Moderatorial Moments

CHRISTMAS LETTER

2011-12-06T15:29:00.002+02:00

Dear Friends

Greetings to you in Jesus’ name.

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Christian year. Since ancient times, the Church begins its year with a four week preparation for Christmas. These weeks involve a journey ‘upward’ to the great celebration of Christ’s birth. Its a challenge for all of us who feel like its the end of a year, with all its Christmas functions and end of year parties, to begin a new journey. And I suppose, for many it seems like another repeat of an often repeated series of services. What can bring a newness to our Christmas preparations this year?

The Western Church is in decline. The post modernity has brought a generation of people who are focussed on the present, on individual freedom and who are reluctant to commit. This faces the Western Church with tremendous challenge. Our faith is historical, it is communal and it demands a commitment of faith. How will we minister to a generation like this. The beauty of the Church and the reason she has survived for 2000 years is that under the guidance of God’s Spirit, we have been able to declare the unchanging Gospel of Christ to each context and in each generation. We will have to put our hearts and minds together to meet this challenge by discerning God’s way into the future. The world we live in, its ways, are no surprise to the One who goes always before us!

Since our hope is in Jesus and since Jesus is able to save us, let us approach this advent season with a sense of expectation, eager to see Him at work in our midst. He is, after all, a God of miracles and wonders and if we have the eyes to see, we shall be amazed.

Some news of the family

The General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay, having been honoured by the world ecumenical movement in June 2010 in their election of him as President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, has been honoured again. The university of Stellenbosch has appointed Jerry as a Professor Extraordinarius. The appointment is an honour and will not affect his position as General Secretary of the UPCSA.

We are very proud of Jerry. His achievements and his stature in the ecumenical family are a credit to him and to us. He is a great gift to us and we warmly congratulate him.

The Church in Singapore and Hong Kong

I recently travelled to Singapore and Hong Kong upon the invitation of those denominations. The Presbyterian Church of Singapore was celebrating its 130^th Anniversary.

The Presbyterian Church in Singapore can be traced back to the work of the London Missionary Society and the Presbyterian Church (England) Mission in South China. In 1829, Rev Benjamin Keasberry came to Singapore to work among Malay-speaking people and subsequently started the Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church. In 1856, the famous Orchard Road Presbyterian Church was established for Scottish Residents. In 1881 the English Presbyterian Mission organised the first Chinese Presbyterian Church. It was this event which was seen as the beginning of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore.

We were so well received by Elder Wong Pock Yeen and his staff, exposing us to all kinds of facets of the PCS life and work. It is hoped that other exchanges and visits might be arranged. The PCS is a small church (like the UPCSA) and it has something to teach us. We also, I believe have much to offer the PCS. The PCS has two Presbyteries (groups of congregations) along language lines: the Chinese speaking Presbytery and the English speaking Presbytery.

Following this, we (Jerry and I) visited the Churches of Christ in China (Hong Kong Council). This denomination was part of a greater family of Churches before the cultural revolution in China (1949). After the cultural revolution, many churches were closed and others became interdenominational. The congregations in Hong Kong and Macau remained. During the week, Jerry and I attended their annual ordination/licensing service for ministers as well as their General Assembly which took a total of 2 hours to complete its business!

Churches are growing in the east, particularly in mainland China and this denomination has a wonderful engagement in mission.

The Presbytery of Central Cape

At the beginning of this month, I completed the first phase of my ‘tour’ of the Presbytery of Central Cape. Having gathered all the retired ministers in and around Port Elizabeth for a tea during the sitting of the Executive Commission, I was able to meet also with the Revs Glen Craig (and his wife, Jeanette) and Thembi Ntshudu (and his wife Vivienne) during this part of the tour. In addition, I visited the congregations of Trinity, Makanaskop and Tantyi (Grahamstown), Port Alfred, Bedford, Nonzwakazi, Lingelihle, Glen Avon and St Andrew’s (Somerset East).

Eighteen of the Presbytery’s ministers (together with their spouses) attended a Retreat where I was asked to teach. This was a wonderful event where ministers could talk, enjoy each other’s company and share struggles. I enjoyed this interaction immensely. On Saturday 12^th November, the Presbytery met and I was pleased to be present so that I could listen to their regular business. The Rev. Mike Taylor, who has now left the Presbytery to take up a position with Theological Education by Extension College in Turffontein, Johannesburg, was the Moderator at the time and I would like to thank him for all the help he gave to me in arranging this first part of the tour. The Rev. Nzimane Jita was elected Moderator at the November meeting and will be inducted in February 2012.

I will return in March 2012 to tour the Port Elizabeth and Southern Cape churches.

Becoming a missional congregation

So many people have enquired about The Church without walls material that I have quoted in my addresses and used in workshops with Presbyteries. This is available online via the Church of Scotland website: www.churchofscotland.org.uk

Many of you will know that we belong to a family of Churches called the Council for World Mission. These are Churches which were planted in full or part by the London Missionary Society in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries. CWM seeks to encourage its members to become missional Churches. That is outward looking churches, community involved churches, evangelical churches. I think this a great invitation which should be taken up be all. Some years ago, the UPCSA set up a Mission Priorities Fund to support local congregations in mission. In 2013, another gift will be received by the UPCSA to be used for mission projects within local congregations, Presbyteries and by Standing Committees. Before we can design all kinds of elaborate programmes, we need to become mission minded. I would encourage Presbyteries and local congregations to engage in strategic thinking about what it means to be Church in their context in our time. Maintenance is a natural hiding place for the Church but being Missional takes faithful courage.

I wish you well in this season. It is such a hopeful place and it culminates in the place of celebration. May the Church be full of thanksgiving and praise for the One who was and is and is to come.

Rejoice and be glad – for Our God reigns.

With Love in Christ

George Marchinkowski

Moderator of the General Assembly

Hong Kong

2011-12-06T15:21:00.000+02:00

Jerry Pillay (General Secretary of UPCSA) joined us on this portion of our trip. Our official visit with Hong Kong Council of the Churches of Christ in China (HKCCCC) started with a meeting with the General Secretary Rev Eric So and his Associate Rev Bettsy Ng. We were introduced to the history life and work of the HKCCCC and taken on a tour of their General Assembly Office.

At 12 we proceeded to the Council of Churches in Hong Kong (Ecumenical Body). After this we went to the Council of Churches offices and were given an overview of their work. The Council of Churches raises funds from the public in Hong Kong and then do social work in mainland China.

On Wednesday evening Jerry and I addressed the youth of the HKCCCC. We shared a meal with them consisting of a variety of dishes from mini pork dum sum, steamed vegetables to pasta and mince.

I presented a talk about Apartheid and Jerry spoke about the work of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The Youth Leaders gave a report on some of the activities they host for the young people in their churches. Our youth and theirs face so many of the same challenges.

The next day we went out to visit the Nethersole hospital. The Nethersole hospital was built in the late 1800′s by the London Missionary Society. When the hospital moved in the 1970′s it sold its building and prime property on Hong Kong Island for 100 million pounds!! 22.5% of the profit forms a mission fund which the HKCCCC can use and the rest went into the accounts of the London Missionary Society (now CWM).

The General Manager took us throughout the hospital and showed us their facilities. They are very careful about infection and we had to wear masks when going into a hospital ward. The hospital employs several chaplains to minister to the spiritual needs of the recovering patients. It was an inspiration when compared to some of our private hospitals where spiritual care is very rarely welcomed.

From the hospital we went on to the divinity school of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. There we met with members of the faculty and with the Director Professor Lo. We spoke about possible partnerships between their faculty and the universities where our students train.

After lunch Jerry and I presented a lecture to the ministers of the HKCCCC. Jerry spoke on the mission strategy of the UPCSA and George spoke about reformed theology and polity today. About 20 ministers were in attendance. That meeting ended at 5.00pm. We were then taken by Mr Soo (a retired inspector of schools) for supper at the Jade Garden Restaurant. Mr Soo studied in the USA for several years as a young man and when he speaks English it is with a Michigan accent.

In the evening we attended the annual ordination service of ministers. In Hong Kong ministers are ordained on this one occasion in the year. The HKCCCC ordained 5 new ministers and set apart 12 probationer preachers of the gospel. It was a beautiful service conducted entirely in the local Chinese dialect. The three South Africans received headphones with a mobile transmitter and the entire service, including prayers was translated for us. We were given an English programme and we were able to sing the hymns in English while the congregation sang in Cantonese.

Sanctuary for Ordination

Laying on of hands

Our week concluded with a service at held at a local church in the New Territories. Rev So was the preacher and once again the "foreigners" were provided with headphones and a member of the congregation translated for us. The Church houses a nursery school and we were given a tour of this state of the art facility, complete with a small computer section.

Rev Eric So and minister and members of the Church

Singapore

2011-12-06T14:52:00.000+02:00

In October Sascha and I made an Ecumenical Visit to the Presbyterian Churches of Singapore and Hong Kong. Our hope to strengthen relations between these two churches and our own, as the world starts to look towards the East.

Our first stop was Singapore where we were hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Singapore, our host being Elder Wong Pock Yeen (General Secretary equivalent).

