George Ambo
George Ambo | |
---|---|
Archbishop of Papua New Guinea | |
Church | Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea |
See | Popondetta (1977–1989) |
In office | 1983–1989 |
Other post(s) | Assistant Bishop of New Guinea (1960–1977) |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1958 |
Consecration | 1960 |
Personal details | |
Born | 25 November 1922 near Gona |
Died | 6 July 2008 Popondetta |
Sir George Ambo
Early life
He was born among the Somboba people, one of seven children (with five sisters and a brother), the son of the clan's specially trained and initiated master of traditional dances. He learnt to dance in turn, and "had become a leader of the dance [...] before he started school", which he did in 1934, at an Anglican mission school. He was baptised and given the name "George" the following year.[4][5]
He subsequently became a teacher at All Souls school in
Ministry
He married in 1946, and, in 1949, was transferred to Eiwo in the Kokoda hills. In 1952, he began training as a deacon at Newton Theological College at Dogura, and was ordained deacon in 1955, then priest in 1958. In 1959, he was registered by the government as a teacher and was posted to the mission in Boianai. To spread his teachings and reach the people of the area, "scattered through the rugged southern reaches of the Owen Stanley mountain range, Ambo often swam storm-swollen rivers in his shorts".[citation needed]
On October 28, 1960, he was consecrated as the first Papuan bishop and the first native bishop in the South Pacific, at St John’s Cathedral in
Cargo cult controversy and excommunication
In 2007, he was
Following Ambo's death in 2008. the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea reported that he had reconciled with the church, asking for forgiveness, confessing and receiving absolution before his death. The church released the following statement:[12]
The late Father had started this ministry 'Puwo Gave Ministry (PGM)' ... to help Anglicans who had drifted away from the Church. This very good intention had been abused by his fellowship, mainly PGM Co-ordinators, who used the good name and reputation of this great man for their own ends to spread false messages and teaching such as 'Cargo Cult', in order to gain for themselves money and popularity. The late Father was not aware that these followers of his were misrepresenting him and using him for their own selfish ends.
It called upon the Puwo Gave Ministry's leaders to "say sorry to God for misrepresenting the late Father through their private confessions and return to work with their parish priests and congregations", so as to enable a reconciliation of the province's Anglicans.
See also
References
- ^ "Ambo a man of two worlds" Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Post Courier, July 11, 2008
- ^ "Religion: South Pacific First", Time, November 21, 1960
- ^ "Article on the Death of Bishop Sir George Ambo", Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
- ^ "Ambo a man of two worlds" Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Post Courier, July 11, 2008
- ^ "Religion: South Pacific First", Time, November 21, 1960
- ^ "Ambo a man of two worlds" Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Post Courier, July 11, 2008
- ^ "Ambo a man of two worlds" Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Post Courier, July 11, 2008
- ^ "Ambo a man of two worlds" Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Post Courier, July 11, 2008
- ^ "Religion: South Pacific First", Time, November 21, 1960
- ^ "How Oro cult has prospered" Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, Post Courier, August 7, 2007
- ^ "PNG cult leader absolved of sin", Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association, January 30, 2009
- ^ "Article on the Death of Bishop Sir George Ambo", Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea