THE Bishop of Botswana, the Rt Revd Trevor Mwamba, is to move to take a parish post in east London.

Bishop Mwamba, who trained as a lawyer, is a theologian. He has worked as a mediator within the Province of Central Africa, and has called for moderation over the issue of homosexuality, urging African Churches to concentrate on social and economic problems instead ( News, 6 November 2009). He has also spoken frequently about the excommunicated former bishop Nolbert Kunonga ( News, 28 September).

Bishop Mwamba has been appointed Team Rector in the Barking Team Ministry from March 2013. He will also serve as an assistant bishop in the diocese of Chelmsford.

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, said that Bishop Mwamba would "light up the Church" in the area. "Bishop Trevor and I were exact contemporaries at theological college in Oxford, 31 years ago. Now we will be working together in Essex and east London. Barking is getting a man of rare wisdom, good humour, and experience."

Bishop Mwamba said: "I look forward to connecting pastorally with the diversity of people found in Barking, and enabling others to engage with the needs of the parish."

He has a degree in law from the University of Zambia, and in theology from the University of Oxford, and also holds an honorary doctorate from Yale University. He trained for the priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford, and was ordained at St Luke's, Chelsea, in London, serving his curacy in All Saints', Notting Hill, before returning to Zambia. He later worked as assistant chaplain at Keble College, Oxford, and assistant priest at Wolvercote, North Oxford.

Harvest warning. In his harvest sermon last Sunday, Bishop Cottrell, highlighted water and food insecurity, and urged people to think about their diet and what impact their consumption has on the earth. Bishop Cottrell also apologised to farmers: "We have taken you for granted for too long. We need you, and the world needs you."