Bishop David Russell, a long-time fighter in the South African church’s struggle against apartheid and injustice, has died at the age of 75.
The retired bishop of Grahamstown, he spent his entire ministry working with the marginalized and the oppressed–from the migrant workers, to those being removed and dumped elsewhere under the policies of apartheid.
After becoming bishop, he ordained the first female priest in Southern Africa, and he pushed the church to recognize same-gender unions.