By Aldrin Peloko, Communications Officer for the Anglican Church of Melanesia

The Anglican Church of Melanesia has a new bishop for the Diocese of Banks and Torres.

The Diocese of Banks and Torres Electoral Board of the Anglican Church of Melanesia has today elected the Revd Patteson Alfred Worek as the third Bishop for the Diocese of Banks and Torres. The meeting which was preceded by a retreat yesterday was held at Tete Ni Kolivutu, East of Honiara.

The Revd Patteson Worek is currently undertaking a Master of Theology Studies at the Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji. He graduated with a Bachelor in Theology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1998.

He was ordained Priest in 2000 and has served as a priest in various districts in the Diocese of Banks and Torres. His last posting was as the Mission Secretary of the Anglican Church of Melanesia Board of Mission, based at the Provincial Head Office in Honiara. He left the post at the end of 2012 to undertake his post graduate studies in Fiji.

The Revd Patteson Alfred Worek, 47, comes from Motalava in the Banks and Torres group in Vanuatu. He is married to Annette Nerry Worek and they have five children.

He will replace Bishop Nathan Tome who left the post in May 2013 after being elected the Bishop of Guadalcanal.

The consecration is expected to take place during the first half of 2014 at the Diocesan Head Quarters at Sola, Vanuatu. In the meantime the Archbishop of the Church of Melanesia calls on all members of the Church to uphold the Revd Patteson Worek and his family in prayer as they prepare to take on this important responsibility within the church.