At the Synod Office (Central Office) we met with Rev Tim See (The Assistant Clerk – English Presbytery) to discuss the training of ministers as well as his counterpart Pr Kim (Assistant Clerk – Chinese Presbytery). The Synod is split into two Presbyteries English and Chinese (the congregations are grouped into the Presbyteries according to language).

I also met with the Rev. Christopher Chia. Chris is senior minister to a large congregation called Adam Road Presbyterian. It’s a strong, healthy congregation that seeks to train ministers and Christian workers for the future. It caused me to pause and think about whether Trinity or the UPCSA thinks about the future of the Church. Adam road Presbyterian looks forward and sees the Church in need of strong leaders, then it looks for good candidates, offers them an internship (full-time paid), the best are sent overseas for study, and then appointed to congregations in Singapore for more mentorship and ordination.

One of the important questions that we’ve come here to ask is how Singaporean people understand the Gospel of Jesus. The Gospel story played out in the Middle East 2000 years ago, but it was brought by Western Missionaries to South Africa and to Singapore. In the last 20 to 30 years South Africans have been concerned with how the Gospel is understood in an African context we have come to learn how the Gospel is understood in an Eastern context.

So Elder Wong arranged for us to visit the All Saints Memorial Home (a nursing home for the Elderly) and the All Saints Memorial Chapel (a columbarium – for the interment of ashes). We were able to discuss Singaporean Christians caring for the elderly and how Singaporeans understand death and dying. We discovered that Singaporeans live to between 83 and 86 years and how people come into old age care in their mid to late 70′s.

We enjoyed a lunch at the All Saints Memorial Home. After this we returned to the Synod Office for a meeting with the Youth Leaders. Beldin Kee and two other leaders told us about the youth minister of the Presbyterian Church of Singapore. This included a reflection on the world view of young Singaporeans. We spoke about worship and christian education and they told us about their annual events. We were able to share something of the work of our Youth Association.

On Sunday morning we attended worship at Amazing Grace Presbyterian Church. Grace Presbyterian Church consists of two churches – Amazing Grace (English) and Holy Grace (Chinese). The buildings hold two sanctuaries and the services run concurrently.

It was like being at home. The service follows a similar pattern and the songs are what we sing back home. They have two services 9.30am and 11.30am. Both services are followed by Fellowship Lunch in the courtyard. The welcoming committee on “door duty” were so welcoming! We were enthusiastically introduced to two South African families living in Singapore – what a small world!

Elder Wong Pock Yeen, myself, Rev Stephen Gan (Moderator)

Following the service and lunch and farewells we were taken to Changi Airport to prepare for our flight to Hong Kong. From Singapore to Hong Kong is a 3 1/2 hour flight. Thankfully the rain had ceased and the possibility of typhoon warnings had disappeared!

Easter Letter

2011-04-07T11:37:00.001+02:00

Dear Friends

These last six months have been full of activity for me. I have visited fourteen of the nineteen Presbyteries, having a meal with the Moderators and Clerks, talking about the life and work of each of these Presbyteries. There have been moments of celebration: Berea (125 years), Auld Memorial (85 years), Midrand (25 years) and in September, Durbanville (50 years).

I toured the Presbytery of Lekoa in the first two weeks of March, driving from home to Carletonville and Westonaria to Klerksdorp and Stillfontein to Vryburg and then Kuruman, Mafikeng. The second week was spent in Vereeniging, going out to Sebokeng, Sharpville, Denysville, Boipatong, Vanderbijlpark etc. It was a wonderful time and I was warmly welcomed wherever I went.

There have been meetings, oh, so many meetings! All important, most considered by their members as urgent but so many meetings. I have tried to take my place around these meeting tables and to play my part.

There have been funerals – 4 of our ministers have died since I took office: Jimmy Stevenson, Brian Woods, Leslie Dawson and Moshe Rajuili. The first three had grown old (Genesis calls this ‘full of years’) and passed on peacefully but Moshe was tragically killed in a road accident. In one way or another, I was able to express the sympathy of the UPCSA to these families.

I am grateful to God for all these and many other opportunities to serve you.

Yesterday, in a meeting, one of our elders reflected on the state of the church. She singled out ‘unforgiveness’ as one of the great challenges facing the UPCSA. She spoke about this unforgiveness as a feature of the Church, in her observation, over the last 10 years.

Forgiveness is such a complex thing – do we forgive each other our debts? Do we forgive each other for hurts caused unintentionally or for hurts caused by others who are now ‘associated’ to the person standing before us?

Easter is all about forgiveness. Easter is about God’s intervention in human history to restore the relationship with humankind. Easter is a grand display of how love can transform even the most heinous evil.

A few years ago, Sascha and I were in London and went to see the West End stage play, “Whistle down the wind.” In this story a convict escapes and hides out in the barn belonging to a recently bereaved family. The children meet the stowaway and as a result of their naiveté and a misunderstanding, they mistake the man for Jesus – Jesus, they believe, is hiding out in their barn!

And so they begin to treat him differently – with lavish love and deep respect. Slowly, before the eyes of the audience, this convict begins to change. His whole character changes! Perhaps Andrew Lloyd Webber was right when he wrote: “Love, love changes everything.”

The UPCSA has huge challenges – not least the Church Association issue and the increasing inability of middle sized congregations to pay assessments. But the UPCSA has much to celebrate also – dynamic personnel, growth, massive social engagement (in the community) through congregations. How will we face our challenges? Surely by relying on the God who intervened in Christ.

I pray that your journey through Easter will be meaningful and that you will know again the wonder of the resurrection. May you know the forgiveness that was realized on Good Friday and the transformation of death that Easter Sunday displays.

Much love,

A Friend...

2011-04-06T09:54:00.000+02:00

Dear Friends

My friend Dal Woodward died this week. He was very dear to me.

The first time we met was on Easter Sunday in 2000 or 2001. I was minister of the Margate congregation on the Natal South coast. I was walking in to Church when the elder proceeding me reached over to his right and said to this man I had never met, “You are a man of your word”. Needless to say, I was perplexed. After the service, I asked the elder what this was all about. He looked rather sheepish and went on to explain that Dal was the local pub owner and that on the previous Thursday night, after our Maundy Thursday service, he and his wife and two of our “old dears” had popped in to the pub after the service for a “night cap”. There they met Dal who wanted to know where they had come from “all dressed up”. They said “church”. Dal said: ”Church meets on Sundays”. They said: “Its Easter. We have services Thursday, Friday and Sunday”. Then they asked Dal whether he was a Christian. He told them he was a ‘pedestrian’ and defined this as a person walking around looking for a Church. On Easter Sunday, Dal came to Church and he was there every Sunday after that.

I made a pastoral visit to the pub. When I asked Dal for his version of the story, he told me that on Maundy Thursday, four angels arrived at his pub and ordered drinks. And that the angels led him back to Church. He always called those four his angels and even although they were a naughty bunch of angels, I began to see them as angels too. Its a strange thing but even although I did not know about Dal’s death yesterday morning, when we sang the song “We are standing on holy ground”, it was Dal who I was thinking about.

In recent years, Dal has been living up here in Johannesburg. He reached a turning point in his life some years back and admitted himself to a rehabilitation facility where he found freedom from alcoholism. After that, he found Sandra and they were married in October. It was my joy to officiate at their wedding. Every now and then, I saw him and Sandra sitting in the congregation. On other Sundays, they would attend St Columba’s in Parkview. Sascha and I visited Dal last Tuesday in the Donald Gordon. He looked frail. I prayed with him. He said I should look out for his ‘ugly face’ in the congregation. He died yesterday at home with Sandra. I will miss my friend – someone whom God sent to me, a real sign of God’s grace to me.

There is a line from one of our new songs (sung yesterday) that becomes real to me in times like this: “We are a moment. You are forever”.

My prayer this week is about waiting and longing – a prayer for Dal (by Walter Brueggemann)

God of the Seasons,

God of the years,

God of the eons,

Alpha and Omega,

before us and after us.

You promise and we wait:

we wait with eager longing,

we wait with doubt and anxiety,

we wait with patience thin

and then doubt,

and then we take life into our own hands.

We wait because you are the one and the only one.

We wait for your peace and your mercy,

for your justice and your good rule.

Give us your spirit that we may wait

obedient and with discernment,

caringly and without passivity,

trustingly and without cynicism,

honestly and without utopianism.

Grant that our wait may be appropriate to your coming

soon and very soon,

soon and not late,

late but not too late.

We wait while the world groans in eager longing.

Lots of love, dear friends,

My South Africa - Jonathan Jansen

2011-03-14T12:01:00.000+02:00

Dear Friends

Today I'm sending you a letter written by Professor Jonathan Jansen of the University of the Free State. It moves me. It describes my SA too.

I will get back to the blog (on the weekend past) soon.

"My South Africa is the working-class man who called from the airport to return my wallet without a cent missing. It is the white woman who put all three of her domestic worker's children through the same school that her own child attended. It is the politician in one of our rural provinces, Mpumalanga, who returned his salary to the government as a statement that standing with the poor had to be more than just a few words. It is the teacher who worked after school hours every day during the public sector strike to ensure her children did not miss out on learning.

