The Bible teacher for the Anglican Church in North America’s June Assembly meeting, The Rt. Rev. Rennis Ponniah, has been chosen to be the next bishop in the Diocese of Singapore and will succeed The. Most Rev. Dr. John Chew, who is retiring this year.
The announcement was made by Archbishop Bolly Lapok on May 12, during the Province of South East Asia’s synod meeting and the installation service for Bishop Ponniah will take place in October of this year.
“We pray God’s richest blessings on Bishop Ponniah as he prepares to lead the Diocese of Singapore and thank Archbishop John Chew for his faithful service. We are grateful for the bold stand the Diocese has taken to support not only the Anglican Church in North America, but to hold fast to the authority of Scripture. We are especially thankful to have Bishop Ponniah joining us as our Bible teacher for our June Assembly meeting,” said The Ven. Canon Dr. Jack Lumanog, Canon for Provincial and Global Mission, Anglican Church in North America.
According to the Diocese of Singapore, Bishop Rennis Ponniah, 56, has been Vicar of one of its largest Anglican parishes, St John’s-St Margaret’s Church, since July 1993 and was consecrated as Assistant Bishop in 2005. He is widely regarded as one of the leading Bible teachers in the worldwide Anglican family.
“With faith in God, I receive this immense responsibility. I am humbled by the trust invested in me by the clergy, the laity and the provincial bishops. I intend to build on the good work of Bishop John Chew and his predecessors, while seeking fresh ways to bring the love and hope of the ‘good news’ of our faith to a multi-religious and constantly-changing society in a responsible and winsome way,” said Bishop Ponniah.
To read the full announcement from the Diocese of Singapore, please click here.
Photo caption/credit: Bishop Rennis Ponniah, Diocese of Singapore
