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.