My South Africa is the first-year university student in Bloemfontein who took all the gifts she received for her birthday and donated them - with the permission of the givers - to a home for children in an Aids village. It is the people hurt by racist acts who find it in their hearts to publicly forgive the perpetrators. It is the group of farmers in Paarl who started a top school for the children of farm workers to ensure they got the best education possible while their parents toiled in the vineyards. It is the farmer's wife in Viljoenskroon who created an education and training centre for the wives of farm labourers so that they could gain the advanced skills required to operate accredited early-learning centers for their own and other children.

My South Africa is that little white boy at a decent school in the Eastern Cape who decided to teach the black boys in the community to play cricket, and to fit them all out with the togs required to play the gentleman’s game. It is the two black street children in Durban, caught on camera, who put their spare change in the condensed milk tin of a white beggar. It is the Johannesburg pastor who opened up his church as a place of shelter for illegal immigrants. It is the Afrikaner woman from Boksburg who nailed the white guy who shot and killed one of South Africa's greatest freedom fighters outside his home.

My South Africa is the man who went to prison for 27 years and came out embracing his captors, thereby releasing them from their impending misery. It is the activist priest who dived into a crowd of angry people to rescue a woman from a sure necklacing. It is the former police chief who fell to his knees to wash the feet of Mamelodi women whose sons disappeared on his watch; it is the women who forgave him in his act of contrition. It is the Cape Town university psychologist who interviewed the 'Prime Evil' in Pretoria Centre and came away with emotional attachment, even empathy, for the human being who did such terrible things under apartheid.

My South Africa is the quiet, dignified, determined township mother from Langa who straightened her back during the years of oppression and decided that her struggle was to raise decent children, insist that they learn, and ensure that they not succumb to bitterness or defeat in the face of overwhelming odds. It is the two young girls who walked 20kms to school every day, even through their Matric years, and passed well enough to be accepted into university studies. It is the student who takes on three jobs, during the evenings and on weekends, to find ways of paying for his university studies.

My South Africa is the teenager in a wheelchair who works in townships serving the poor. It is the pastor of a Kenilworth church whose parishioners were slaughtered, who visits the killers and asks them for forgiveness because he was a beneficiary of apartheid. It is the politician who resigns on conscientious grounds, giving up status and salary because of an objection in principle to a social policy of her political party. It is the young lawman who decides to dedicate his life to representing those who cannot afford to pay for legal services.

My South Africa is not the angry, corrupt, violent country whose deeds fill the front pages of newspapers and the lead-in items on the seven-o'-clock news. It is the South Africa often unseen, yet powered by the remarkable lives of ordinary people. It is the citizens who keep the country together through millions of acts of daily kindness."

Lekoa Tour - Day 9

2011-03-11T19:25:00.001+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

I started off the day with the congregation of St Anthony. St Anthony is one of the Sebokeng congregations that emerged from the work of the Rev Francis Moletsane and the congregation of St Paul's, Sharpville. In the early 70s, when Sebokeng was growing as a township, four stations were established and St Anthony's was one of them. The original building was built in 1986 and then, one day, in 2003, a significant part of the building fell down just as the mothers were leaving the building. The insurance only paid out 45% of the cost of rebuilding.

This prompted the congregation to start a massive fundraising campaign. To the congregation's credit, they rebuilt a much improved sanctuary without any outside assistance. Today, a beautiful face brick building stands along with an office block with minister's office, kitchen and multi-purpose room. The courtyard is paved and the inside of the church is beautifully painted. Associations are active within the congregation as is a project called 'Diakonia' which feeds destitute families. The congregation is still heavily involved in completing its buildings. The vestry is still incomplete (floors and fittings are still required), bathrooms are incomplete and the manse needs to be extended.

St Anthony's santuary

My time at St Anthony was concluded with a wonderful lunch.

In the afternoon, I visited two congregations - St Peter's, Boipatong and Bopilong Ebenezer. I visited the churches in the company of the Moderator of Presbytery, the Rev. Hugh Grant who drives from Carletonville to be Interim Moderator to these two congregations which are situated outside of Vanderbijlpark. At St Peter's, we were guided by Elder Johannes Ramafikeng. The congregation is formed out of an outstation of St Paul's, Sharpville. It is a small congregation but values its independence. Boipatong is the place where a terrible massacre happened in June 1992, an event that seriously threatened the transition to a new South Africa (February 1990 to April 1994).

From Boipatong to the newly established congregation of Bopilong Ebenezer. This infant church is only a few months old. We were taken to the site in Bopilong where there is a small, poorly built building into which 80 people squeeze on a Sunday. The congregation is already preparing to extend this building so that it can accommodate 150 people. There is a sense of excitement about this new venture. I addressed members of the congregation at the Bopilong community hall at 5pm and answered a few questions before concluding for the day.

Bopilong Ebenezer Sanctuary

Elders of Bopilong, myself
& Rev Hugh Grant (Moderator of
the Presbytery)

Before I sign off for the day, I would like to mention my regret that, because I have to travel to Pietermaritzburg on Saturday to attend Rev Rajuili's funeral, I was only able to spend an hour with Bopilong Ebenezer and I am not able to meet with the people of St Luke's, Vereeniging at all. My visit to St Luke's was scheduled for Saturday morning, my sincere apologies.

Lekoa Tour - Day 8

2011-03-10T13:10:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

Rev Francis and Mary
Moletsane

I visited Francis and Mary Moletsane in Sebokeng this morning (Wednesday 9 March). Francis retired about 10 years ago after more than 40 years of ministry. He was originally an "evangelist", starting his ministry in the Free State and then, Barberton. In 1970, when the former PCSA came to their senses and realised that they could not perpetuate a two tier form of ministry, Francis was ordained and appointed to the new developing township called Sebokeng. St Paul's, Sharpville, was the big church in the area then. They decided to develop a new congregation and symbolically they saw themselves as Paul sending out a younger brother. So they called the new church, St Timothy's. I wondered whether the other Sebokeng church, St Mark's, was not also named in the same way because Mark was a companion of Paul (and Barnabas).

Mary is confined to bed and very frail. She welcomed me to her home. I presented Francis and Mary with a gift on behalf of the Assembly.

The Rev Thando Mpambane is Interim Moderator to St Mark's, Sebokeng, and he arranged for me to meet elders and members who eagerly told me about the life and work of the congregation. I was treated to sandwiches and tea. The congregation has a lovely building and a Manse which is currently rented out. I addressed the members present and answered some questions raised.

Members of St Mark's with Rev Thando Mpambane

Later in the day, I visited St Timothy's who also received me well. St Timothy's is presently receiving a new minister, the Rev N. Kula. The Rev. Kula will be the first minister in some time. St Timothy's (and St Anthony's) was previously served by the Rev Zamani Maqoko.
In every place, I am finding proud Presbytyerians who face challenges and yet, experience great joy in worship. I look forward to meeting all these people again on Sunday in the combined service planned in the Saul Tsotsetsi hall.

St Timothy's

In the evening, I visited the little congregation of St Peter's, Deneysville. This congregation must have one of the most beautiful settings in the UPCSA! The congregation meets in two beautiful stone buildings (one is the church and the other is the "hall") built on a grassy patch on the banks of the vaal dam. The view over the dam is breath taking. Robbie Pitt, treasurer of Lekoa Presbytery is a member and introduced me to the congregation.

There were such encouraging questions - about Church Growth and how to reach out to young people. After our meeting, we had tea in the Church hall. I drove back to Three Rivers giving thanks to God for this group of christians meeting Sundays beside the vaal.

Greetings to all of you on this Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Lekoa Tour - Day 7

2011-03-10T10:58:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

Rev Robert Thema

I spent Tuesday 8th March in the company of the Rev. Robert Thema. Robert invited me to meet the people of St Silas, Evaton, where he is the minister. St Silas is one of the older congregations in this Presbytery, reportedly having started sometime in the 1920s. Evaton is an old township and I found the people warm and friendly. We met in the beautiful new St Silas building. The congregation fundraised and built a huge worship space with kitchen, boardroom and vestry. There are plans to build new bathrooms as well.

Representatives from Session and the UPWF told about the projects that they are involved with and afterwards, we walked down the road to a centre caring for diabled women. St Silas supports this centre with collections of food and clothing. Each winter, fresh blankets are collected for the centre by the congregation. I presented St Silas with a new chalice and patten from Trinity, Edenvale as well as gifts for the Thema family from the General Assembly.

St Silas Congregation

St Silas new buildings

Later in the day, we proceded to BM Molaba congregation - another long standing congregation in Sebokeng. BM Molaba has many outstations, some as far as Kokosi and Wedella near Carletonville and even near Orange farm. Rev.Thema is Interim Moderator here and the congregation say that they want to have their own minister as soon as possible but there are some essential repairs to the Manse that need to be made.

Elders & Members of BM Molaba

The congregation were pleased to see the Moderator (pardon my having to refer to myself in the third person!) and told me about their life and work. I passed on the greetings of the General Assembly to them.

