Abp. Consecrates Arab Bishop

Adapted from the Diocese of Egypt

Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis consecrated the Rev. Samy Fawzy Shehata as the first Arab area bishop for North Africa on Feb. 27, calling him his dear brother.

Bishop Shehata succeeds the Rt. Rev. Bill Musk, who presided over the diocese encompassing Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya since 2008. Bishop Musk participated in the consecration, and the archbishop thanked him for his service.

The Rt. Rev. Grant LeMarquand of the Horn of Africa and the Rt. Rev. Michael Lewis of Cyprus and the Gulf joined the archbishop as co-consecrators.

Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America, Archbishop Rennis Ponniah of Singapore, and other Anglican representatives from across the world also attended the service.

Bishop Lewis conveyed the congratulations of Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, welcoming Bishop Shehata into the fellowship of Anglican servant leadership.

Archbishop Welby also praised the Diocese of Egypt for its role as a bridge between Muslims and Christians as well as among the various Christian denominations.

He issued a firm plea to the government of Egypt to continue recognizing the Anglican Church as an independent denomination, in light of legal disputes that jeopardize this status.

Bishop Shehata graduated from Cairo University in 1985 with a degree in engineering, but set aside his career to pursue Christian ministry. Later he obtained a doctorate in theology from Birmingham University, and upon returning to Egypt was ordained to serve the church in Alexandria, where he was appointed dean in 2013.

Archbishop Anis said Bishop Fawzy Shehata distinguished in his pastoral care, especially “among the wounded, oppressed, and marginalized.”

“Truly the church needs trustworthy shepherds who love the Lord with all their hearts, and who will exert every effort to guide the people of God to live out the message of Christ, the message of love,” Archbishop Anis said. “I have seen this in Dean Samy.”

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