The Right Reverend Anthony Poggo, a South Sudanese bishop has been named the Anglican Communion’s next Secretary General.
Bishop Anthony Poggo, the former Bishop of Kajo-Keji in South Sudan’s Episcopal Church, is now the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser on Anglican Communion Affairs.
Following a competitive recruitment process conducted by external consultants, Bishop Anthony was chosen for his new job by a sub-committee of the Anglican Communion’s Standing Committee.
He will take over for the Most Revd Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, who will step down following the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in Canterbury, Kent, in September.
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian denomination in the world. It is made up of 42 autonomous regional, national, and pan-national Churches (provinces) that are active in over 165 countries.
The Anglican Communion Churches are in communion (or relationship) with the Archbishop of Canterbury. They are structurally autonomous, with no “head office.”
The Anglican Communion Office, the international secretariat servicing the four “Instruments of Communion” – often known as the “Instruments of Unity” – is directed by the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates’ Meeting, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the Lambeth Conference are all examples.
The Archbishop of South Sudan, the Most Revd Justin Badi-Arama, is the Primate of Bishop Anthony’s home-province – the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. He said: “We thank God that out of the suffering Church in South Sudan, God has raised bishop Anthony to this highest position.
“He is coming at a time that the Anglican Communion is facing many challenges. But as Mordecai said to Esther; We trust God that ‘may be it is for such a time like this that God brought up’ (Ester 4:14).
“We encourage him to always be guided by the scriptures as we support him in prayers.”
The present Secretary General, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), said: “I give glory to the Lord for the appointment of Bishop Anthony Poggo as Secretary General of Anglican Communion. He is endowed with many gifts and it is my prayer that he would bring it all to his ministry within and beyond the Anglican Communion.
“I look forward to our working briefly together before handing over to him after the Lambeth Conference. May the Lord equip Bishop Anthony for a fruitful ministry as the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.”
The Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), Archbishop Paul Kwong from the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, said: “I warmly welcome Bishop Anthony Poggo as Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. He will bring to the Communion many gifts in particular to the Anglican Consultative Council.
“His vision of the Communion and her mission, not to mention the incredible breath of experience, will be an invaluable asset to the Communion. I look forward to serving with him at ACC and other instruments of Unity in the Communion.”
The Vice-Chair of the ACC, Canon Maggie Swinson from the Church of England, said: “I am delighted that Bishop Anthony will be taking up the role of Secretary General. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous role and I very much look forward to working with him.”