Its my priviledge to recieve the friendly hospitality of so many in the family called Presbyterian. I shall carry this with me and pass it on to others.

Lekoa Tour - Day 5 and 6

2011-03-10T10:27:00.001+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

Sascha and my girls travelled all the way from Edenvale to Vryburg on Saturday to be with me (a 5 hour journey)! I was glad to see them when they arrived late on Saturday afternoon.

My Great Grandfather's grave.

On Sunday morning, we left Vryburg and travelled north for two hours to Mafikeng. We decided to leave early so that we could visit the cemetary before the morning service. The Marchinkowskis were once Mafikeng people. In the early years of the twentieth century, a polish man called Fred Marchinkowski immigrated to South Africa and settled in Mafikeng and married a woman called Anne Groenewalt. They lived there and raised their two children, my grandfather, Joseph, and his sister, Veronica. The cemetary in Mafikeng is overgrown and in bad shape but we managed to find the old man's grave (he died in the late 1950s). We could not find my great grandmother's grave (She died in the late 60s).

After our sojourn to the cemetary, we proceded to Solomon Rathebe congregation where I shared the service with the Rev Malefetsane Matli. My family was warmly recieved. Rev. Matli led the service and invited me to preach and celebrate Holy Communion. The congregation presented us with a beautiful gift - a glass jug and set of glasses. After the service, we shared a wonderful meal with the congregation. When we had said our good byes, we set out for Vereeniging (a four hour journey), travelling through Lichtenburg, Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom.

Rev Matli translating my sermon

From right: Leah, Lerato & another
young member of the congregation.

On Sunday night, we moved into the Three Rivers Lodge which will be my home for the whole of this week.

I was so grateful to "the powers that be" (The Presbytery of Lekoa and my chaplain, Mrs Sheila Hunt) who arranged for Monday 7th March to be a "day off" for me. Sascha and the girls stayed with me and we went to the Emerald Resort in Vanderbijlpark for the day. They have a zoo there which the girls enjoyed. This was followed by a game of 10 pin bowling (You should have seen 3 year old Zoe carrying her 10 pin bowling ball!) and a few hours in the Aqua Dome (massive swimming experience). We had lunch at Wimpy before Sascha and the girls went home again.

For the rest of this week, I will be in Vereeniging, going out every day to meet with the churches.

Much love

Lekoa Tour - Day 3 and 4

2011-03-08T09:18:00.001+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

On Friday morning, I drove from Klerksdorp to Vryburg at the edge of the North West Province (and indeed, the Presbytery of Lekoa). The journey took two and a half hours and took me through farming country (Delarayville etc). I arrived mid morning and was welcomed by one of our ministers, the Rev Tony Bartlett. The rest of the morning was spent on a tour around Vryburg in Tony's company. Tony told me about the United Church that he serves in. Vryburg was originally a congregational congregation (probably planted by the London Missionary Society missionaries) but became a united Church some forty years ago. The Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist churches are partners in the union and Tony, the fourth minister since union, has served Vryburg for the last 15 years. There are three 'outstations' in the district and Tony preaches in each of these once a month. Tony is supported by three other preachers in his work.

Tony also took me to see Tiger Kloof, a mission station of the LMS which has since become a school and has been beautifully renovated. We ended off the morning at the weekly cattle auction (my first ever experience of one of these). The auction seems to be a weekly meeting place for local farmers.

In the afternoon, I met with members of the Council of Vryburg United. I was warmly received. Questions raised by members of Council ranged from the purpose of paying assessments and what the denomination used the money for, why the Church did not 'speak out' against the State and what the Church has to say about farm killings. One councilor suggested that 6 000 people had been killed in recent months on farms.

I want to express my thanks to the people of Vryburg for their hospitality expressed toward me.

On Saturday morning, I travelled South west to Kuruman. We have one small congregation in the township called St David's. The minister, the Rev. Malefetsane Matli is minister to Kuruman and also Mafeking. He spends a month in one before travelling more than 300 km by taxis to the other. A conference was going on in Kuruman and I addressed them on the subject of dependence on God and seeking God's wisdom.

After enjoying a lunch with the Kuruman people, I travelled back to Vryburg for the night.

Dr Moshe Rajuili

Sadly, on my journey from Kuruman to Vryburg, I received the tragic news of the death, on Saturday morning, of the Rev. Dr Moshe Rajuili, minister of St Giles Presbyterian Church, Orchards. The information we have is that Dr Rajuili was knocked down by a taxi in the streets of Pietermaritzburg. We mourn the loss of this wonderful, humble, servant of the Church who spent most of his working life teaching students for the ministry and these last few years as a minister of the Gospel in a congregation.
Our thoughts go out to Eunice, his widow, and to Dr Rajuili's family.

The funeral will be held in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday 12th March. The service will begin at 7am (the same time as Dr Rajuili's father's funeral began) and the burial will follow thereafter. The venue will be determined soon. A Presbytery service will be held at St Giles' in due course. I will travel down on Friday afternoon to participate in the funeral and return on Saturday to resume my tour of the Presbytery of Lekoa.

Grace and peace to all who read this blog

Lekoa Tour - Day 2

2011-03-08T09:06:00.002+02:00

Dear Friends

My second day went something like this:
I left Carletonville just after 8 and travelled through Potchefstroom to Klerksdorp. I wondered, as I drove through Potch, how come we didn't have a Presbyterian Church in this seemingly thriving little city. I arrived at Klerksdorp at 10 am and was greeted by the Rev Ken Smith and his wife, Mida. Ken is a retired minister of the UCCSA serving Trnity, Klerksdorp, as Stated Supply.

At 10h30, I was invited to lead the congregation in worship and celebrate Holy Communion. Tea followed (in true Presbyterian fashion) and after that some of the elders from All Saints, Jouberton and Stillfontein congregations took me out to see their buildings. Our first stop was All Saints where I was taken on a tour of the church buildings and manse and told about the history and plans for the future. All Saints has a new probationer minister and is very excited about the prospect of having their own minister after the long vacancy they have had.

All Saints, Jouberton

Elders & Linsby Motebele (PAT student)
of All Saints

From All Saints, we travelled to the outstation at Kanana. There a steel structure there, erected recently. The congregation is seeking ways to make this steel structure into a worship space with roof, floor and walls.

Kanana, Outstation

Kanana current building.

After Kanana, guided by Mrs Gantso, I proceeded to Stillfontein where we were met by some members (including Mrs Mabo, the mother of the Rev VP Mabo). We were taken through the buildings and told about the history of Stillfontein which began as a church for migrant miners mostly from the Eastern Cape.

I handed over gifts to all three of these congregations, sent by my home church, Trinity - Edenvale.

In the late afternoon, I visited one of our retired ministers, the Rev Ian van der Lingen and his wife Judy. Ian and Judy had served St John's, Turffontein, St John the Evangelist in Parkmore and Kokstad. They have retired to Stillfontein where he continues to lead a Bible Study and has assisted Trinity, Klerksdorp. It was lovely to hear Ian's many stories about the ministry. I expressed the deep love of the UPCSA to these long standing servants of the Church. Ian's daughter in law, Shona, is Clerk of the Presbytery of uThukela.

Ian and Judy van der Lingen

I stayed over night in Orkney (as in 'Orkney snork nie') with Trinity's Session Clerk, Lynn Frost and her husband, Des. Today I take the long road to Vryburg deep in the Kalahari.

With love

Tour of Lekoa - Day 1

2011-03-03T09:52:00.002+02:00

Dear Friends

I have started my tour of the Presbytery of Lekoa!

Yesterday morning I set out from my home in Edenvale westwards toward the great gold mining areas of the far west rand. In about an hour and fifteen minutes, I reached Carletonville (I have never been here before). My first impression was a little strained - on turning into the town, I saw a team of men putting up municipal elections posters for the Freedom Front and I thought what on earth are these people going to do with a "veraaier" like me!

I met the Moderator of the Presbytery and minister of St Matthew's, Carletonville, Hugh Grant at the church and he very kindly told me about the history of St Matthews and St Andrew's, Westonaria and about his life story over tea. I thought about how lovely it was to know a little more about my colleagues in Lekoa. Readers will remember that the first part of my tour took place last October when I took the ministers of the Presbytery on retreat to the island in the middle of the Vaal dam.

Inside St Matthew's, Carletonville

After tea, we went out (accompanied by Alfred, an elder and lay preacher) by car, driving through Fochville, Kokosi, Wedella and Blyvooruitsig. These are areas in which either, outstations already exist (BM Molaba congregation has outstations in Kokosi and Wedella) or where the UPCSA is considering planting preaching stations. We returned to the Manse for lunch and a discussion about new Khutsong (I hope my spelling is correct). This new area is being developed to replace Khutsong which is in danger of falling into a sink hole! Fourteen thousand dwellings have already been built and being a new area, there is no church there yet.

Afternoon tea was spent with the elders and members of St Andrew's Westonaria and a delicious supper (prepared by Denise Miles, my host, and the ladies of St Matthew's) was spent in the company of the elders of St Matthew's.

