Mennonite World Conference mourns alongside its member church, Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania, following the death of Bishop Steven Mang’ana Watson on 4 March 2021, due to pneumonia. He had served our global family by representing Africa on the MWC Executive Committee since 2015.
Steven Mang’ana Watson joined the leadership of the Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania when he became an elder at the Arusha congregation in 1978. He was ordained as a pastor in 1997 in the Sinza congregation and then elected secretary of the KMT Eastern Diocese in 1998; he was subsequently appointed as a bishop in 2004. He served as vice-president and president of the Council of Bishops. Upon his retirement, he was president of the board of the Mennonite Theological College of East Africa (MTCEA).
Steven Mang’ana Watson (74) is survived by his wife, Faustine, their five children, and six grandchildren.
“Steven’s sudden passing robs us, for a time, of the opportunity to continue engaging with him. His sense of humour, wisdom and leadership are just a few of the qualities we remember with gratitude,” said César García, general secretary of MWC.
—Press release from Mennonite World Conference