Uncertainty rules prospective shareholder while hope lingers on

President Peter Ahlers of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa [FELSiSA] has called into question the decision of the Synodical Council of FELSiSA that the signing of the LTS shareholders agreement was a mere formality.
At the previous LTS Board meeting the FELSiSA delegate Dr. Dieter Reinstorf proclaimed that the signing of the shareholders agreement was a "mere formality", but had merely been postponed to accomodated Bishop Hans-Joerg Voigt from the Independant Evangelical Lutheran Church [SELK - Germany], who's imminent visit to South Africa as guest of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa [LCSA] at their coming convention/synod. This visit was described as a welcome opportunity to officially sign and celebrate the joint cooperation of the three shareholders of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane: Lutheran Church in Southern Africa [LCSA]; Mission of Lutheran Churches [MLC - a subsidary of Lutheran Church Missions LKM/Bleckmar in Germany] and the FELSiSA.
With this committment in mind it was concluded to address the outstanding issues, which the LTS Board of directors had put off for so long pending the envisioned agreement.  Therefore this official statement by the FELSiSA delegate at the Board meeting was most welcome. At last the indecision on part of the "future shareholders" which had for so long severely handicapped the Board in its urgent strategic planning had been put off. Thankfully now it was clear, that FELSiSA intended to be a shareholder and active partner in the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane. The ongoing postponement had finally been overcome - so it seemed.
Sadly this euphoria has now been severely dampend by the latest retraction from the president of FELSiSA.  Once again the positive cooperation has been put on hold indefinitely. No wonder the newly elected chairman of the LTS Board of directors Dr. Gunter Rencken is eager to have this unsatisfactory situation resolved as soon as possible although there are serious questions, whether this latest obstacle by FELSiSA's decision makers is not indicative of their fundamental unwillingness to cooperate.
The coming conference is yet another step in the long march of over more than thirty years trying to achieve constructive engagement, cooperation and partnership from the confessional Lutheran Churches in Southern Africa in matters of theological training, research and education on this continent - nevermind structural organization and ecclessial fellowship.
From the bottom of our heart we continue to pray: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison!