Interview on climate change and the importance of water

The Archbishop discusses climate change and the importance of water with Ruth Valerio, author of "Saying Yes to Life", the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book for 2020.

Mourning those who died in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

The news of the death of Kobe Bryant and all who were with him, including his daughter, is devastating.

We may be a long way from the United States, but sport breaks barriers and his electrifying performances on the basketball court thrilled us wherever we were (and reminded me of my own short stint at Turfloop dabbling in basketball).

The tragic deaths in that helicopter crash sadden us in South Africa and we send our condolences to all the families affected. May those who died rest in peace and rise in glory.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba

January 28: Since this message was first published, it has been drawn to my attention that a serious allegation of sexual assault was made against Kobe Bryant 16 years ago, when he was 24, and later settled out of court. We take such matters very seriously in our church and pray for healing for the victim. At the same time, the episode should not detract from our focus at this time on the pain of the families of all nine people who died in the crash. ++Thabo

Archbishop Thabo's message to the Diocese of Natal

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba sent this message to a Diocesan Prayer Day, held on January 25, which was held following the resignation of the Bishop last year and ahead of an Elective Assembly for a new Bishop to be held this year.

Appeal to Bonhoeffer Conference - Help us face the reality of sin in society

A homily delivered to the International Bonhoeffer Congress at the Stellenbosch United Church on 19th January 2020

John 1: 29-34

May I speak in the name of God who is Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen.

Fellow students of the Gospel;
Sisters and brothers in Christ;

Good evening!  And to those who have travelled here from afar, welcome to our country!

It is a great honour for me to have been invited to speak at this 13th International Bonhoeffer Congress, hosted and organised here at Stellenbosch and the University of the Western Cape.

 Bonhoeffer statue at Westminster Abbey

Anglican Primates meet in "spirit-led, forward-looking, inspiring" meeting in Jordan

Archbishop Justin Welby leads a service at the River Jordan

The Archbishop has issued the following comments on the recent meeting of the heads of churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion, held in Jordan in the Middle East:

We had a good Primates' Meeting, spirit-led, forward-looking, inspiring and held in a cordial atmosphere.

We met in the context of the Middle East, and the biblical historical context reminded me of God’s presence in our lives and throughout history.

Condolences on the death of Dr Richard Maponya

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba sent the following message to the family of Dr Maponya today:

To: Chichi Maponya (Tlou) and the broader Maponya family

On behalf of myself, Di Tlou (the Makgobas) and the Anglican family, our deepest condolences to you all on the death of Dr Richard Maponya, a pioneering South African entrepreneur and patriot.

We are sad at his passing, but above all we praise and thank God for his life, his contributions and his witness.

He goes into our almanacs as an entrepreneur without equal, a dedicated servant of our nation and one who defied many odds to become an icon of South African business.

May you experience God's love and healing at this time.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba

To the Laos – Message on the Feast of the Epiphany

Dear People of God

Christmastide ends on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, but because many people in our Province are still on their summer holidays, it is one of the feasts we observe least.

This year, as we enter the Season of the Epiphany  – in which we celebrate the revealing of God's gift of Jesus to the world  – let us tirelessly pursue the goal of reigniting trust in one another, both in our personal and our corporate lives.

We are living through an era of profound distrust, which is contributing to an historic level of intolerance in the world, reinforcing inequality of opportunity and a growing trend to cancel out the voices of those we don't agree with.

To those who are taking the Middle East and the Gulf to the brink of war, and to those in South Africa who are preparing to mark the anniversary of the ANC, our governing party, I appeal: put your focus on acting in such a way as to build trust and break down division between nations and within societies. To be trusted is more important to the survival and well-being of humankind than being popular.

Please join me in my New Year's resolution to try to build trust. 

 Also at this time, please pray with me:

• For the health and lives of the young initiates in South Africa who are so distressingly and unnecessarily put at risk of injury and death every initiation season;
• For the people of Port Sudan on the Red Sea, where Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo reports that conflict has broken out once again between ethnic groups, and where the state government is trying to bring about peace;  
• For the people of Australia, devastated by fire in so many parts, and for the Anglican Church in Australia, headed by Archbishop Philip Freier;
• For the families of those who have died, and for those left homeless, in the floods in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.

God bless you and your families in 2020.

†† Thabo Cape Town