The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee has a warm relationship with the Diocese of Kondoa, located in Tanzania, Africa. Several of our folks, clergy and lay, from across the diocese have been on pilgrimages there, and Bishop Given Guala and his wife, the Rev. Lillian Guala, have visited East Tennessee three times.

Our most recent journey to Kondoa was in June 2018, led by the Rev. Dorrie Pratt and the Rev. Cal Calhoun; it was Bishop Brian’s first visit. The pilgrimage was to help the Gualas ordain the first female deacons in Kondoa, and to baptize and confirm hundreds of new Christians – all during worship held in Anglican churches in small villages that are not found on any map and are sometimes hard to find. Strong bonds have been formed during the life-changing pilgrimages. A resolution at our 2017 Diocesan Convention asked our diocese to consider a companion diocese relationship with Kondoa.

Watch this video created by Jody Davis, diocesan youth coordinator, from photos taken during the 2018 pilgrimage.