vryburg, North West
Vryburg is a large agricultural town with a population of 48,200 situated in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district of the North West Province of South Africa...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1936.
Early career
Naledi had his primary education at Bothithong, going to nearby Taung for his secondary schooling. From there he went up to St Bede's Theological College at MthathaMthatha
Mthatha is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town has an airport, previously known by the name K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima....
where he studied for three years prior to ordination.
Naledi was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in 1959, and as a priest the following year. He served the diocese for 10 years.
Botswana
At the end of 1970 Naledi was invited to be a parish priest in GaboroneGaborone
' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana....
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
. “Back then, we used the Trinity building and we belonged to the Matabeleland Diocese
Diocese of Matabeleland
The Diocese of Matabeleland is one of 15 dioceses within the Province of Central Africa . The current Bishop is the Rt Rev Cleophas Lunga....
under Bishop Kenneth Skelton,” Naledi recalled.
Anglicans in Botswana felt at the time that being part of the Diocese of Matebeleland meant that their church remained “foreign in its own country” (previously it had been part of the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman). In 1972 the Diocese of Botswana was inaugurated with Shannon Mallory, an American, as its first Bishop. Malory served for six years and during his tenure Gaborone’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross was built.
Theophilus Naledi was serving at Lobatse (where he was appointed Archdeacon in 1976) in the south of Botswana at the time that Mallory was succeeded by Archbishop Khotso Makhulu in 1978. At this time Naledi furthered his studies, firstly enrolling with UNISA for the degree of Bachelor of Theology.
He was appointed principal of the Botswana Theological Training Programme which was founded by a number of churches including the Anglican and Lutheran Churches, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
The United Congregational Church in Southern Africa began with the work of the London Missionary Society, who sent missionaries to the Cape colony in 1799. Congregationalist missionaries from the American Board of Foreign Missions began work in KwaZulu-Natal in 1830, and several congregations of...
and the Church of God in Christ. Naledi served as principal for three years before going, in 1983, to King's College and being awarded, in 1985, a Master of Theology degree by the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Naledi was ordained to the episcopate and was consecrated as Bishop of Matebeleland in September 1987. He was translated to the Diocese of Botswana as Bishop of Botswana in December 2000.
Naledi was succeeded by Bishop Musondo Mwamba.
Commemoration
In September 2009 the Anglican Cathedral in Gaborone hosted the 21st anniversary of the consecration of retired bishop Theophilus Naledi. The Bishop of the Botswana, the Right Reverend Musonda Mwamba officiated while the sermon was preached by Bishop Raphael Hess, Bishop of Saldanha BayAnglican Diocese of Saldanha Bay
The Anglican Diocese of Saldanha Bay is a diocese in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.The diocese was founded on 10 December 2005 and is based in the territory of the Diocese of Cape Town. Previously the area was served by a Regional Bishop of Saldanha within the Diocese of Cape Town, one of...
, South Africa.