Honourable Synod of the LCSA diocese in KwaZulu/Natal, dear brothers and sisters!
The end of the year is a time of reckoning. Not only individually in schools, universities and seminaries, but also for body corporate in the public and financial sectors – even though they might have their cut-off date in December or February respectively and we have this at the end of the Church year coming to a close already. This synod is part of this general accounting process, where the KZN diocese gives an account of what it has done in the past year and also what it has left undone. We are to hear reports from all congregations giving an overview of their strengths and weaknesses, of their challenges and opportunities. We will also hear from our brother Dean Thwala about the workings of the diocesan council and its operations the past year just as the chairs of the various leagues, bodies and organizations within this diocese like the men's, women's and youth' league, the Property Fund etc. Together we will have to face the issues of the diocesan finances and how the diocese is to address the challenge of growing its resources and increase its capacity and improve ways to prove it more sustainable. Budget issues will have to be scrutinized and a strategy developed to address the challenges of sustainability of congregational and diocesan projects, personnel, facilities and programs. Pastors need to give an account of their congregational endeavours over the past year and we will have to evaluate, critique, comment, applaud, commend, correct, supplement and change here and there. It is vital that we take this reporting business serious. We need enough time to do this properly. Therefore we should start on time and leave enough space for discussion, deliberation and decisions too. There is a lot to be addressed, looked at and worked on.
This is not part of a grand inquisition, but rather part of the joint venture carried out in congregational visitations, but also at diocesan level of finding, supporting and uplifting and perfecting the treasures the Lord of the Church has entrusted to his Church worldwide, but also to the Lutheran Churches throughout the KwaZulu/Natal diocese: Chatsworth/Phoenix, Ntshongweni, Umlazi, Ebenezer, Glencoe, Dannhauser, Gudliqele, Sunsetrest, Enhlanhleni, Mozane, Nini, Kranskop, Matimatolo, Bloubosh, Madadeni, Osizweni, Makholweni, Nondweni, Ceza, Mahlabatini, Gamalakhe, Emthwalume, Mafu, Mvutshini, Mzumbe, Imsikaba, Khombela, Maphumulo, Pella, Tholeni, Ekuvukeni, Limehill, Somsuku and Tugela Ferry.
Together we strive to examine our responsibilities as stewards of our Lord and to encourage ourselves in his mission and calling. This evaluation is done on the basis and through the means of his holy law, which describes what is required of faithful servants of the Lord. Each of us has received gifts, talents and special duties by our Lord, but as brothers in the office of the ministry there is also a common task, which we are specifically called and authorized to accomplish in carrying out our divine obligation and that is to preach the Christian gospel purely and administer the divine sacraments as the Lord himself instituted them for the salvation of his people and to his honour and glory. We can't leave this to somebody else. It is our personal burden entrusted to us by the laying on of hands at our ordination!
The Sundays are our main delight, privilege and duty. The divine services are the pastors special responsibility and should receive his most concentrated attention and care in preparation and also in the execution. Our sermons are to make the voice of God heard in our time and place. The liturgy, church year, agenda and hymnals give us much needed and most excellent support and guidance to lead the worship service with love and dedication. Prayers carry the cares of the congregation and church and community before God. He has promised to hear us! He serves us at his table with his most precious Body and Blood. That is when the heavens open and we can see and taste, how friendly our God is. All these divine practices by far outweigh any of our doings, plans and efforts. Therefore they should also dominate the proceedings and not be sidelined by announcements and acts by artists, clowns and other masters of human ceremonies and entertainment. Baptisms and also hearing Confession and granting Absolution remain central pillars of our faith and life. Great care should be taken to provide sufficient/ample time and space to practice these sacraments in our congregations regularly.
There is a lot of work going on in churches and congregations. Our communities are faced with serious issues like peace & reconciliation, gender & poverty; HIV/Aids & TB; Unemployment; orphans and widows. We need to have open eyes and hearts for the concerns and needs in our communities. Look especially out for those, who are side-lined and without any lobby. Where are the people in need? Traditionally the Church has taken special care of children at Kindergartens and Schools, ill people at hospitals, lonely and desperate people in prisons. Where are they in your area? Migrants? Have you made contact with the Muslims in your area? The leaders and members of the traditional religions at your place? Do they know about the Lord Jesus Christ and his Church? Do they know the saving gospel of the forgiveness of sins by grace through faith? Who will tell them if not you? Call them, visit them, invite them – make yourself visible and heard in your community as the voice of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Not only you should know, what the business of Lutherans in this place and time, but you should make it known to those outside too. Engage in this business until the Lord comes again in glory! [cf. Lk.19,13]
Our families are threatened to fall apart as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, teenagers and students look for work and education, wherever they can find it, leaving their families and living somewhere as migrant labourers – be it in the mining areas or mega-cities of our land. This adds strain to our marriages, imperils the familiar structures of children's formation in the traditional forms of families. Reading, hearing and applying the Word of God together; singing, praising and lamenting with songs of the Lutheran Hymnal besides praying and learning Luther's Catechism by heart becomes the exception and no longer the rule in our congregations and families. We should be careful to remember that the Lord creates, sustains and keeps us in the true faith by his holy word and sacraments. Therefore in all temptations, hardships and sufferings of this life, we should seek refuge with him and his means of grace. They are the true medications, helpmeets and keepers of our faith! And it is especially important for us pastors individually, for our families especially as it is for those in the congregations. We ought to do this daily and not only expect it of our congregants. Dear brothers I urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. You have received the most precious gospel. Don't hide it under a bushel! You and your people need to live in its light. Make use of the good institutions and traditions of the Church: Bible studies in the various leagues and committees, divine services during the week [Matins/Vespers; Confessional Services], choir-practices etc. Lk.12,31; Lk. 14,33; Lk.17,10;
Today [14th November 1865 Ludwig Harms died in Hermannsburg. He is our church father. His people came to SA in 1856 and started the Lutheran mission here in Zululand leading to the establishment of our Lutheran Church in 1967. Not far from here in 1862 my forfather Fritz Weber started a Lutheran mission at Dlomodlomo and later carried it on in Emyati. The work of the Lord and the building of his kingdom continues and we are thankful for that. You as pastors need to record the history of your congregations and even of the Lutheran Church in KwaZulu/Natal. We should know where we are coming from so that we can be better equipped on the way forward.
We are not on our own. Remember pastors meetings/fraternals, but also the pastor conventions and refresher courses and conferences.
Finally remember that there are often no quick fixes for our real problems and challenges. Sometimes the only way out for us is to stay, persevere, endure, suffer faithfully. Our Lord himself prayed: "If it is possible let this cup pass by me, but not my, but your will be done!" and his apostle St. Paul asked 3 times for his trouble/thorn in the flesh to be removed, but Christ only said: "Let my grace be sufficient!" Therefore in some issues, we just need to take up our cross and follow Jesus. However you can remember: We will overcome finally and He is with us always – even now already – his staff comforts me even in death's dark vale. He is coming again to judge the living and the dead. He will surely rescue you from all evil. Just wait and see! Therefore may the Lord have mercy on you and strengthen your faith +
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