Raphael R. Samuel
{{Short description|21st-century Anglican bishop}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
Raphael Samuel (born 16 January 1957) is a Singaporean former Anglican Bishop of Bolivia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches/member-church/diocese/position.aspx?church=south-america&dio=bolivia&pos=bishop-of-bolivia&posID=19679|title=Position - South America - Bolivia}} He is the first Asian bishop in the Spanish speaking world.
Early life and education
Samuel studied at the Anglo-Chinese Schools.{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Derrick |date=27 May 2013 |title=Singapore missionary heads Anglican Church in Bolivia {{!}} The Straits Times |language=en |website=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-missionary-heads-anglican-church-in-bolivia |access-date=30 March 2023}} In 1974, he joined the Republic of Singapore Navy and left in 1980 to study at Trinity Theological College for four years.
Ecclesiastical career
In 1993, Samuel went to Bolivia as a missionary.{{Cite web |title=The Rt Revd Raphael Samuel on World Anglican Clerical Directory |url=https://www.worldanglican.com/bolivia/cochabamba/the-anglican-church-of-south-america/the-rt-revd-raphael-samuel |website=World Anglican Clerical Directory}}
In August 2012, Frank Lyons, Bishop of Bolivia, accepted an appointment as assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and left Bolivia after 11 years in Bolivia.{{cite web |title=Bishop of Bolivia Called as Assistant Bishop for Diocese of Pittsburgh |url=http://www.pitanglican.org/?main/page/272 |accessdate=11 September 2012}} A local was initially considered for the position but he withdrew from the position. Samuel was then elected as Bishop,
In 2013, Samuel was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Bolivia, one of seven dioceses in the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America (now called The Anglican Church of South America).
Personal life
References
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{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Christianity|portal3= Bolivia}}
{{Bishops of Bolivia}}
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Category:21st-century Anglican bishops in South America
Category:Anglican bishops of Bolivia
Category:Singaporean Christian clergy
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