Trinity, Edenvale, the congregation I serve, has sent a beautiful blue pottery chalice and patten (with an inscription) to every congregation I visit. I was able to present this to St Matthew's. I stayed over with Derek and Denise Miles and today (Thursday), I set off for Klerksdorp.

Celebrations, U2 and Inappropriateness

2011-02-21T08:54:00.000+02:00

Dear Friends

This past weekend was a wonderful weekend for me, full of lovely experiences. First, I spent time with a much loved aunt in Durban. We reminisced and looked at old photos. She cooked and I ate.

Then, on Saturday night, I met all the elders of Berea and Stella Presbyterian Churches at the Durban Country Club where we shared a wonderful meal together. On Sunday morning, Berea held its 125^th Anniversary service and I preached. The service was recorded for SAFM (to be broadcast on Sunday 27^th February at 11am). Afterward, I was presented with a beautifully inscribed and framed picture of their Ascension widow commemorating the occasion. What a wonderful time spent together.

Rev William Pool, Mrs Lizette Pool, George & Edie Christian

I boarded a plane destined for Jo’burg at 2 and arrived just after three. By 5pm, just about our whole Bible Study was parking outside the U2 Concert at Soccer City in Soweto. I like Bono (the lead singer) for two very good reasons: One, he’s a Presbyterian (I don’t care who disputes it but its true!) and Two, he is a brave man who speaks out against injustice and puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to the poor and marginalised of the world. And so, even if his songs are sometimes a bit loud for my conservative old Presbyterian ears (By the way, I think I’m the very first Moderator of the General Assembly to attend a U2 Concert while in office! How’s that?), I listen because he can change hearts. I also hope for a different world. Don’t you? Bono’s themes often overlap with the Christian story. Compare the following song to some of the Psalms of Lament (e.g. Psalm 90)

Bono and Madiba

Heaven on Earth

We need it now

I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
Sick of pain
Sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth

Where I grew up
There weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you

And it's already gone too far
Who said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt

Jesus could you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth

No who’s or whys
No-one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the colour in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
That's peace on Earth

They're reading names out over the radio
All the folks the rest of us won't get to know
Sean and Julia, Gareth, Anne and Breda
Their lives are bigger, than any big idea

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth

Jesus this song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth?
This peace on Earth

Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth

There are hard words for us to hear. But they are no harder than the words spoken by the Psalmist as he cried out to God to come and bring peace to this old war torn world of ours. Bono inspires me to speak up and speak out. He makes me want to stand up for what I (we, all us Christians) believe. He makes me want to be a prophet, an activist, a brave speaker for Jesus and I hope you find moments of wanting to be that too.

Almost two weeks ago, President Zuma said (speaking in Zulu): “When you vote for the ANC, you are also choosing to go to heaven. When you don't vote for the ANC you should know that you are choosing that man who carries a fork, who cooks people. When you are carrying an ANC membership card, you are blessed. When you get up there, there are different cards used but when you have an ANC card, you will be let through to go to heaven.”

Three Presbyteries have written, asking the UPCSA to respond. The South African Council of Churches has responded as follows:

The President of the SACC, Bishop Jo Seoka, labelled the statement made by Pres Zuma as "blasphemous". "Equating a vote for the ANC with going to heaven is problematic. Adding that in heaven people are wearing the colours of the ANC only adds to the problem", warned Bishop Jo.

Seoka further reiterates that "in previous election campaigns we have called on all our political leaders to mind their tongues. What the South African electorate requires is assurances that their lives will be improved through service delivery, provision of jobs and security. Our government and political leaders must address the genuine and legitimate needs of poor people".

"We work on a daily basis with scores of people who are hungry, unemployed and homeless. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ who look at political leaders with great expectations" said Bishop Jo. "Offering heaven to these people while their suffering continues here on earth is escapist. We (as Church and government) are expected to transform the livelihoods of all (and especially the poor) for the better", he concludes

The SACC is mindful of the subsequent statement from Mr Jackson Mthembu as spokesperson of the ANC. Calling the statement a metaphor does not take away from its essence. Calling it a way of speaking does not help either. Instead it demonstrates the concern of the SACC that "political leaders and parties use unacceptable language" during election campaigns.

Mr Eddie Makue, the SACC General Secretary, indicates that approaches have been made to secure a meeting with Pres Zuma where this and other important concerns of the SACC will be discussed.

I don’t think anger is an appropriate response to this inappropriateness on the part of the President. Perhaps disappointment (without the paternalism that often accompanies that feeling) is what we should feel. It was not so long ago (2007) that the Honourable President was ordained a “pastor” by some Independent Church. As a fellow pastor, I would have hoped that he would be more careful with his words. It has the taste of cheap political tricks that one would think unbecoming of the President. I think the President should say sorry and retract the unfortunate statement so we can see that his office stands above party politics.

For what its worth – these are my own thoughts and not those of the UPCSA.

The Presbyteries of Tshwane and eGoli

2011-02-17T10:33:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

They are like two sisters, sitting side-by-side up here to the north (in the ‘neck of the UPCSA’). I am referring to Tshwane and eGoli Presbyteries, of course.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of spending some time with Graham Duncan (Moderator) and Zwai Mtyhobile (Clerk) of Tshwane Presbytery. The Presbytery extends, ‘like a ribbon’, in a narrow band across the top of Gauteng and bottom of Limpopo from Rustenberg and the old Bophuthatswana in the west to Nelspruit and White River in the east up to the Mozambique border. There are about 28 congregations and the majority are centred around the Tshwane metropole. The Presbytery meets quarterly, on the second Saturday of February, May, August and November. Our main centre for training ministers in South Africa, the University of Pretoria, is in the heart of this Presbytery and our students for the ministry studying there are attached to congregations in the Presbytery. Several ministers of the Presbytery are seconded to the SANDF or Police or Correctional Services. Graham Duncan is the UPCSA appointed academic at the university. The Sedibeng House of Studies, where our students for the ministry are housed, is in Menlo Park, near the university.

A few years ago, then Moderator and Clerk, Glynnis Goyns and Theo Groeneveld organised a cycle rally across the breadth of the Presbytery which raised about R500 000, the interest of which is still being used for the growth of small congregations and church development. Sadly, the Presbytery is struggling with the consequence of disunity in the Church Associations with some congregations being split by members belonging to different groups.

I am very grateful to my two colleagues for a frank discussion of the Presbytery’s life and work and for their commitment to build a strong Presbytery.

The Presbytery that has been my home for the last ‘more than nine years’ is the Presbytery of eGoli. Geographically, it is small – covering a circular area with Krugersdorp and Randfontein in the north West, Midrand in the North, Edenvale in the East and Mulbarton and Soweto in the South. It has 31 congregations in full status and three or four which are transitional or nuclear. It includes suburban, inner city and township Churches. Kingsley Dale (St Mungo’s, Bryanston) is the Moderator and John McKane (Linden) is the Clerk. Our Central Office (in Park town, Johannesburg) is located within the bounds. The Ministry Secretary is a member, as are Prof Maake Masango (Pretoria University) and the Rev Ndoda Mbuyisa (SANDF).

It was my privilege to serve as eGoli’s Moderator for two terms (2006 – 2010) and to visit every church building, preaching in many. eGoli has five of the largest (in terms of infrastructure) congregations in the UPCSA. It also has a full time mission enabler, the Rev Vusi Mkhungo. In recent years, it has seen decline in many of the smaller congregations. Two (St Ninian’s, Roodepoort and St George’s, Joubertpark) have been closed and one (Krugersdorp) has been relocated. Several of the township churches and a significant number of the suburban congregations are struggling and cannot afford the stipend of a minister.

eGoli also has its Association struggles with the majority of congregations (who are former PCSA) opting for membership in the MF and the aggrieved group of the UPWF.

Some years ago, the Presbytery decided to ‘turn its world upside down’ by choosing to take a close interest in the life and work of its congregations. Presbytery resolved to no longer have ‘a life of its own’ but to consider the life of its congregations to be its core business. We meet 6 times a year, every time in a different congregation (with the exception of August which is in the Moderator’s Church) and the congregation gets to tell us of its life and work. So we share the stories and network among congregations to help each other. eGoli considers itself the ‘golden heart’ of the UPCSA.

Warm greetings to all of you who read these blogs

Flying tour through Zambia

2011-02-10T10:03:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

I have not written in over a month. The year seems to have started too quickly for me. I was in the office on 3^rd January after a short break in the Eastern Cape and the week gave me a chance to plan.

On Monday 10^th January, I flew to Lusaka, Zambia to commence a four day visit, including meetings with the Executives of Munali, M’Chinga and Copperbelt Presbyteries. I also met with the office bearers of the Synod.

The Synod’s boundaries are the sovereign borders of the Republic of Zambia and it supervises the work of the three Presbyteries. Synod is also the instrument by which the Zambian Church relates to the state. The Synod meets twice a year in June and December (with its Executive meeting twice a year also in between meetings). It consists of all the ministers and probationers in Zambia and all Presbytery Commissioners (about 60 people in all). It meets at St Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Kabwe. The Moderator of the Synod is the Rev Thomson Mkandawire, the Clerk is the Rev. Sauros Phaika and the Treasurer is Elder George Muthali.

