Timothy Livingstone (Amboko) Wambunya (born 1966) is an Anglican bishop.[1] He was the Anglican Bishop of Butere in Kenya[2] until September 2020, when he resigned and left Kenya after recovering from COVID-19.[3] In 2024, he was announced as the next Bishop of Wolverhampton, an area bishop in the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield;[4] which See he took up on 15 October.[5]

Early life and education

Timothy Wambunya was born in Kenya. He came to the United Kingdom aged 19, and spent seven years in the navy before training for the priesthood.[6]

Wambunya gained a BA in theology from Middlesex University in 1996, followed by a Master's in Philosophy from Oxford University and a PhD in Paremiology from the University of Wales.[7]

He studied at the Simon of Cyrene Theological Institute, then at Oak Hill College in London, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994.[1][4]

Clerical career

Wambunya took orders in the Church of England: he was made deacon at Petertide 1997 (28 June) by Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, at St Paul's Cathedral;[8] and ordained priest the following Petertide (4 July 1998) by Graham Dow, Bishop of Willesden, at St Martin's Church, Ruislip.[9] He served his curacy at St John's Church, Southall, and was ordained priest in 1998.[4] In 2000 he became a team vicar in the Tollington parish, serving at Emmanuel Church, Holloway; and in 2007 was appointed principal of the Church Army's Carlile College in Nairobi, Kenya.[1][4]

Wambunya was consecrated as the third Bishop of Butere on 6 October 2013,[10] succeeding Horace Etemesi (1993–2003) and Michael Joshua Sande (2003–2013).[11][12] As Bishop of Butere he attended and led a seminar at the 2018 Global Anglican Future Conference, but he would later criticise the movement, saying in 2020 "Personally, I think the Gafcon axis has become obsessed with the matter of sexuality."[13][14]

In 2020 he left Kenya and his episcopal role, and in September was appointed vicar of St Paul's Church in Slough, a 'resource church' in the Church of England Diocese of Oxford;[15] he also became an honorary assistant bishop of that diocese in 2021.[16]

In 2024 he was announced as the next Bishop of Wolverhampton, an area bishop in the Diocese of Lichfield.[4][17] His welcome service was scheduled for 15 October 2024;[18] he duly took up his See on that date.[5]

In September 2024, Wambunya was formally rebuked by the Church of England after ordaining Revd Wamare Juma of the Revealed Evangelical Mission, a "non-denominational para-church" not in communion with the Church of England, as a bishop in a service in Germany in April of that year.[19][20] He apologised, attributing his actions to his "lack of understanding of the polity of the Church within which I am now serving".[21]

Personal life

He is married to Gertrude and has three sons.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Crockford's Clerical Directory. Church House Publishing. 2022. ISBN 978-0-7151-1184-0.
  2. ^ Office, Anglican Communion. "Anglican Communion: Position". Anglican Communion Website. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  3. ^ "Butere ACK Bishop Wambunya quits five months after Covid-19 attack". The Star. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Wolverhampton". UK Government. 27 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Fifth Bishop of Wolverhampton welcomed in Walsall's Church on the Hill". Diocese of Lichfield. 23 October 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Intensive care battle for life by Slough's new vicar". Slough & South Bucks Observer. 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ Amalemba, Robert. "My hustle was selling UK suits to Kenyans - ACK Butere Diocese, BishopTimothy Wambunya". Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  8. ^ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 7013. 11 July 1997. p. 6. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  9. ^ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 7065. 10 July 1998. p. 17. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  10. ^ "The Rt Revd Timothy Wambunya on World Anglican Clerical Directory". World Anglican Clerical Directory. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  11. ^ "Butere - ACK". www.ackenya.org. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  12. ^ "Our Story". ACK Diocese of Butere. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  13. ^ Dominic Steele (29 June 2018). Bishop Sheldon Mwedigwa and Bishop Tim Wambunya - Monday 180618. Gafcon. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  14. ^ Michael, Mark (20 January 2020). "Seeking Communion in the Midst of Disagreement". The Living Church. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  15. ^ "'Life and death' struggle against Coronavirus by Slough's new vicar". Slough Observer. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  16. ^ "Appointments". Church Times. No. 8275. 22 October 2021. p. 30. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  17. ^ "No. 64512". The London Gazette. 12 September 2024. p. 17626.
  18. ^ "Downing Street announces next area bishop of Wolverhampton". Diocese of Lichfield. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  19. ^ Martin, Francis (6 September 2024). "Next Bishop of Wolverhampton regrets part in non-canonical ordination". Church Times. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  20. ^ "CDM Penalties imposed (under sections: 16 | 30 | 31)". Church of England. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  21. ^ Tim Wambunya (12 October 2024). "From The Rt Revd Dr Tim Wambunya". Diocese of Lichfield. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Wambunya
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