University of Toronto Grad Becomes Archbishop of Uganda
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official3197
- Date
- 1983 October 18
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- Toronto, Oct. 18, 1983 -- For immediate release
- "What I best remember about him was the impact of his simplicity, so characteristic of what we conceive New Testament Christians had, and so unusual among people in a highly technocratic, sophisticated, media-conditioned culture." That is how Dr. Reg Stackhouse, principal of Wycliffe College of the University of Toronto, described one of his former students Yona Okoth. That 1968 graduate of the College is now Bishop of Tororo and has just recently been elected Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda.
- Bishop Okoth was one of the clergy singled out for persecution and imprisoned by Idi Amin. Fortunately he survived, unlike a former Archbishop of Uganda, Janani Luwum who was murdered by the Dictator. The new Archbishop will be officially installed on January 29th, 1984. He succeeds Archbishop Silvanus Wani who will retire on December 31st.
- Archbishop-elect Okoth was granted honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Wycliffe College in 1977. As Primate, or senior bishop, in the ecclesiastical Province (a grouping of Dioceses) he presides over the Church Assembly and other Councils while remaining as a Diocesan Bishop. He also is the Chief Consecrator at the ordination of all Bishops.
- Here in Canada there are four ecclesiastical Provinces with Archbishops, but the system differs slightly in that those four Provinces are linked in a General (or national) Synod with a Primate who does not retain his Diocesan status.
- - 30 -
- For further information, please contact:
- Richard J. Berryman
- Media Officer
- Subjects
- Okoth, Yona, 1927-2001
- Church of the Province of Uganda - Bishops
- Wycliffe College (Toronto, Ont.)