Map of Zambia painted on the wall of
TwinkleStar School in Lusaka

Myself, Rev Petson Kabala
& Rev Chunky Young

The Office bearers of Munali Presbytery were the first group I met with on Monday 10^th January. The Presbytery covers the areas of Lusaka West and South West and then runs southward to the Victoria Falls covering Western and Southern provinces of Zambia including Mumbwa and Kafue. The Rev. Petson Kabala is the Moderator, The Rev Lazarus Chirwa the Clerk and Elder Webster Ngulube is the Treasurer. There are 11 congregations in Munale, the most well known ones are Kabwata congregation in Lusaka and David Livingstone Memorial Church beside the Victoria Falls. The Presbytery has an office in the Kabwata buildings and has 7 active Church Development Evangelists. The Presbytery recently had a very successful evangelistic campaign in Kolomo which resulted in the planting of a congregation there. The Presbytery believes that one of its greatest strengths is the harmony among its members which results in teamwork. Sustainability of ministry remains its greatest challenge. If only every congregation had a manse, then it could spend its money on augmenting stipends instead of having to pay rentals.

The Copperbelt Presbytery was next on my itinerary. It is geographically the largest of the three but in terms of ministers, the smallest. The boundaries are: North Western, Copperbelt, Luapula and Northern provinces of Zambia. It has four ministers – the Revs Godfrey Msiska (Moderator), Chala Habasila (Clerk), Abraham Nkata (Treasurer) and Richard Mkandawire. Mr Amos Nyirenda is a Post Academic Trainee in the Presbytery. All told, there are 19 congregations, some are transitional and others nuclear though. The minimum Stipend is very low (ZK 1 500 000 which is about R 3 000!) The ministers are young and dynamic. The vision they have for the Copperbelt is inspirational. Their priorities are: to purchase property for income generation, the establishment of a Presbytery office and the purchase of vehicles for transport.

Office Bearers of Copperbelt Presbytery

My last stop was with the Presbytery of M’Chinga. The Presbytery was established in 2006 (with Munali) when Central Zambia Presbytery was split in two. The boundaries are Lusaka East and North West, the Great East road covering Eastern province, north east and Luangwa and Chongwe towns. Edward Chirwa is the Moderator, Elder Lawrence Makani is the Clerk and Elder Herbert Mvula is the Presbytery Treasurer. They have 15 Church Development Evangelists!!! Last February, the Convener of Church Development & Planning, Chris Judelsohn, and I toured the Eastern province churches. The Eastern province is very rural with many village churches. It was a wonderful experience of God’s grace in the lives of ordinary Zambians who love Him. There are 11 congregations in M’Chinga, with four in the Eastern province. The office bearers presented an exciting programme for the year.

A warm Thank you to the Zambian Church for hosting me. I have carried many questions from them to various committees of the Church.

Christmas Letter

2010-12-15T09:22:00.000+02:00

The following letter has been sent out to all the ministers and congregations within the UPCSA:

Good Friends in Christ

I greet you in the name of the “peace child”, Jesus Christ.

Over these last three months, I have had the privilege of meeting with many members of the UPCSA. I have had one-on-one meetings with the Moderators and Clerks of a third of the Presbyteries, visited two congregations on invitation, attended countless meetings and opened an annual conference of the IYZAs. The Church is alive and strong, healthy but not without profound challenges. Every now and then, when the challenges seem almost overwhelming, I find myself longing for a bit of “peace and quiet”. I don’t think that the UPCSA is any less healthy than it was at union. I don’t believe that the challenges we face are any larger or smaller than at any other time in our history but often this does not seem like the case. Sometimes our burdens seem too heavy!

Recently I came across this extract of what someone had written about what it would be like to live in a perfect world:

“In a perfect world a person should feel as good at 50 as he did at 17 and he would actually be as smart at 50 as he thought he was at 17. In a perfect world you could give away a baby pram without getting pregnant. In a perfect world, professional soccer players would complain about teachers being paid contracts worth millions of Rand. In a perfect world the mail would always be early, the cheque would always be in the mail and it would be written for more than expected. In a perfect world potato chips might have calories but if you ate them with dip, the calories would be neutralized. In a perfect world every once in a while at least, a child who always closed the door softly would be told, “Go back and slam the door.” ”

What do you hope for?

Our sister church in Korea is hoping for peace. In a recent press release, the National Council of Churches in Korea called upon North Korea to stop “using powerful weapons against the civilian community on Yeonpyeong island” but also called upon the government of South Korea and the USA to stop their provocative “war games”. Our sister churches in East Asia are collaborating in a programme to that seeks to address the huge prevalence of teen suicide. I suppose that is a kind of peace making too. In the Pacific, it is really our ‘war’ with nature that is the issue. The people of the islands of Tuvalu believe that they will become the world’s first ever ‘environmental refugees’. Pretty soon, because of the rise of the sea level, their home will be uninhabitable.

The world seems pretty hopeless, doesn’t it?

But it wasn’t very different for God’s child: born under Roman occupation, an enforced census, terrible poverty, no safety, Herod’s infanticide and danger all around. The world into which the Saviour was born was not in harmony but a world at war!

The people of Israel hoped for a Messiah and they hoped for release from the Roman occupying power. When Jesus came, he was far more interested in the condition of their hearts that in the Roman occupation.

Israel hoped for peace. We hope for peace. Peace – just a little peace. That’s our perfect world – no more mourning or crying or pain … No more violence! The perfect world we seek has a name. It is called the “Kingdom of God”.

Christmas is the hope of all ages born among us.

I once read about a missionary called Don Richardson who served for many years among the primitive tribes in Papua New Guinea. He wrote a book entitled “The Peace Child”. He wrote about how in translating the Scriptures into the native tribal language, he could find no words to express how Jesus Christ came to give his life that we might have peace with God. In his book he relates how he finally found the answer in the culture of the native people themselves. He tells the story of two tribes in Papua New Guinea who maintained a blood feud between themselves for several generations. Each generation fought and nursed their wounds only to fight again killing and maiming more and more people. Finally after years of struggle the two tribes realized that they must stop fighting or nothing would be left of their people. But what could they do to end years of warring between the two tribes? Don Richardson goes on to tell that the chiefs of the two tribes came together and brought with them a child they called “the Peace Child”. This child was the son of one of the chiefs which was then adopted into the family of the opposing chief. They made an agreement that as long as that child lived, the two chiefs promised to cease their fighting so that all could live. Don Richardson had finally found a perfect picture of God’s love for us in sending us His Son, the Prince of Peace to die for us.

Jesus, our peace child has been born to us. At Christmas, we remember.

And our remembering must surely propel us to be peacemakers in this warring world (denomination, congregation, family) of ours. Peace is made. Peace is work. Peace requires forgiveness. Peace is hard but the Prince of Peace propels us to become peace makers.

“The peace of God,

which is beyond all understanding

guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus”. (Phil 4:7)

George Marchinkowski

Moderator of the General Assembly

Visit with the Moderator & Clerk of Thukela Presbytery

2010-12-13T11:26:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

On Wednesday 8^th December 2010, I took a drive from Johannesburg to Vryheid in Northern Kwazulu Natal to meet with the Revs Dumisani Mchunu (Moderator) and Shona van der Lingen (Clerk) of the Presbytery of Thukela.

Thukela is a Presbytery covering northern KZN. It stretches from Paulpietersburg and Newcastle in the north to Ulundi and Mathubathuba on the East. The Presbytery of Thekwini is its neighbour on the Indian Ocean, stretching from Richard’s Bay southwards. It’s western border is the provincial border from Newcastle southwards to Ladysmith and down to Colenso and Weenen. In the south, it borders Drakensberg Presbytery and in the West, Free State. The Presbytery is very rural and all Presbytery meetings take place in Dundee which is about the centre of the Presbytery. The Presbytery has 15 congregations with 9 ministers, 1 probationer, 2 stated supply appointments and 3 vacant congregations.

Recently,the General Secretary, the Rev Dr Jerry Pillay conducted a workshop for the Presbytery which was very well attended. The Presbytery identified that it had committed and competent people, the benefit of a convenient meeting venue, a good spread of ages among Presbytery members and no conflict in its associations. Challenges include vast distances between congregations, poor communication within the Presbytery and poverty. Knowledge of the procedures of the UPCSA and the possibility of sharing a court/ARP with Thekwini and/or Drakensberg are also in the Presbytery’s thinking. We spoke about various matters including the possibility of having probationers in the vacant congregations next year.

I am grateful for the work of these two servants of the Church.

IYZA Conference

2010-12-13T10:35:00.000+02:00

Dear Friends

On Friday 3^rd December, I travelled to Limpopo university in Turfloop, just north of Polokoane to officially open the annual IYZA Conference. The IYZAs are the Association of young women of the Church. The service for the opening of the Conference took place at 09h30 in one of the university auditoriums and I preached on the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The ladies kindly presented me with a beautiful cross which I will put up in my Vestry in Edenvale. I don’t know who told them but I collect crosses and I don’t have one similar to the one they gave me. What a lovely gift!

