"Ungusobaba" (you are our father): the life of an Anglican bishop, Lawrence Bekisisa Zulu (1937-2013+)

Abstract

This study seeks to document the role that Lawrence Bekisisa Zulu played in the Anglican Church in South Africa (ACSA), particularly in the dioceses of Zululand and Swaziland, as a bishop. It records the life story of Zulu as a leader whose gifts as a pastor, teacher and priest enriched the lives of many clergy and lay people. That Zulu was entrusted with leadership positions in three dioceses, also suggests the strength of his moral authority and spirituality. The study demonstrates how the context of colonialism and apartheid shaped Zulu’s approach to the issues of poverty and human dignity. Zulu’s contribution is evident especially in the manner in which he as a community leader tried to enhance social development by fostering the spirit of self-reliance through his pastoral ministry, consequently striving to assert the dignity of humanity.