Umzi Wase Tiyopiya - Ityalike Yomdibaniso ACC

BRIEF HISTORY :

17 March 1896 The Ethiopian Movement conference was held at Hamanskraal in Pretoria under the leadership of Rev Mangena M. Mokone. It was in this conference that Rev James Matta Dwane joined this group which was to forge links with the AME Church in America and Rev JM Dwane was already a leading Minister in the Methodist Church who was tired of racism in that church. The theme of this conference was taken from Psalm 68: 31 "...NeTiyopiya yobehle izolulele kuThixo izandla zayo..." This conference took a decision for the Ethiopian Movement to have a relationship with AME Church and elected Rev JM Dwane, Rev MM Mokone and FG Xaba to represent them at the AME conference in America. Rev JM Dwane took the trip alone to America as the other delegates could not go due to laws that were governing the then Orange Free State.

15 April 1896 Rev JM Dwane left the shores of South Africa for America to attend the AME conference. He only arrived in the US on 10th June 1896. This was exactly the day the conference was closing so he missed the whole conference. The relationship of the two churches was already discussed and accepted at the conference and Rev JM Dwane was ushered to meet Bishop Fletcher on behalf of the AME conference. Rev JM Dwane was then appointed Superintendent of the AME Church in Southern Africa. His elevation to be Superintendent took his people by surprise and was resisted as such.

22 September 1896 Rev JM Dwane returned from America with these news. A visit by the AME Bishop was on the cards to set things into right perspective.

7 April 1897 Rev JM Dwane convened a conference which was referred to as "Inkomfa Yomdibaniso" at Lesseyton near Queenstown.

1898 Bishop HM Turner arrived from America and two sessions of conference were arranged for him. It was in this conference where Rev JM Dwane was nominated to be Vicar-Bishop for the AME Church in Southern Africa.

27 April 1898 Rev JM Dwane again took a journey to America to study the doctrine of the AME and to tie up loose ends in their relationship with the AME, and moreover to make a follow up on the promises of money in support of their development programs such as funds to build a Technical College.

March 1899 Rev JM Dwane returned from America empty handed and the position had changed drastically than when Bishop Turner left South Africa. He did not get any support financially or otherwise. On his arrival he convened two conferences one in Bloemfontein and the other in Middledrift , Debe Marele in the King Williams Town district on the 6th October. It was after these two conferences when he convened an urgent meeting at Queenstown where the dissatisfaction with the manner in which the AME Church had treated him and his people was discussed and a decision was taken to sever ties with the AME Church. Together with Rev JM Dwane, thirty ministers resigned their membership with the AME church.

It was then after these meetings and decisions thereof that prompted Rev JM Dwane to write and petition the Archbishop of Cape Town requesting that the Church of the Province consecrate a Bishop for the Ethiopian Church and that three Bishops must perform this task. The Church of the Province gave the Ethiopian Church a new identity as The Order of Ethiopia.

January 1900 Rev JM Dwane met with Bishop Key to discuss his advances with the Archbishop in search of a Bishop for the Ethiopian Church. In February after consultation with other Bishops and Senior Clergy the Archbishop asked the Bishop of St John’s and the Bishop of Grahamstown and senior clerics to meet with the Ethiopian Committee at King Williams Town to listen to the needs of the Ethiopian Church. This meeting took two days.

August 1900 The Archbishop convened a meeting of all Bishops of the Province in Grahamstown to deliberate on the Ethiopian matter.

24 August 1900 Compact of 1900 was signed at Grahamstown This Compact was to enlist the Order of Ethiopia into the systems of the Church of the Province or as it is commonly known to make the Order of Ethiopia an integral part of the Church of the Province.

9 February 1916 Rev JM Dwane dies in Grahamstown.

As one can read this brief background of our forefathers we chose to be called Ityalike Yomdibaniso as a symbol that we are remnants of that church. We followed in Rev JM Dwane’s footprint when we went to America in the year 2009 when our former Secretary General, Rev Themba Mahuwa, represented our church in the College of Bishops and Provincial Synod respectively which was chaired by His Grace, Archbishop Mark Haverland PHD. Rev Mahuwa was carrying a mandate of the people of Umzi Wase Tiyopiya/ Ityalike Yomdibaniso to request a Bishop and for the church to be part of the Anglican Catholic Church and be guided as such.

On return our delegate to America never came back empty handed as all the requests that were presented in front of the two houses were accepted unanimously and Rev Mahuwa was asked to address the full session of Synod. Te Deum Laudamus!

10 April 2010 the election of the Bishop took place at All Saints Parish, Port Elizabeth. The then Vicar-General Rev Solomzi Samson Mentjies was elected unanimously as the First Bishop of Umzi Wase Tiyopiya / Ityalike Yomdibaniso.

7 October 2010 Ven Mentjies was consecrated Bishop in Florida , US accompanied by Ven Thembile Kakaza, Rev Frs Themba Mahuwa, Siphiwo Maqanda, Vuyisile Baatjies and Andile Ntamo who witnessed the Holy Spirit during the consecration service.

The Missionary Diocese the Eastern Cape was then conceived stretching out to Joubertina on the Western Side and to Queenstown on the Eastern side. With thirteen strong parishes the Diocese is growing in leaps and bounds with this year being declared year of “Mission and Evangelism” new work is being realized and attended to.