Thank you to “the flower of the Church” (Rev. Obose’s words) for this lovely opportunity and lovely gift.

Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit. Robert Burns

2010-12-13T09:43:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in the St Andrew’s Day services at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Hillside, Bulawayo. This congregation chooses to celebrate its anniversary and its connection to Scotland on the Sunday nearest to 30^th November, the feast of St Andrew. St Andrew was, of course, one of the first disciples Jesus called (John 1: 40) and the brother of St Peter the fisherman. Andrew was the one who brought the boy with the fish and bread to Jesus so that he could feed the 5000 (John 6: 8) and when the Greeks came to see Jesus (John 12: 22), it was Andrew who together with Phillip brought them to Jesus.

What a wonderful celebration we had on Sunday 28^th November! It began with a service at 9am at which I was invited to preach and then, at 3pm, a celebration including good food and Scottish country dancing.

The Very Rev. John Miller, a retired minister (and former Moderator) of the Church of Scotland was present, as was Margaret Fogie and Bill Wishart, members of the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley.

Many members of the congregation came in Scottish traditional dress, including the minister, the Rev Stan Chatikobo who wore a kilt. When asked why I was not wearing a kilt, I explained that sadly, the ‘Marchinkowski tartan’ had never been found! Bill Wishart ‘addressed’ the haggis in true Robbie Burns fashion and a wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all.

Victoria Chatikobo & Sascha

George and Stan Chatikobo

Thank you St Andrew’s for a lovely experience.

Council for World Mission - Malawi

2010-11-22T09:00:00.002+02:00

Good friends in Christ

From Monday 15^th to Friday 19^th November, I am writing to you from Lilongwe, Malawi, where representatives of five churches in southern Africa are meeting:

The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar;

The Churches of Christ in Malawi;

The United Church of Zambia;

The United Congregational Church in Southern Africa

(Nambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique); and

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa).

John Vieira, Marcia Tleane and I are representing the UPCSA at the Africa region of the Council for World Mission. The five member denominations were all in some way initiated by the missionary activity of the London Missionary Society (LMS). In 1973, the LMS became the Council for World Mission (CWM) and sought to assist it’s member churches in becoming more mission focussed. In 1994, CWM sold a property in Hong Kong and the organisation’s assets rose by GB£100 million. This “gift of grace” changed the scope of opportunity available to CWM and its 31 member churches.

The African region meeting held this week will receive inputs from the five southern African denominations about the projects each church has undertaken in the last two and a half years. We are hearing stories about these churches’ response to the AIDS pandemic, how they are addressing Africa’s great challenge – poverty. It’s our way of peer review. We use the time to encourage one another and to check that our colleagues are keeping good books and assuring checks and balances. On Wednesday, our hosts (the Churches of Christ in Malawi) took us around to see some of their projects. It is exciting to see Churches doing things well, ministering in difficult circumstances.

Mr John Vieira and myself

Visiting a church in Lilongwe

Mid town of Lilongwe

Lots of love to all of you

Meeting with new Presbytery of Zimbabwe Leaders

2010-11-17T15:27:00.001+02:00

Good Friends in Christ.

On Wednesday 10 November, I was privileged to spend an afternoon with the Rev. Stan Chatikobo and Mr. Kwenje (respectfully Moderator and Clerk of the Presbytery of Zimbabwe).

Mr Kwenje, George, Rev Chatikobo

The Presbytery of Zimbabwe spans the entire territory of the Republic of Zimbabwe. There is a shortage of ordained ministers, many having emigrated to South Africa and other countries around the world. Readers of this letter will remember the terrible economic crisis that Zimbabwe has experienced over the last eight years or so. Farm seizures, subsequent sanctions imposed by Western countries, political turmoil, etc resulted in hyperinflation and the “crash” of the Zimbabwean currency. South African churches responded by sending money and groceries to our ministers and schools.

Today, Zimbabwe is recovering. The US dollar is used in shops as legal tender, shops are well stocked and people are gradually putting their lives back together. The worst off, as always, are the poor. They lack not only resource but also access to currency.

The newly elected Moderator and Clerk of Zimbabwe Presbytery are very positive about the life of their Presbytery. Zimbabwe has the highest number of Church Development Evangelists (CDEs) in the UPCSA. CDEs are laypersons working to plant and nurture new congregations. Earlier this year, the CDP committee conducted a training seminar for 26 of the evangelists. The participants were given an overview of the Bible in three days.

The CWM Mission Support Fund has had a wonderful impact within the Presbytery. Projects undertaken include youth capacity building, the construction of a clinic in Presbyterian High School and numerous other income generating projects.

Zimbabwe Presbytery also has two significant international partnerships – one with the Presbytery of Denver (PCUSA) and the Presbytery of Grinock and Paisley (Church of Scotland).

Zimbabwe has a long way to go and but we have good leaders who are committed to building the UPCSA there. It has been a privilege to engage with these two Church leaders.

Warm regards

Moderator's Tour

2010-11-09T10:15:00.000+02:00

Good friends in Christ

One of the things one has to learn when one becomes Moderator of the Assembly is what a “Moderator’s Tour” is. It is one of the Moderator’s duties (para. 12.28) but what should it contain? Does one move in for 6 weeks or does one visit regularly over the course of a year? Should time be spent with ministers or congregations? Should one preach or visit projects? It seems that the Presbyterian Church as an unwritten part of its constitution and that this contains guidelines for Moderator’s tours. My predecessor suggested that I should be actively involved in the planning of my tour and not simply arrive in the Presbytery and expect them to know what to do. So – that is what I have done.

First – there was a choice of where to go. The field, however, was not wide open. Only 4 Presbyteries had not been visited since the time of union. I chose Lekoa. Lekoa hosted the ninth General Assembly in September and I got to know many of their ministers and elders. I met with Hugh Grant and Shadrack Modise (Moderator and Clerk of Lekoa) in August to talk about what the Moderator’s tour should entail. We agreed that the tour should have three parts: First, a three day retreat with ministers and office bearers, Second – attendance at the November Presbytery meeting and Third – a two week visit in March 2011.

On Wednesday 27^th October, the ministers and office bearers of Lekoa Presbytery travelled (over water) to the island in the middle of the Vaal Dam. No one could ‘pop’ home or into the office. I had a captive audience. We spent time in fellowship and prayer. I was asked to do a few inputs on the life of faith (Christian Spirituality) and we did some strategic planning. By all accounts, it was a valuable time for those who attended. Relationships were strengthened and a fresh sense of direction and purpose for the Presbytery emerged. I am very grateful to these colleagues who gave the time to be with me. I learned a lot about Lekoa and got to know the individuals better. On Friday, we again boarded the ferry and went our different ways.

On Saturday 6^th November, I travelled to Vereeniging, to St Luke’s, to attend the quarterly meeting of the Presbytery of Lekoa. Presbytery meetings have similarities – there is a Moderator and a Clerk and a ‘top table’. They use a common order and we have similar challenges. If one listens to the business, though, one gets a sense of what the Presbytery is all about. One is able to discern God at work and give thanks. Lekoa is a place in which God is at work. It stretches from Kuruman and Mafikeng in the west to Vereeniging, Sebokeng, van der Bijl Park and Sharpville in the east. There are congregations in Denysville (next to the Vaal dam), in Carltonville and Westonaria and in Klerksdorp and Stilfontein. It takes 6 hours to drive from the furthest congregation on the east to Kuruman in the west. Lekoa has only six full-time ordained ministers! Three retired ministers work full-time in Stated Supply positions. There is one probationer and one elder acting as State Supply as well. The Rev. M Matli, spends one month in Kuruman and then one month in Mafikeng, alternating right through the year. These are great challenges. Pray for Lekoa. At the same time, they are proud and enthusiastic and there are new opportunities for church growth such as in Kokosi.

I look forward to the next part of the tour in the first two weeks of March.

The Rev Brian Woods, Minister Emeritus, has died.

2010-11-09T10:00:00.003+02:00

The Rev. Brian Woods, minister Emeritus who was Moderator of the General Assembly of the former PCSA in 1980, has died in Port Alfred aged 84.

Our deepest sympathies to his children, David, Patricia, Lynette and Billy. Brian was a great minister of the Church and in his retirement he and his late wife, Ruth and son, Billy, moved to Bathurst near Port Alfred in the Presbytery of Central Cape. Ruth died very recently and Brian had been deteriorating in recent months. My earliest memories of Brian are from the time I used to go down to Port Alfred from Grahamstown to preach (as a Student for the Ministry). Brian Woods and Edwin Pons were members of the congregation. It was a daunting task, to preach in a congregation in which two former Moderators of the General Assembly worshipped. Brian was always generous with his praise and constructive with his criticism.

One of Brian’s great vocations was to send a short letter of encouragement to newly elected Moderators of Assembly. I received a monthly letter from him beginning in September 2008 when I was elected and the last one came this September. Like Barnabas (known as the son of Encouragement), Brian encouraged me (and my predecessors) to lead the Church with grace.

