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.