Karowei Dorgu
Woyin Karowei Dorgu (born June 1958) is a Nigerian-born Church of England bishop and former medical doctor. He has been the Bishop of Woolwich, an area bishop in the Diocese of Southwark, since his consecration on 17 March 2017.
Karowei Dorgu | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Woolwich | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwark |
| In office | 17 March 2017 – present |
| Predecessor | Michael Ipgrave |
| Other posts | Vicar of St John the Evangelist Church, Upper Holloway (2012–2017) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1 July 1995 (deacon) 1996 (priest) |
| Consecration | 17 March 2017 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Woyin Karowei Dorgu |
| Born | June 1958 (age 62) Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Mosun |
| Children | Two |
| Alma mater | University of Lagos London Bible College Oak Hill College |
Early life and education
Dorgu was born in June 1958 in Burutu, Nigeria.[1] From 1979 to 1985, he studied at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, graduating with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees.[1][2] He then worked as a general practitioner (GP).[3]
In 1987, Dorgu moved to the United Kingdom.[4] From 1990 to 1993, he studied theology at the London Bible College, an evangelical theological college in Northwood, Greater London.[1] He completed a Diploma in Evangelism in 1991, a Diploma in Pastoral Studies in 1993, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1993.[1][2] In 1993, he entered Oak Hill College, a Conservative Evangelical theological college, to train for ordained ministry.[2] He left after two years to be ordained in the Church of England.
Ordained ministry
Dorgu was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon, by David Hope, Bishop of London, on 1 July 1995 at St Paul's Cathedral;[5] and as a priest in 1996.[2] From 1995 to 1998, he served his curacy at St Mark's Church, Tollington Park, Islington in the Diocese of London.[1][3] He then joined St John the Evangelist Church, Upper Holloway; he served as an assistant curate/associate vicar from 1998 to 2000, team vicar from 2000 to 2012, and was the Vicar (incumbent) from 2012.[1][2] On 6 March 2016, he was additionally made a prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral.[6]
Episcopal ministry
On 20 December 2016, Dorgu was announced as the next Bishop of Woolwich, a suffragan and area bishop in the Diocese of Southwark.[3] He was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, during service at Southwark Cathedral on 17 March 2017.[1][7] At the end of the service, John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, gifted Dorgu a mitre; this mitre had been given to Sentamu by Wilfred Wood, the first black bishop in the Church of England and a former bishop of the Diocese of Southwark.[7] As such, Dorgu became the first ever Nigerian bishop in the Church of England,[8] and the only black bishop to be consecrated in the Church of England since Sentamu in 1996.[4]
Views
Dorgu identifies with the evangelical tradition of the Church of England.[4] He supports the Church's current position on human sexuality; it defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and requires gay clergy to be celibate.[4]
Personal life
Dorgu is married to Mosun; she also trained as a medical doctor in Nigeria and now works as a consultant child psychiatrist.[8] Together they have two sons: Timi and Josh (died 2015).[3][9]
References
- "Bishop of Woolwich Appointed". southwark.anglican.org. Diocese of Southwark. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- "Woyin Karowei Dorgu". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- "Suffragan Bishop of Woolwich: Dr Dorgu". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- Sherwood, Harriet (20 December 2016). "Church of England appoints first black bishop in 20 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- "Petertide ordinations (cont.)". Church Times (#6908). 7 July 1995. p. 8. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 21 December 2016 – via UK Press Online archives.
- "Report and Consolidated Accounts" (PDF). St Paul's Cathedral. 31 December 2015. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- "Karowei Dorgu consecrated as Bishop of Woolwich". London SE1. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- Gledhill, Ruth (20 December 2016). "First Nigerian Bishop In Church of England Counters Islamist Terror With Message Of Love In Jesus Christ". Christian Today. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- "New Bishop of Woolwich is 'pastoral and joyful' former student". Oak Hill Blog. Oak Hill College. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.