Desmond Tutu Archbishop Emeritus, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Desmond Tutu was just 12 years old when he first met Father Trevor Huddleston, an Anglican cleric and an early outspoken critic of apartheid. While Archbishop Tutu's earliest aspirations were to follow the career path of his father and become a schoolteacher, the life, work and message of Father Huddleston would remain close to the future archbishop for years to come. After earning his teaching diploma and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa, Archbishop Tutu spent the next four years teaching at both his alma mater, Johannesburg Bantu High School, and Munsieville High School in Krugersdorp, where he met and married his wife, Leah.
In 1958, Archbishop Tutu decided to enter the ministry in the Church of the Province of Southern Africa and become an ordinand at St. Peter's Theological College, Rosettenville. After he was ordained to the priesthood in 1961, he left for London, where he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity Honours and Master of Theology degrees while acting as a part-time curate. Returning to South Africa in 1967, he became chaplain at the University of Fort Hare and later moved to the University of Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland in 1970, where he held the post of lecturer in the Department of Theology. He would also return to England to serve as associate director of the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches, based in Kent. His appointment in 1975 as dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg was brief as his election to Bishop of Lesotho would soon follow. By this time, South Africa was in the wake of the 1976 Soweto uprising and deep in turmoil. The then Bishop Tutu was persuaded to leave the calm diocese of Lesotho to take up the post of General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). It was in this position, a post he held from 1978 to 1985, that Bishop Tutu became a national and international figure. In 1984, Bishop Tutu's contributions to the cause of racial justice in South Africa were recognized when he received the highest award the world can offer ­ the Nobel Peace Prize. Bishop Tutu spent the next five years working to bridge the chasm between black and white Anglicans in South Africa as Bishop of Johannesburg, and later as Archbishop of Cape Town. His election demonstrated the Anglican Church's faith and trust in his spiritual leadership, as well as his ability to pursue racial justice. Currently he is chancellor of the University of the Western Cape. He holds honorary degrees from numerous universities, including Harvard, Oxford, Columbia, the Ruhr, Kent and Aberdeen. In addition to his Nobel Peace Prize, he has received the Order for Meritorious Service Award (Gold) presented by President Nelson Mandela, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Award for outstanding service to the Anglican Communion, the Prix d'Athene (Onassis Foundation), the Family of Man Gold Medal Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Non-Violent Peace Prize. In December 1995, President Mandela appointed Archbishop Tutu top head the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. On October 29, 1998, the Commission submitted its first official report to President Mandela, marking yet another significant step in the struggle for justice both in South Africa and the world. He retired from office as Archbishop of Cape Town in June 1996, but was named Archbishop Emeritus in July 1996. The author of four collections of sermons and addresses, Archbishop Tutu is now working on publishing two new books, one chronicling the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the other, transfiguration. Archbishop Tutu resided in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the Robert W. Woodruff Professor at Emory University for several years but is now back in South Africa. Last Revised: Tuesday, October 09, 2007