THEY do not yet have one of their own (although Scotland voted
for women bishops ten years ago), but the Bishop of
Brechin, the Rt Revd Nigel Peyton, recently
welcomed the first African woman bishop, the Rt Revd Elinah
Wamukoya, of Swaziland (far left) (Feature, 8
November), together with the Bishop of Iowa, the Rt Revd Alan
Scarfe, to a special celebration service in St Paul's Cathedral, in
Dundee (Letters, 27
September).
It was a service to recognise the unique and special
relationship between the dioceses of Brechin, Iowa, and Swaziland,
which started with the American diocese in 1982, and with the
African diocese in 1989. Dr Peyton says that it is one of the
longest-standing such links in the Anglican Communion.
Visits are exchanged, and Brechin contributes towards education
and work with women and pre-school children in Swaziland, which
suffers greatly from HIV/AIDS. "However," he says, "I sometimes
think we learn as much by welcoming visitors to our country, and
listening attentively to their questions and polite critique of
what they experience.
"The relative wealth and accompanying sense of entitlement in
British and American culture is a real shock to the Swazis."