New students at the Seminary

This year we have another row of firsts at the Seminary:
1. The first students to arrive from Ethiopia: Mr. Ashanafi and Mr. Daniel F. Esto
2. The first student to arrive from Zambia: Mr. Benjamin Kaumba.
3. The first students from FELSiSA: Christian Straeuli and my son Christoph Weber.
4. The first lady from Temba: Nogukhanya Shabalala
5. Although Mr. Eboro Madara is also from Nigeria, we have now the first student from there starting from the beginners course and not just topping up his studies. This is Mr. Simon Ishaya from Nigeria.
6. A Zulu student from Mpumalanga diocese of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa is Thulani Hadebe.
7. We are expecting further students to start their studies with us from Liberia and Uganda. The Liberians are to arrive next week.

Here some of the beginners are seen together with Rev. Joe Burnham in the Symbolics class: Introduction to the Augsburg Confession.

Gauteng co-workers meeting in Naledi

On Tuesday the Gauteng diocese of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa held its co-workers meeting in Naledi [part of the South-Western Townships of Johannesburg Soweto] under the able leadership of acting Dean Siphiwe Danisa.
A number of LTS teachers and students traveled there granting a lift to Rev. Dirang Bojane and Deacon Abraham Segoe [both from Mabopane - a township in the Tshwane municipality to the north of Pretoria]. I drove the 14-seater Toyota Quantum, which is comfortable and quite speedy for its size. Going via Krugersdorp we were quite on time, arriving at 9h00 at the Lutheran Church in Naledi. Pastor John Nkambule lives right next door and there is also a creche and some living quarters attached, which are hired out and raise income for this congregation, which was started by Dean Segoe more than thirty years ago. The Church was built in the time, when our honorable Bishop David Tswaedi was a vicar there - 1982/3.
The proceedings got off to a very blessed start with the Lutheran Liturgy of the Lord's Supper. We also had the opportunity for confession and absolution. Pastor John Nkambule conducted the service in SeTswana although he also gave us the option of using hymns in isiZulu and English by quoting the relevant numbers together with the ones in SeTswana.
Mr. Lucas Baloyi gave an introduction to the prison ministries in the Gauteng area. I was reminded of the good work the LCMS SID does in this regard. Perhaps this is a golden opportunity to share ideas and work together in improving these urgent services to people in dire straits. Obviously people like Kurt and Wittig from Wartburg/Kirchdorf could also be involved as they have made some valuable experiences in this direction too.I know that Bishop Tswaedi has a heart for this ministry too. The question is not whether there are works of mercy to be done, but rather which of the countless options do we choose to address most effectively.
Pastor John Nkambule introduced the theme of "fraternals" and got us talking quite animatedly. Obviously pastors have various experiences in this regard. It is vital however that we Lutherans make good use of our time and means to act responsibly to promote the true gospel at all times.
Pastor Nkambule also informed the meeting about the exciting prospect of starting a new mission endeavor with the MLC in a suburb of Johannesburg. Together with brother Christoph he is putting together a strategy to start of a new Lutheran Congregation there, which will work both in English and the vernacular.It is very encouraging to see young pastors, who graduated from the Seminary taking such an active part in evangelism and missions.
Deacon Segoe asked for clarity about the proper use of the "relicta" [Leftovers?] at the Lord's supper. It was suggested that Rev. Lawrence Mogoshane address this issue in some detail at the next meeting scheduled for the Monday after Quasimodogeniti [12th April] and which is to be hosted by the Seminary. This topic follows the one given by the Bishop on "The Altar", which was very well received at the previous meeting. It was promised in writing to those, who had not been in attendance at that meeting, because the importance of unity and agreement on this central issue was clear to all present.
A number of further issues and dates on the calender were discussed like the coming installation of the 3rd Bishop of the LCSA in Mofolo N. A lot still needs to be done and the dean was anxious that the pastors from all eight congregations support him.
There are a number of vacancies which need attention like in Kagiso and possibly Mofolo N - if the Bishop moves away from there. Thankfully Rev. Lawrence Mogoshane has been called to Khutsong to follow Rev. Paul Mosenogi, who followed a call to Gaborone in Botswana. Both Rev. Mogoshane and Rev. Dirang Bojane are to be installed soon and suitable dates needs to be found.

The meeting was very well hosted by Pastor John Nkambule together with the ladies of the congregation. We were comfortable and well taken care of. Thank you very much - Lutherans in Naledi!

Pastors Mkhize and Maleke were not at the meeting. Otherwise it was well attended and quite fruitful too. 

