Sentamu: Shepherd of the downtrodden
Sep 14, 2010
IN 2006, Archbishop John Sentamu cancelled his holiday to Austria and camped in a tent fasting and praying as part of public witness to encourage peace in the Middle -East.
IN 2006, Archbishop John Sentamu cancelled his holiday to Austria and camped in a tent fasting and praying as part of public witness to encourage peace in the Middle-East.
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
in Leeds, UK
IT was an unusually cold spring afternoon when John Sentamu, Archbishop of York visited Emmanuel Centre — the seat of Leeds Universities Chaplaincy. Important people usually make grand entrances; his was muted.
I remember noticing him from a distance, approaching the chaplaincy from the University Students Union in the company of Rev Daphne Green his research officer and Rev Matt Ward, the Leeds Universities Anglican chaplain and a few other people.
He ambled slowly to the towering Gothic centre, on the one hand looking very archbishopy in his maroon cassock and on the other, a rather ordinary clergy man as he balanced a cream fabric bag on his shoulders.
He walked through the door of the building to curious murmurs of students and chaplaincy staff that had been waiting to meet and greet the man of the cloth.
You still got a sense ecclesiastical serenity as the archbishop and his entourage made their way to the lounge in measured steps to fading murmurs from the expectant students and chaplaincy staff; and as we all stood to greet the visitors, a huge blanket of quiet engulfed us. Someone had to break the silence.
The archbishop’s visit was part of his pastoral tour to Leeds. He had taken this occasion to visit for the very first time, the university that would bestow upon him an honorary doctorate of laws, a few months later.
Archbishop Sentamu is among eight distinguished people that were honoured with honorary degrees by the University of Leeds in July. According to the university’s press office, this honour goes out to a few individuals who are distinguished by excellence, outstanding and sustained achievement in their work. Archbishop Sentamu was hailed for his selfless and exemplary leadership.
“John Sentamu is almost certainly more interested in witnessing ‘at the intersection where human need and God’s love meet’, in serving through prayer and action, and in standing alongside those who are vulnerable than he is in public recognition,†said Prof Kim Knott, professor of religious studies, while presenting Archbishop Sentamu to the chancellor on July 16.
She added: “His personality, humour and plain speaking, but also deep conviction and faith in communicating the relevance of the Christian Gospel at times of financial crisis, natural disaster and personal tragedy explain his reputation as the people’s archbishop.â€
Other recipients for the prestigious award were: Sir Stuart Rose, the executive chairman of British retailer, Marks and Spencer; John Simpson, BBC world affairs editor; Angel GurrÃa, secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Alan Yenton, the BBC’s creative director; Ingrid Roscoe, community worker; Elaine Oran, a scientist and Leslie Dixon, a community health and social care worker.
At our meeting, Archbishop Sentamu was modest about his award. “I am glad to have been honoured by the University of Leeds,†he said. He was more comfortable getting to know the students, inquiring about their studies, familes and countries of origin, cracking jokes and listening to their stories. The students seemed to enjoy his company and got along with him quite easily.
“Archbishop Sentamu was easy to talk to and friendly. He had a great interest in the student community and was friendly towards all the students who approached him. It was a great honour to meet with him and a pleasure to see that such a high profile public figure was at such ease among students and interested to hear our opinions,†Joshua Landy, one of the former student executive officers said.
Rev. Matt Ward, Anglican Chaplain of Leeds Universities chaplaincy describes the archbishop as a friendly, enthusiastic man: “A very good communicator who knows how to get his message across.â€
Throughout his pastoral life, Sentamu has been a shepherd of the downtrodden, a vigorous campaigner for peace, justice and equality in society. He has challenged corrupt world leaders, exploitative multinationals and fought for the rights of exploited workers and those denied justice.
His tendency to follow his words with actions always lent enormous weight to his messages.
In 2006, he cancelled his holiday to Austria and camped in a tent inside York Minster fasting and praying for seven days as part of ‘public witness to encourage peace in the Middle East. In 2007, he cut his dog collar on public television to protest President Mugabe’s atrocities in Zimbabwe.
The following year, he jumped 13,000ft out of a plane to raise money for the families of British soldiers injured in Afghanistan in 2008. It is such endearing outspokenness that has turned the archbishop into the voice of good council on one hand and a dramatic figure on the other.
And yet Sentamu has sometimes needed more than the weight of his actions to influence the course of events; today England’s second most senior clergyman is grappling with a crisis in the Church of England over the appointment of women bishops.
The archbishop’s pleas for compromise over the issue seem to have fallen on deaf ears beckoning difficult times for the church.
But it is such times that have made this man from the Mbogo (buffalo) clan stronger and able to weather all conditions; even unusually cold spring days.
ARCHBISHOP SENTAMU’S FACT FILE
Born 1949
Worked as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda
Fled Uganda for the UK in 1974
Graduated from Cambridge University with a master’s degree and a doctorate in theology. Ordained in1979
Served in parishes in Cambridge and London
Was vicar of Holy Trinity Church in South London for 13 years.
