AFRICANS AND EPISCOPALIANS JOIN IN HEALING MISSION

Meshack Mabuza, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Swaziland (Southern Africa), and his wife, Lucy Mabuza, will visit Iowa in July as guests of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The Mabuzas, along with Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa, and his wife, Donna Scarfe, will tour the state on a Healing Mission. They will share their theology of healing in the Anglican and African traditions, as well as their experiences of healing in their ministries. The Episcopal Church invites people of all faith traditions to join us for the services.

“Prayers for healing of body, mind, and spirit has deep roots in the Anglican tradition,” says The Rev. Dr. Barbara Schlachter, Associate Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids , “and serves as a foundation for the healing of our communities, societies, and world. The healing service will offer an opportunity for reflection on such questions as, What needs healing within myself, my community, and the world, and what unique gifts do I have to offer?”

Events Schedule
6:30 p.m. Music Service
7:00 p.m. Healing Service: Prayer, Teaching, & Eucharist
Sunday, July 17, Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th Street NE , 319.363.2029

”While sharing their ministry gifts here with us, the Mabuzas will also be seeking ideas for ministry to take back to their own congregations,” says Schlachter. To this end, they will be touring various programs of the Episcopal Church that serve the needs of the poor and oppressed, including a ministry to prisoners at Anamosa, an HIV/AIDS project in Des Moines, and a clinic in Ft. Dodge .

CONTACT INFORMATION
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Schlachter, 319-351-4380, b.schlachter@mchsi.com

If The Rev. Schlachter is unavailable:

Linda Antisavage, 319-363-2029, lindaa@christepiscopal.org

For interviews with Bishop Alan Scarfe, or to arrange an interview with Bishop Meshack and Lucy Mabuza during their visit, contact:
Julianne Allaway, Diocesan House, Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
225 37th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312-4305
515.277.6165; Fax: 515.277.0273; diocese@iowaepiscopal.org

BACKGROUND Iowa and Swaziland : Companions in Ministry

The dioceses of Iowa and Swaziland have been in companionship since 1990, along with the Anglican Diocese of Brechin, Scotland . Companion Diocese relationships in the Anglican Communion are designed to strengthen the partners in ministry, involving both in increased awareness of the unique missions to which each is called.

Companions offer one another encouragement and prayer, as well as spiritual and material resources. Swazis, Scots, and lowans regularly travel to each other's dioceses to get to know one another and to join together in ministry. lowan Episcopalians have made five trips to Swaziland , most recently in November 2004.

Swaziland is located in southern Africa , bordered by South Africa on the north, west, and south, and by Mozambique to the east. About 1/7 the size of Iowa , Swaziland is home to 1.1 million people.

The Anglican Church in Swaziland seeks to minister in a context that includes the world's highest HIV/AIDS infection rate (38.6), a rapidly growing orphan crisis, recurring drought, extreme poverty, and a decreasing average life expectancy. All these problems are exacerbated by the burden of living under Africa 's last absolute monarchy. Anglicans in Swaziland are meeting this "perfect storm" of challenges with courage and wisdom, targeting resources toward a new HIV/AIDS education program, 22 schools, various orphan care projects, and mobilization for community development.

Iowa Episcopalians have joined in these ministries through prayer, financial support of certain projects through International Development Grants, and partnerships between individual churches.

Bishop Meshack Mabuza

Bishop Mabuza has served as Bishop of the Anglican Church in Swaziland since 2002. Previously, in addition to serving as a priest since 1982, Mabuza held the position of Director of Human Resources at Swaziland Railway. He has also been an educator, serving as the Director for the National Curriculum Centre in Swaziland , Vice Rector of a teacher's college, and principal of several high schools. Mabuza also a long-time political activist, seeking progressive democratic reforms in Swaziland 's government. Bishop Mabuza holds a bachelor of arts degree in education and theology from University of Botswana , Lesotho , and Swaziland ; a Master of Arts degree in Educational Management from Atlanta University (USA); a bachelor of arts degree in theology from the University of Natal ( South Africa ); and an advanced diploma in Labour Law from Rand Afrikaans University .

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