About Bishop David
Beetge
ACIS B.Th (hons) M.A.
Click here for the Bishop's Diary 2007
Bishop David Beetge was born in Witbank, South
Africa in 1948. He worked in commerce for a
time, completing his Chartered Institute of
Secretaries and Administrators examination and
being Company Secretary of ICI (South Africa)
Limited.
He received his theological education at St
Paul’s Theological College in Grahamstown.
He subsequently obtained both his Bachelors
and Honours Degrees in Theology through the
University of South Africa. He obtained his
Masters Degree in Theology from the University
of Natal.
Bishop David was ordained Deacon at St Mary’s
Cathedral, Johannesburg in December 1980 and
was ordained Priest at the same Cathedral in
December 1981.
In 1981 and 1982 he served as curate at St
Boniface’s Church, Germiston and in June
1983 he completed a 3 month course on Ignatian
Spirituality at St. Beuno’s, Wales.
On 30th July 1983 he married Carol Lesley Ashley.
He was instituted as Rector of St Boniface’s
Church, Germiston in April 1984 and as Rector
and Archdeacon of Springs in January 1987.

Bishop David acted as Vicar-General in the
absence of the Regional Bishop and was appointed
Vicar General of the Diocese of South Eastern
Transvaal at the inauguration of the Diocese
on 6th January 1990. He was consecrated Bishop
of the Diocese of South Eastern Transvaal on
9th March 1990.
In January 1998 the name of the Diocese was
changed to the Diocese of the Highveld. It spans
two provinces - Mpumalanga and Gauteng. The
greater part of the Diocese covers the Eastern
Highveld region of Mpumalanga – an area
which stretches from the boundaries of Springs
and Nigel in Gauteng to the Swaziland border
in the East and to the Kwa Zulu Natal border
in the south-east. The remainder of the Diocese
covers the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
(formerly the East Rand region).
The Diocese daily faces many pressing and complex
issues, including the scourges of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, incredible poverty and the challenges
associated with the massive influx of immigrants
from Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
A large proportion of the population lives in
abject poverty, in informal settlements or shanty
towns without basic access to water, sewage
or electricity. In some rural areas, the rate
of unemployment is as much as 80 per cent.
The Diocese consists of 42 parishes, which
vary greatly in size and configuration. There
are approximately 60 licensed clergy seven of
whom are women. There are also 21 retired clergy
resident in the Diocese. The hunger and desire
in the Highveld for the love and ministry of
Jesus Christ is truly tangible! Bishop David
believes very strongly in enabling the leadership
of both clergy and laity across the Diocese.
As an example of this, early in the life of
the Diocese the Bishop sought approval from
the Diocesan Council for an increase in the
number of Archdeaconries. The appointment of
additional Archdeacons that followed this enabled
a closer link to be forged between the eight
Archdeacons and the clergy in their areas. In
addition, Bishop David has been committed from
the start to ensuring that members of the clergy
are offered opportunities to continue their
education in a wide sphere of ministries. This
includes encouraging individual clergy and lay
leaders to continue with their studies through
TEE College, Universities and other institutions,
as well as setting up Clergy Schools, through
which a variety of skills have been taught over
the years.
At Provincial level Bishop David has served
in a number of key portfolios and is currently
Dean of the Church of the Province of Southern
Africa.
In addition to his duties as Dean of the Province,
he is Liaison Bishop for Provincial Staff; Liaison
Bishop and Chair of Anglican HIV/AIDS programmes
for Southern Africa; Co-Chairman of Anglican-Roman
Catholic Bishops’ Consultation; Deputy
Chairman of the CPSA Pension Fund Board Trustees
(including the Pension Board Investment Advisory
Committee); the Anglican Consultative Council
Episcopal representative (Nottingham 2005);
World Council of Churches Episcopal representative
(General Assembly 2006); Co-chairman of the
International Anglican/Roman Catholic Commission
for Unity and Mission and member of the Lambeth
Commission. His Diocesan portfolios include
that of Chairman of St Dunstan’s College
Council; Chairman of Highveld Anglican Board
of Social Responsibility and Chairman of Board
for Theological Education and Reflection.
Bishop David is a man of deep spirituality
and prayer and has conducted a number of prayer
schools and retreats for clergy and laity.
Bishop David is a man for our time and age
and someone whom we are very proud to have as
our Diocesan Bishop.
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