Good Friends in Christ
On Wednesday 8th 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment