News
The Bishop of Niassa, the Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, has announced that he will be resigning with effect from 31 October 2015.
In a letter to partners, he and his wife Helen write:
Dearest Friends,
We send you greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
After much prayer and reflection, we wish to inform you that Mark has accepted a nomination to become the Assistant Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia with a special mandate for mission. Helen plans to complete her doctoral studies and continue to write. Mark’s resignation as the Diocesan Bishop of Niassa was accepted by the Synod of Bishops last week and he will relinquish his See on the 31st of October 2015.
We made this decision for both family reasons and a deep sense that the Diocese of Niassa is in a safe and healthy place where, by God’s grace, she will continue to grow with new leaders who are deeply rooted in her fertile soil. It seems timely now for us to step aside and create space for others to lead.
After 28 years of lay and ordained ministry in Mozambique, there are no words to express the great joy and privilege it has been for us to serve God in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The friendships we have developed with our partners worldwide have played an important and integral part in the development of the Diocese and of the wider community. We wish to thank you for your trust, support and friendship.
We ask that you will continue to pray for and support the work of the Diocese, especially at this time of transition.
In Christ Jesus,
+Mark and Helen Van Koevering
Sheenagh Burrell, ALMA co-ordinator, said:
As we pray for Mark and Helen at this time of huge change for them, please pray for Niassa’s Senior leadership team and all our link parishes. We are so blessed to have had these 12 years with Mark and Helen and to have had the privilege of journeying alongside them.