Sharron gives back
Reverend Sharron Anne Dinnie first came to Springs 14 years ago and has been living in Selcourt ever since.
Sharron wanted to become a Reverend since she was confirmed at the age of 11.
She studied a Bachelor’s Degree in education at Wits, as she was not permitted to do the work she wanted to do in the church.
According to Sharron, during this time “the call never went away.”
It was suggested to Sharron that she go on a board of ministry over a weekend.
At the end of the weekend, the bishop of Johannesburg at the time told Sharron that it was clear she had the vocation.
She was then ordained as a Deacon.
“I wanted to do something for the church and for God,” she says.
“My path in the church has been quite challenging, because I was a pioneer,” Sharron says.
She spent four years as a Deacon as back then women were not permitted to be ordained as priests.
In 1992, however, Sharron was finally ordained as the second female priest in South Africa.
She was nominated to be ordained as a Bishop, but declined as her main focus is her work in Kwasa.
She says that she loves what she does in the community and is passionate about leaving the world a better place.
When asked what her greatest achievement is, Sharron says that she doesn’t think of her life in terms of achievements.
Sharron has raised funds to build a school, a home for orphaned girls, and more recently, a home for orphaned boys, all in the area of Kwasa.
Sharron says two of her biggest role models are Mother Teresa for her selfless giving and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
In her spare time, Sharron enjoys reading, although she feels she doesn’t read nearly as much as she’d like to.
She also enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her newly acquired dog, Sammy.
According to Sharron, the call to make a difference is what drives her.
“And the desire to achieve as much of my potential as I’m able,” she continues.
Her future goals include developing Kwasa into a sustainable independent school.
Sharron uses the words spiritual, dedicated, integrity, trustworthy, and authentic to describe herself.
And it is clear that Sharron Anne Dinnie is all of these things and more.
