The Diocese of Western Tanganyika, one of our global diocesan partnerships, made history this October when the Diocesan Synod approved Bishop Emmanuel’s proposal to allow the ordination of women.
The first ordination ceremony will take place in June 2025, with Bishop Rachel planning to attend.
The Revd Canon Helen Sammon, DWT link officer, said: “We are delighted to have heard that the ordination of women in DWT has been agreed in DWT. This has been discussed for many years in the diocese, often with considerable tension.
“This is a wonderful step forward for all the women who, over recent years, have trained in theology, but as yet have not been ordained as priests.
“Over the years, in our sponsorship programme, we have prioritised supporting female students. On my trip to DWT in September I met two of these remarkable women.”
One of these women, Ajuaye Nkeshimana, was a sponsored student who was ordained as a Deacon last year. She now serves as the Chaplain at Shunga Hospital, where she talks and prays with patients and their relatives, cares for the dying, and leads worship in the hospital chapel.
Another inspiring woman, Victoria Anderson, is currently in her second year of college. She has a 4-month-old baby, her first child, and she is already back at college, with a friend helping to care for the baby while she is in class.
The partnership with DWT is one of the Diocese of Gloucester has four global partnerships. The others are with Vasteras (Sweden), Dornakal, and Karnataka Central (South India).
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