Consecration of the Venerable Rajan Vincent Jacob as Area Bishop for Gambella

On September 11th, 2019, in All Saints Cathedral, Cairo, the Ven. Rajan Vincent Jacob, Archdeacon of Gambella, was consecrated as Area Bishop of Gambella by the Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani, Archbishop and Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East.  The sermon for the occasion was given by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis, Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

A native of India, Bishop Rajan received his training for ministry at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, and holds advanced degrees in New Testament and Philosophy & Religion.  Before accepting a call in 2015 to serve as Priest in Charge of Christ the King Anglican Church in Tripoli, Libya, he taught theology, first at Hindustan Bible College, and then at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological Seminary, and served congregations of the Church of South India for over twenty years.  In 2018 he was appointed Archdeacon of Gambella, Ethiopia.  He and his wife, Dr Ruby Ebenezar, have two children, Rowena and Ronan.

As Area Bishop of Gambella, Bishop Rajan’s priorities are threefold.  Of first importance, and as highlighted by Bishop Mouneer in his sermon, he will seek to raise up and train Christian leaders, particularly through St Frumentius Theological College.  Secondly, Bishop Rajan will give oversight to community development projects such as a boarding school for girls, a school for the underprivileged, a clean-water project, and small business ventures.  Thirdly, he will continue to promote peace-building through youth ministry and the mother’s union.

May God bless the new Area Bishop and cause his ministry to bear much fruit!