Clergy

There are just over 70 Priests and 17 Deacons in the Diocese. Ebenezer Ntlali is the Bishop. Some of the priests are employed by the College of the Transfiguration and other Church institutions, and a number are retired.

Less than half of the Clergy are stipendiary (i.e. paid by the Diocese). Almost all the deacons are non-stipendiary. In addition, some formerly stipendiary priests who are on pension, are actively engaged in parish ministry.

This means that much of the ministry in the Diocese rests upon non-stipendiary priests. Some of them earn their living at secular employment during the week, while others have means, such as e.g. a pension from former employment, which enable them to engage in ministry full-time. The self-supporting clergy include about a dozen who are rectors or priests-in-charge of parishes. The rest are attached to parishes to assist the rector, and at times when there is an interregnum, may also find themselves with the responsibility for a parish. The retired clergy have Permission to Officiate, and help out from time to time, unless they are too frail or aged.

Woman Priests
Grahamstown was the first Diocese in the ACSA to ordain women as priests, in 1992. There are now over 25 woman clergy in the Diocese, mostly self-supporting. Among the Deacons women are now in the majority (9 women, 8 men).