Appointed Bishop for Stepney in 1996, Bishop for Birmingham in 2002 and Archbishop of York in 2005.
He is Primate of England and Metropolitan, a member of the House of Lords and a Privy Councillor.
Is a strong advocate for peace and justice.
Was Adviser to the Stephen Lawrence (a black teenage murder victim) judicial inquiry and campaigned against guns, knives, drugs and gangs throughout the Midlands.
He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Enjoys music and is said to be a good cook, an avid reader, and a sports fan.
Is married to Margaret, and they have two grown-up children and two grown-up foster children.
Source:
www.archbishopofyork.org
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
in Leeds, UK
IT was an unusually cold spring afternoon when John Sentamu, Archbishop of York visited Emmanuel Centre — the seat of Leeds Universities Chaplaincy. Important people usually make grand entrances; his was muted.
I remember noticing him from a distance, approaching the chaplaincy from the University Students Union in the company of Rev Daphne Green his research officer and Rev Matt Ward, the Leeds Universities Anglican chaplain and a few other people.
He ambled slowly to the towering Gothic centre, on the one hand looking very archbishopy in his maroon cassock and on the other, a rather ordinary clergy man as he balanced a cream fabric bag on his shoulders.
He walked through the door of the building to curious murmurs of students and chaplaincy staff that had been waiting to meet and greet the man of the cloth.
You still got a sense ecclesiastical serenity as the archbishop and his entourage made their way to the lounge in measured steps to fading murmurs from the expectant students and chaplaincy staff; and as we all stood to greet the visitors, a huge blanket of quiet engulfed us. Someone had to break the silence.
The archbishop’s visit was part of his pastoral tour to Leeds. He had taken this occasion to visit for the very first time, the university that would bestow upon him an honorary doctorate of laws, a few months later.
Archbishop Sentamu is among eight distinguished people that were honoured with honorary degrees by the University of Leeds in July. According to the university’s press office, this honour goes out to a few individuals who are distinguished by excellence, outstanding and sustained achievement in their work. Archbishop Sentamu was hailed for his selfless and exemplary leadership.
“John Sentamu is almost certainly more interested in witnessing ‘at the intersection where human need and God’s love meet’, in serving through prayer and action, and in standing alongside those who are vulnerable than he is in public recognition,†said Prof Kim Knott, professor of religious studies, while presenting Archbishop Sentamu to the chancellor on July 16.
She added: “His personality, humour and plain speaking, but also deep conviction and faith in communicating the relevance of the Christian Gospel at times of financial crisis, natural disaster and personal tragedy explain his reputation as the people’s archbishop.â€
Other recipients for the prestigious award were: Sir Stuart Rose, the executive chairman of British retailer, Marks and Spencer; John Simpson, BBC world affairs editor; Angel GurrÃa, secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Alan Yenton, the BBC’s creative director; Ingrid Roscoe, community worker; Elaine Oran, a scientist and Leslie Dixon, a community health and social care worker.
At our meeting, Archbishop Sentamu was modest about his award. “I am glad to have been honoured by the University of Leeds,†he said. He was more comfortable getting to know the students, inquiring about their studies, familes and countries of origin, cracking jokes and listening to their stories. The students seemed to enjoy his company and got along with him quite easily.
“Archbishop Sentamu was easy to talk to and friendly. He had a great interest in the student community and was friendly towards all the students who approached him. It was a great honour to meet with him and a pleasure to see that such a high profile public figure was at such ease among students and interested to hear our opinions,†Joshua Landy, one of the former student executive officers said.
Rev. Matt Ward, Anglican Chaplain of Leeds Universities chaplaincy describes the archbishop as a friendly, enthusiastic man: “A very good communicator who knows how to get his message across.â€
Throughout his pastoral life, Sentamu has been a shepherd of the downtrodden, a vigorous campaigner for peace, justice and equality in society. He has challenged corrupt world leaders, exploitative multinationals and fought for the rights of exploited workers and those denied justice.
His tendency to follow his words with actions always lent enormous weight to his messages.
In 2006, he cancelled his holiday to Austria and camped in a tent inside York Minster fasting and praying for seven days as part of ‘public witness to encourage peace in the Middle East. In 2007, he cut his dog collar on public television to protest President Mugabe’s atrocities in Zimbabwe.
The following year, he jumped 13,000ft out of a plane to raise money for the families of British soldiers injured in Afghanistan in 2008. It is such endearing outspokenness that has turned the archbishop into the voice of good council on one hand and a dramatic figure on the other.
And yet Sentamu has sometimes needed more than the weight of his actions to influence the course of events; today England’s second most senior clergyman is grappling with a crisis in the Church of England over the appointment of women bishops.
The archbishop’s pleas for compromise over the issue seem to have fallen on deaf ears beckoning difficult times for the church.
But it is such times that have made this man from the Mbogo (buffalo) clan stronger and able to weather all conditions; even unusually cold spring days.
ARCHBISHOP SENTAMU’S FACT FILE
Source:
www.archbishopofyork.org