Thinking Anglicans

Bishop of Willesden

The name of the next Area Bishop of Willesden has been announced from 10 Downing Street. There is more information at the Diocese of London website.

The Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Mission and Ministry Enabler, in the Diocese of Leicester, to the Suffragan See of Willesden, in the Diocese of London, in succession to The Right Reverend Peter Broadbent who resigned on 30th September 2021.

Background

Lusa was educated in Theology at the Faculté Universitaire de Théologie Protestante, Brussels and trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. He served his title at All Saints, Staplehurst, in the Diocese of Canterbury and was ordained Priest in 2009.

In 2012, Lusa was appointed Vicar at St Aidan, Gravesend, in the Diocese of Rochester and in 2017, he took up his current role as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Mission and Ministry Enabler in the Diocese of Leicester.

He is married to Mirjam who works as Discipleship Officer at Leicester Cathedral. They have three young children.

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Homeless Anglican
Homeless Anglican
2 years ago

Fabulous! Lusa is a rising star and I am thrilled his skills have been recognised in this way. He is wise, gentle and focussed and I pray he flourishes in his new role.

Fr Dean
Fr Dean
2 years ago

It does seem that the penny has at last dropped, there appears to be more BAME people being appointed to senior roles. The true test will be if black people are being appointed outside urban areas. So for example after the interim arrangement is concluded in Lincoln, perhaps a black person could be appointed to be bishop there. Alternatively, or indeed additionally, when Bishop Dakin’s gardening leave comes to an end in Winchester the Vacancy in See committee there might recommend a BAME person.

Rowland Wateridge
Rowland Wateridge
Reply to  Fr Dean
2 years ago

I would rather that the Winchester Vacancy in See Committee chose a man or woman solely on the basis of their vocation and, yes, holiness (a term which hardly ever gets mentioned in this context). Although I personally have no quarrel with Bishop Dakin (I have met him only once and he was courteous to me, but I accept that others have had different experiences) it’s clear that his successor will need to be a conciliatory peace-maker. I think there is already someone not very far away who could fit that bill. We shall wait and see.

Lister Tonge
Lister Tonge
Reply to  Fr Dean
2 years ago

Canterbury, pastored by the Bishop of Dover, has already passed your test as, surely, has York.

Fennie Strange
Fennie Strange
Reply to  Lister Tonge
2 years ago

York? I don’t think so!

Lister Tonge
Lister Tonge
Reply to  Fennie Strange
2 years ago

“ The true test will be if black people are being appointed outside urban areas.”

I was thinking of Sentamu as an example of the CofE’s having already demonstrated a willingness to do this. +Rose likewise.

Sorry if I’m missing something.

Fennie Strange
Fennie Strange
Reply to  Lister Tonge
2 years ago

Sentamu retired from York some time ago. I couldn’t see how Stephen Cottrell fitted the bill!

Bill Broadhead
Bill Broadhead
Reply to  Lister Tonge
2 years ago

I don’t know (and I shouldn’t infer from other people’s words things they never intended) but, as someone living on the boundaries of York Diocese, I can perfectly understand what Fennie may be getting at, especially if she is suggesting that the See of York’s previous incumbent did not exactly go out of his way to promote BAME candidates to his senior staff team. He did ordain his wife, though, despite her not having undergone safeguarding clearance at the time (as he later admitted to the IICSA).

John Henry
John Henry
Reply to  Fr Dean
2 years ago

I must be stupid because I always thought that the true test will be if the best man is chosen for the role (e.g. based on their spirituality, ability to preach the Gospel, show Christian leadership, etc etc) REGARDLESS of colour. no wonder the CofE is now an irrelevance.

Simon Bravery
Simon Bravery
2 years ago

The Diocesan article mentions that the candidates preached before sixth formers who gave feedback to the appointment panel. I understand something similar used to happen in the Church of Scotland. Candidates for a charge would preach before the elders. Now the elders are encouraged to go incognito to hear prospective ministers preaching at their current kirk.

I like the idea of involving sixth formers in this way. A hat tip to +Sarah for pushing the blue sky and thinking outside the envelope (or whatever the expression is).

Ann Reddecliffe
Ann Reddecliffe
2 years ago

This does show the commitment of Leicester to promoting UKME bishops. With the new bishop of Loughborough being UKME as well. Lusa is a great appointment and will be greatly missed here in Leicester. It has been clear for a long time that he was a bishop in waiting.

Charles Razzall
Charles Razzall
2 years ago

Good point made by Fr Dean.++Cottrell has opportunity to appoint suffragans to Hull and Beverley. ++Sentamu wasn’t able to appoint any BAME candidates to 4 episcopal/3 archidiaconal posts in his time as AB of Y.

Clifford Jones
Clifford Jones
2 years ago

I expect that the Bishops of Barking and Willesden will be consecrated at the same service?

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