Funeral arrangements will be made today and communicated through the Assembly office.

With love to all who read

Church Associations Committee Meeting

2010-11-02T09:48:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

On Friday 22 October, I travelled to Mdantsane in Amatola Presbytery to attend the Church Associations Committee meeting. The Convener, the Rev. Lulamile Obose, welcomed me and all the delegates to the meeting which was held in Auld Memorial Church. The Men’s Christian Guild, The Presbyterian Women’s Fellowship, the Youth Fellowship, the IYZAS ad the Guild of Church choirs and musicians were all represented in the meeting. Also present were Church Association Conveners from several of the UPCSA’s Presbyteries.

Friday night consisted mainly of formalities and going through the minutes of the previous meeting (June 2010) with report backs etc. We enjoyed a late supper before turning in for the night. On Saturday morning, the Committee invited me to address them on Article 13 of the Basis of Union which expresses the intention of the former RPC and PCSA to amalgamate their separate Church Associations at the time of union. I expressed the desire for paths toward unity to be found as I believe this is what Christ wants for the Church. Also, my view that legislation is always a poor motivator toward unity when relationships are in question. Paul’s injunction that we make every effort to maintain the unity of the body motivates me to work hard toward that eventuality.

The MCG especially indicated that they were always ready to come to the negotiating table.

I suspect that the challenges faced by the associations will be one of the priorities in these next 21 months. I want to record my thanks to the committee (and especially my friend, the Convener) for the invitation to attend and offering me an opportunity to learn about this important part of the Church’s life.

Warm Greetings to you all

Midrand Celebrates 25 Years!

2010-11-02T09:47:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

On Sunday 17^th October 2010, I visited the congregation of Midrand. This is one of the UPCSA’s strongest congregations which meets in the reconstructed (brought up from Pietermaritzburg) St Saviour’s building in Randjesfontein. Midrand is a big healthy congregation served by two ministers, the Revs Chris Judelsohn and Gavin Lock. The congregation was planted 25 years ago by Trinity, Edenvale together with the Church Extension committee of General Assembly. The Rev. Tim Sawyer was its first minister. Midrand has itself planted a thriving congregation in Fourways (inside the Indaba Hotel).

I was invited to preach on the occasion of Midrand’s Silver Jubilee (25 years). There were two services in the morning, both packed with members. The old St Saviour’s building is a beautiful stone building reminiscent of a bygone era. Inside, a tactfully designed sound and projection system facilitates a modern worship service which includes a blend of the great hymns of the church together with contemporary Christian songs. A choir delivered an item and two saxophonists played an item during the taking of the offering. Beautiful banners hung to the sides of the sanctuary, each illustrating a part of the 25^th anniversary logo, created especially for the occasion.

I have included a picture of the central banner which hangs in the sanctuary. It contains the new logo at the centre, surrounded by the faces of Midrand’s members. All kinds of commemorative pieces (glasses, mugs etc) were on sale and I was presented with a beautiful commemorative magazine featuring photos from across their history.

A Big Happy Birthday to you, Midrand from all of us in the UPCSA.

Lots of love

The Presbytery of East Griqualand

2010-11-01T11:31:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

On Thursday 14 October, I travelled from Durban to Kokstad to meet with the incoming Moderator and Clerk of East Griqualand Presbytery. Mike Craig, minister of St Columba’s, Kokstad, will be inducted as Moderator in early November and Thembeka Pitoyi, of Gillespie congregation, as Clerk. Both of these ministers were ordained in the UPCSA and not in either of the former denominations. I get a good feeling about this, it seems to be an opportunity to start afresh.

There are 16 congregations in East Griqualand. The Presbytery is very rural and some congregations have as many as 39 outstations. Thembeka told me that he recently held a baptism service in which 147 children were baptised. He borrowed the fonts from surrounding churches and the service went on for a long long time. 132 people were confirmed in another service. Ministers with many outstations have to train up lay preachers to preach in these. This becomes a major facet of their work.

According to Mike and Thembeka, the Presbytery enjoys unity within its Church Associations and Presbytery wide Consultations have been called on issues to be discussed. Sadly, Presbytery meetings have not always been pleasant with egos clashing and commissioners sometimes disrupting proceedings. They mentioned the need for workshops on Presbyterian polity and meeting procedures. Resources in such a rural Presbytery are always a challenge especially where there are such long distances to travel. There are two retired ministers resident in the bounds – the Revs JV Mdlalose and K Makiwane . The Presbytery has one probationer, Outon Ngxiya, placed at Stirling Memorial.

East Griqualand Presbytery lies south west of Thekwini and Drakensberg and North of Mthatha with Port Edward on its East and Lesotho forming its western border. It takes in Kokstad and Mout Ayliff, Mount Frere and its surrounding areas up to the Drakensberg range in the West.

We celebrate what God is doing among the brothers and sisters of East Griqualand.

Warm regards

The Presbytery of eThekwini

2010-11-01T11:19:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ

On Wednesday 13^th October, I travelled down to Durban to meet with the Moderator and Clerk of the Presbytery of eThekwini. This was the first visit in the series I will be undertaking to begin the programme of strengthening the UPCSA’s Presbyteries.

The Presbytery of eThekwini is a long narrow Presbytery, stretching from Richard’s Bay to Port Edward on the Kwazulu Natal coast. It only goes westward as far as Hammarsdale and borders the Drakensberg Presbytery there. Of its 33 congregations, four are in the south, three in the north and all the others in and around the city of Durban. Thabani Masikane, minister of KwaMashu, is serving in his second term as Presbytery Moderator and Mark Boshoff, minister of St George’s, Bluff, is the Clerk. Both of them struck me as committed to the growth of the Presbytery and appropriately proud of eThekwini’s achievements.

eThekwini boasts a good attendance at Presbytery meetings, a fair level of racial harmony and a boldness in governing within their bounds. They seem to have unity in the life of Church Associations and although they have challenges in various areas, there seems to be the will to work at these until resolution is achieved. Some of the denomination’s strongest congregations, namely Frere Road, Kwa Mashu and North Durban are in this Presbytery. Almost a third of eThekwini’s congregations are vacant. eThekwini also has a large group of retired ministers – there are nine.

Berea Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 125^th Anniversary in February and I have been invited to participate in this.

I wanted to share all this with you so we may celebrate what God is doing in eThekwini and pray for them in their challenges as well.

Warm regards

(Just) George

Professor Alistair Kerr

2010-11-01T11:15:00.000+02:00

Good Friends in Christ.

Ian Wilson and Sascha (my wife) have very kindly set up a blog for me. This (for the un-technological like me) is a facility that will enable me to write about what is going on in the Church as I visit Presbyteries and congregations etc. These messages will be available to you to read on the website of the UPCSA. I will try to keep these as current as I can. But first, I need to backtrack a little and tell you some of the things I have been doing since the General Assembly.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Sheila (my chaplain) and I travelled down to Grahamstown to attend the funeral of Professor Alastair Kerr. I was invited to say a eulogy at the funeral and chose to share memories from the fifteen years I had known ‘Prof’.

Alastair Kerr was born in Biggar, Scotland, the second son of Dr. Alexander and Mrs Mary Kerr. His father was the first principal of the South African Native College which later became Fort Hare university. Dr Kerr was also one of the handful of elders to become Moderator of the General Assembly. Alastair grew up at Fort Hare and was sent to Grey High School in Port Elizabeth for his high school education. In 1941, he graduated with a BA at Rhodes whereafter he spent the remainder of the war years on board a submarine in the Royal Navy and later as a meteorological officer in South East Asia. After the war, he enrolled at Wits university for the LLB degree because it was felt that those who sought to work for the upliftment of Black South Africans really needed trainer lawyers. He worked for 5 years in the department of Native Affairs and even acted as a magistrate before jointing Rhodes in 1954.

Professor Kerr distinguished himself in two main areas of law, namely customary law and the law of contract. The former became the subject of his masters degree (achieved in 1960) and the later his doctorate in 1972). His books ranged from customary law to the law of Agency, the law of Contract and the law of Sale and Lease. He served as head of department of law and as dean of the faculty on many occasions. In 1993, he was appointed honorary Senior Counsel by State President FW de Klerk (there are only 10 academics ever to receive this honour) and awarded the honorary Doctor of Laws by Rhodes university in 1995.

In the Church, the Alastair Kerr we knew was always a humble servant with not a hint of arrogance. The Manual of Faith and Order of the UPCSA will stand as a monument to his work. He served on the Manual committee of the former PCSA since 1974 and in the UPCSA since union. He was Presbytery Clerk in the former PCSA for 10 years before union. He was a member of the Committee negotiating union and worked tirelessly in creating the Court of Assembly system. He was an elder of Trinity, Grahamstown for more than 50 years.

I have seen him ‘ruled out of order’ a few times and every time, he sat down saying “thank you, Moderator”. I wonder whether they still make elders like that.

The UPCSA has lost one of its great fathers and faithful servants. We say “Farewell old friend!”

The funeral was well attended by members of the Presbytery of Central Cape and by ministers from far and wide, also by members of the Rhodes university fraternity.

(Just) George