Council for World Mission - Malawi

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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