UK: God Gets His Man as 1st Black Archbishop is enthroned - 2 Dec 2005

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maybe, just maybe, God is about to do something massive in the Anglican Church...
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The enthronement of the Ugandan John Sentamu as Archbishop of York, England on Wednesday was spine-tingling stuff for those in 24-7 who pray for a turning of the tide in the UK. You don't have to be English and you dont have to be an Anglican to thank God when a prayerful, Spirit-filled, justice-orientated, gospel-preaching man like Sentamu is elevated against all odds to become the most powerful leader in the Church of England and the second most powerful person in the worldwide Communion of 40 million Anglicans.
 
Of course, before we get out the party poppers, there are many colossal challenges threatening to split the Anglican church right now, not least the debate about homosexual priests and the declining (make that free-falling) numbers decimating most Western churches.
 
But recent years have also witnessed the emergence of wonderful Anglican initiatives like the Alpha course, renewal in Anglican worship led by men like Matt Redman and Tim Hughes and, most significantly - massive growth in non-western nations such as Uganda - homeland of the new Archbishop. As you read this list, consider how extraordinary John Sentamu's enthronement ceremony on Wednesday was:
  • Sentamu is the 1st black Archbishop in the Church of England;
  • In Uganda he stood up to the dictatorship of Idi Amin;
  • He washed the feet of children from local schools;
  • He invited Ugandan dancers to invade the ceremony;
  • Garbed in his resplendent Mitre, he surprised everyone by grabbing a djembe and playing along with the worship band;
  • In his inaugural sermon broadcast around the world he preached the gospel, calling England back to discipleship whilst quoting everyone from Che Guevara to David Watson and citing the fulfilment of prophecy;
  • Finally, hundreds of colorful balloons were released as he stepped outside the historic York Minster - each balloon carried the same message 'All are welcome'.
Read the Archbishop of York's remarkable inaugural sermon here. As you do so please pray for him, his family and for the fruitfulness of his ministry.

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