The core theme of the Tanzanian church’s assembly is unity; Presiding Bishop Fredrick Shoo re-elected
The Lutheran World Information Centre
Churches grow and shrink depending on the quality of their leadership, and that is why we need shepherds who can provide clear theological direction, watch over God’s people and proclaim the good news of the gospel. This was the message delivered to the 20th General Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania by Archbishop Dr. Panti Filibus Musa, President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
“We must invest in training the elders of our age, who are able to defend ‘the true proclamation of the gospel’, which is the distinctive feature of the church,” said Musa to the highest decision-making body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), which gathered near the city of Arusha in the north-east.
His reflections were based on the assembly’s theme “Tend the flock” (1 Peter 5:2). More than 240 delegates took part in the 19–23 August meeting at the ELCT’s Tumaini University. The assembly is held every four years and gives clergy and laypeople from the church’s 26 dioceses, staff from health, education and other institutions, as well as invited guests from partner churches and other organisations, the chance to come together.
Musa, archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, reminded the meeting that the word “pastor” [in Latvian translated as mācītājs – ed. note] denotes a shepherd who is called to ministry. He emphasised that pastors’ main responsibility is to ensure that “God’s flocks in their care are fed, cared for and nurtured with the counsel of the true word of God, so that they remain strong in faith and fully ready to carry out their duties of ministry”.
Musa noted that church leaders – lay or ordained – should begin their ministry with joy at responding to God’s call. On the other hand, one should not begin serving as a leader in haste, for the wrong reasons – for financial gain, for selfish reasons or for power. “It is regrettable that in many places today ministry has become a fast track to wealth, as if the message of the gospel were for sale,” said Musa.
The LWF President said that he is concerned about a growing concentration of power among the clergy, which leads to the so-called clericalisation of the church. “While we have spoken about the universal priesthood, in practice we are noticeably moving towards a situation where everything connected with ministry is associated with priests and bishops.” He noted that the trend is especially troubling in Africa, where the gap between the leader and other members of the congregation is beyond the limits of imagination.
Musa said that “God is looking for leaders who want to know God, leaders who know the truth, who hunger and thirst for justice. Leaders must unite the church, while at the same time standing against injustice in society.”
In closing, the LWF President said that “the shepherd must also be a voice for the weak and the powerless, as well as a voice for those who are pushed out of society and forced to live on the margins because of cultural, religious or other beliefs. This means taking prophetic action and speaking the truth in the face of power and authority.”
“[The assembly is] an opportunity to nurture among us a spirit of love and solidarity, so that the work of our church may continue to provide a unique and illuminating witness in society,” Presiding Bishop Dr. Fredrick Onael Shoo
A brass ensemble leads the procession during the ELCT’s 20th General Assembly at Tumaini University in Makumira, near Arusha, Tanzania. Photo: ELCT/Neng’ida Lairumbe
Nurturing a spirit of love and solidarity
The main themes of the assembly were the unity of the church, the active participation of women and men in church leadership, church stewardship, building strong and healthy families, and the election of church officials. The delegates re-elected Presiding Bishop Dr. Fredrick Onael Shoo to lead the ELCT for a second four-year term. He has been head of the church since 2015.
Addressing the assembly, Shoo turned to the theme of unity, reminding ELCT leaders of the need to hold the church together, despite the different contexts and perspectives represented by its members. “If we build strong bonds, we will respect one another, support one another and cherish one another, and we will have the best possible chance to shepherd the Lord’s flock,” the presiding bishop urged the assembly.
He described the assembly as “an opportunity to nurture among us a spirit of love and solidarity, so that the work of our church may continue to provide a unique and illuminating witness in society”.
During the assembly, Shoo and Musa presented the document “Nafasi ya Kanisa kwa Umma”, which is the recently published Swahili translation of the LWF document “The Church in the Public Space” (The Church in the Public Space).
The presentation of “Nafasi ya Kanisa kwa Umma”, from left: LWF Council member Lu Rose Mbise, ELCT general secretary Brighton Killewa, Pare diocese youth delegate Nima Gediel, ELCT presiding bishop Dr. Fredrick Onael Shoo, LWF President Archbishop Dr. Panti Filibus Musa and LWF Africa regional secretary Dr. Elieshi Mungure. Photo: ELCT/Evans Ayo
Arusha, Tanzania / Geneva
28.08.2019.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania has more than 7.5 million members across its 26 dioceses in all regions of the country. It joined the LWF in 1964.
Source: Lutheran World Federation news
Photo: ELCT/Neng’ida Lairumbe, Evans Ayo