LTS coping with thievery again

A week ago thieves tried unsuccessfully to steal the Seminary car.  They gained access to the closed premises by heaving the electronic gate out of its hinges and then leaving standing askew. Although they broke into the car, ransacking it and disconnecting a lot of electric wiring, they were not able to drive the car away. So it was still parked on the premises between Segoe House where Hoffmeiers are housed and Schulz House where students were sleeping. So far so good.
The following evening my brother Gerhard had fixed the electric gate, but another bunch of thugs gained access. This time they aimed for the computers of our Lutheran friends from the USA. They stole Hoffmeiers computer fishing it through the window in Segoe-House and then had the cheek to climb into Dube House, where the Burnhams are living this Quarter. They stole their way through the bathroom and into the living-room, where they had 2 Mac's parked. Off they went with these too!
The story is not finished yet. On Tuesday Joe Burnham got a call from somebody, who had just bought his best computer at some store in Sunnyside. As all his data was still on the computer, he was tracked by the purchaser. Although a deal seemed likely, Joe has not seen his computer yet - even though contact was made. Perhaps it was just an audacious thief, who did not only steal the computer, but wanted a top-up by reselling it again to the one with the original loss.
The insurance has indicated that these computers are covered. However it is an angry issue and even a bit scary to have guys running around your house at night without any invitation.
This morning when I ran into the Burnhams and the Hoffmeiers at the farmers market both seemed  to cope quite well with this loss. They are good people in Lutheran missions. 

Attempted theft of Seminary vehicle

On Friday night robbers lifted the steel gate out of its hinges and rails at Segoe House and gained illegal access to the Seminary. They attempted to steel the Seminary vehicle, which was parked just outside the Hoffmeier's sleeping quarters close to the students residence in Schulz House. The thieves broke into the car and cleaned out the various compartments in the car, pulling out cables and electric wiring below the steering. However they failed to start the car and remove it. So it was still there on Saturday morning and the Hoffmeiers could still travel with it to the farmer's market.
Its bad and evil times we are living in. The evening hymns of the Church are a great comfort. Here's a verse from one of them: "Lord Jesus, since You love me, Now spread Your wings above me And shield me from alarm. Though Satan would devour me, Let angel guards sing o'er me: This child of God shall meet no harm." [LSB 880,4]

Teaching Prolegomena in Systematics and some Church Law

This year I am starting off a new Dogmatics course and there Prolegomena are the starting point. A class of nine students have started off. We are still missing most of the Ugandans - but they usually come in after some time, so we are just biding their time, but doing our regular stuff anyway.
My father's latest publication of the Zulu Dogmatics I is right on time to use for this course. Congratulations and many thanks to him for getting this done! We are hopeful that he will finish all volumes of this mammoth task. Sadly we only have a small number of Zulu students at the Seminary. However for Church and the wider context in Southern Africa this is a very timely publication! 
For the first time I am teaching a course in Church Law. We are looking closely at the Constitution of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, which is available in Zulu, Tswana and English. This is fascinating stuff! Especially because the fathers of our Church made such a good job of this a number of years ago. Perhaps we should publish this constitution as a hard-cover too!

Student representatives elected for 2010

On Wednesday the 3rd February during the regular rector's meeting with the students they elected three new representatives for 2010:

1. Abia Peter Anibati from the Lutheran Church in Sudan is the Student representative.
2. Enoch MacBen from the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda is their secretary.
3. Gemah Ballah from the Lutheran Church in Liberia is their treasurer.
We wish them all the best for the coming year and all the support they need to carry out their duties effectively. 
The latest edition of the Seminary Rules & Regulations was distributed and discussed. 

New Year 2010 get's off afresh

Tuesday, the 2nd February 2010, LTS started the academic program for the tenth time in Arcadia, Pretoria. A decade in South Africa's capital has brought a lot of changes to the LCSA's way of training its future pastors. Perhaps the most obvious is that we now have students from Botswana, Liberia, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and even Zambia enrolled at this institution and that has moved the entire program to a higher level, because these students play a significant role in teaching themselves.

However a number of foreign and local teachers accompany this process of learning and education. On Tuesday two new-comers were installed at the Seminary by the rector assisted by our honorable Bishop David Tswaedi DD and our colleague Rev. Nathan Musawenkosi Mntambo. The additions to the Seminary staff are Rev. Glenn Fluegge from LCMS World Missions [previously working in Togo, W.Africa] and Rev. Joe Burnham from the LCMS Rocky Mountain District. While the latter is expected to serve for a couple of months only, the prior is keen to stay for a few years - if not longer.
While Rev. Mntambo lead the liturgy, Bishop Tswaedi preached on the day's prescribed text from Philippians 1,  27-30:  Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,  28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.  29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,  30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.  (ESV)