Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News
Appointment of the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore
Related Categories: South East Asia
On Saturday, 12th May 2012, at the 22nd Session of Synod, The Most Revd Bolly Lapok, the Archbishop of the Province of South East Asia announced that The Right Revd Rennis Ponniah has been appointed the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore.
A Special Synod in March 2012 had met to nominate candidates. The final selection was made by the House of Bishops at the Provincial level. The Installation service will take place sometime in October this year. The incumbent, The Right Revd Dr John Chew, will remain in office till 4th October 2012.
Bishop Rennis Ponniah, aged 56 years, has been the Vicar of one of the largest Anglican parishes, St John’s-St Margaret’s Church, since July 1993. In 2005, he was consecrated as Assistant Bishop. He is married to Amir and they have four children.
On his election, the Bishop-designate, The Right Revd Rennis Ponniah had this to say,
“With faith in God, I receive this immense responsibility. I am humbled by the trust invested in me by the clergy, the laity and the provincial bishops. I intend to build on the good work of Bishop John Chew and his predecessors, while seeking fresh ways to bring the love and hope of the “good news” of our faith to a multi-religious and constantly-changing society in a responsible and winsome way.”
He together with several others at the just completed Synod recognised Bishop John Chew’s sterling leadership in the last 12 years. Under Bishop Chew’s leadership, the Diocese and the Province had grown holistically and in so many ways: seeking the welfare of the city through community services, overseas outreach as well as the strengthening of our schools and local churches. Bishop Chew had also played a major role internationally, especially in standing for orthodoxy in faith and practice through the Global South grouping of Anglican Provinces, and in building a strong link between the Anglican Church in African states and the Christian Church in China. These are some of the areas that Bishop-elect Ponniah intends to build on.