John Osmers

The Right Reverend
John Robert Osmers
CNZM
Bishop of Eastern Zambia
Church Anglican
Province Central Africa
Personal details
Born 1934
Sydenham, New Zealand

John Robert Osmers CNZM (born 1934) is a New Zealand-born anti-apartheid activist and former Anglican Bishop of Eastern Zambia.[1][2]

Osmers was raised in a vicarage in New Zealand, after completing his schooling he travelled and studied, while in England he decided to become an Anglican priest. He attended a seminary in England and was ordained in 1961.

Trevor Huddleston encouraged him to join the Diocese of Lesotho in Southern Africa, Osmers was involved for 14 years with the Student Christian Movement. Working in Lesotho he became committed to the struggle to free South Africa from Apartheid. In 1979 Osmers and Michael Lapsley wrote to Bill Burnett, archbishop of Cape Town complaining about statements Burnett had made about the World Council of Churches financing of liberation movements in Southern Africa.[3] The South African authorities attempted to kill Osmers and activist lawyer Phyllis Naidoo[4] with a parcel bomb in 1979. His left hand was blown off in the blast. Osmers was expelled from Lesotho and sought refuge in Lusaka, Zambia. While in Lusaka he adopted a role as a chaplain to the ANC.[5]

Osmers transferred to Molepolole, Botswana and worked in this semi-rural area for a number of years. He was elected the first bishop of the new diocese of Eastern Zambia in 1995, and retired in 2003. Subsequently, he directed Zambia’s Anglican seminary in Kitwe, retiring in 2011. After that he was assistant bishop of Lusaka.[6]

Honours

In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours, Osmers was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Anglican Church.[7] He received the Archbishop of Cape Town's Award for Peace with Justice in 2016.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Honouring the Prophets John Osmers – a Voice in Africa". The Common Good. 2004. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  2. 1 2 Makgoba, Thabo (18 April 2016). "An award for Bishop John Osmers; Sermon at Cathedral of the Holy Cross". archbishop.anglicanchurchsa.org. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  3. ↑ The Living Church. Morehouse-Gorham Company. 1979. p. 26.
  4. ↑ "Phyllis Naidoo". South African History Online. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  5. ↑ Michael, The Revd Mark (4 October 2016). "Bishop with a Refugee's Spirit - The Living Church". livingchurch.org. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  6. ↑ Osmers, John (10 September 2015). "Cessation of Rwandan Refugee Status: Two Years On". Lusaka Voice. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  7. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2007". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

External links

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