Dr Dalcy Dlamini elected Bishop of Swaziland

The Very Revd Dr Dalcy Badeli Dlamini of the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist has been elected the new Bishop of Swaziland.

Dr Dlamini was elected on the third ballot at a meeting of the Electoral College of Bishops conducted online from Bishopscourt in Cape Town on Thursday December 1.

She becomes the second woman bishop in Eswatini, and the fourth woman bishop in the Province of Southern Africa. She succeeds Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya, who died of Covid-related causes early in 2020.

After an early career as a teacher, Dr Dlamini was ordained in the Diocese of Swaziland, where she ministered in various capacities, including at the Universty of Swaziland, until 2020. Her PhD in Practical Theology was awarded by the University of Pretoria in 2020.

In that year, she moved to the Diocese of St Mark, where she was Diocesan Dean of Studies and Rector and Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Polokwane.

She has served on the international Anglican/Lutheran Commission and is a member of the Steering Group of the International Anglican Women’s Network.

From the website of Christ Church Cathedral, Polokwane:

The Very Revd Dr Dalcy Badeli Dlamini (née Nsibande) was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Swaziland in December 2006 and served her curacy at St George and St James Parish in Manzini. She was priested in January 2008 and became Chaplain of St Michael’s Chapel in Manzini. Between 2010 and 2016 while still serving at St Michael’s she was also tasked as Priest-in-Charge of Zombodze Parochial District, in Manzini and The University of Swaziland Chapel.  She was the School Chaplain at St Michael’s Chapel.

Ven. Dalcy was appointed as the 2nd Dean of the Cathedral after its consecration on the 18th of June 2020, she was installed as the Dean on the 7th of November 2020, by the Rt Revd. Luke Pretorius. 

Dalcy has a Diploma in Education from the University of Swaziland (Nazarene Teacher Training College) and she served as a Primary School teacher for ten years. She obtained a Diploma in Theology from The College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown, South Africa in 2007. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Practical Theology in 2014, at the University of Pretoria. In 2017 she was conferred with a Master of Arts in Practical Theology by the University of Pretoria and in 2020 completed her Doctorate with the same University. 

Dalcy has served as Sunday school Chaplain in the Diocese of Swaziland for four years and has been Chairperson of Liviyo Labofakazi in the Diocese for many years, which also lead to her role as Vice chairperson for Provincial Liviyo (a member of Anglican Renewal Ministries). She is comfortable in worshipping in both high and low settings of the Anglican Church.

Dalcy and Anthony are passionate with young people and they have been involved in youth ministry since they were young too.