Pastor em. Nico Esterhyse has passed away after a long illness on the 22.10.2016. The memorial service was held on the 27.10.2016 in Philippi. May the resurrected Lord comfort the family and all of us and fill us with his peace.

UELCSA (United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa)
The Synod of UELCSA has met on 22-23 October 2016 in Bonaero Park. Member churches are the ELCSA(NT), ELCiN(GELC) and ELCSA(Cape church). Bishop B.Brand was elected as the Presi-ding Bishop, Mr H. Schöttler as Treasurer and Mr. W.Fechter as President of Synod, Bishop G.Filter as the deputy to the Presiding bishop and Bishop H Müller as additional Member of the Church Council.

LWF – Lutheran World Federation and LUCSA – Lutheran communion in Southern Africa
LUCSA is the regional body of the Lutheran World Federation and will host a conference for the 12th Assembly of the LWF, which will take place 9-16 May 2017 in Windhoek. The theme of the As-sembly: “Freed by God’s grace. Salvation not for sale; People not for sale; Creation not for sale.” For more information and materials see www.lwfassembly.org

EKD – Evangelical Church in Germany and VELKD – United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany
As Cape Church we are a partner church to both and receive support on various levels: money through donations and support of projects, as well as the supply of materials, liturgical information and agendas, and also training opportunities.
On 31 October I had the opportunity to participate in the opening service of the anniversary year of 500 years Reformation 2017.
During the days that followed, a consultation between the partner churches of the South (Southern Africa and South America) and the EKD took place. We dealt with various issues to clarify the way for further cooperation with the EKD.
Thereafter I took part in the synods of the VELKD and the EKD in Magdeburg, where I had the opportunity for conversations with leaders of many organizations.

Studying theology at the University of Stellenbosch
Are you called to become a pastor? Do you desire to make a difference in society? Do you have a heart for people? You can do that through the service in the Church.
Do you want to study theology? The UELCSA offers bursaries to those who want to study theology full-time. The University of Stellenbosch is the preferred university for this training. Should you con-sider it, then please speak to your pastor about it.

UELCSA (Verenigde Evangelies Lutherse Kerk in Suider-Afrika)
Die sinode van UELCSA het van 22-23 Oktober 2016 in Bonaero Park plaasgevind.
Die lidkerke is die ELKSA (NT), ELKIN (DELK) en ELKSA (Kaapse kerk).
Biskop B.Brand is verkies as die voorsittende Biskop, Mnr H. Schöttler as tesourier en Mnr W.Fechter president van die sinode, Biskop G.Filter as die adjunk van die voorsittende biskop en Biskop H.Müller as ‘n addisionele lid van die Raad van die Kerk.

LWF – Lutheran World Federantion en LUCSA – Lutherse Communion in Southern Africa
LUCSA is die plaaslike liggaam van die Lutherse Wêreld federasie en sal gasheer wees van ‘n plaaslike konferensie in die aanloop van die 12de vergadering van die LWF, wat sal plaasvind 9-16 Mei 2017 in Windhoek. Die tema van die vergadering: “Ons is vry deur God se genade. Verlossing kan nie gekoop word nie; Mense kan nie gekoop word nie; die Skepping kan nie gekoop word nie!” Meer inligting en materiaal kan verkry word by www.lwfassembly.de vind.
EKD – Evangeliese Kerk in Duitsland en die VELKD – Verenigde Evangeliese Lutherse Kerk in Duitsland

As Kaapse Kerk is ons ‘n vennoot van beide kerke en ons ontvang ondersteuning op verskeie vlakke: skenkings en finansieele ondersteuning van projekte, sowel as die verskaffing van materiaal, liturgiese hulpmiddele en agendas, asook opleidingsgeleenthede vir die pastors.
Op 31 Oktober het ek die geleentheid gehad om deel te neem aan die openings diens van die herdenkingsjaar van 500 jaar Reformasie 2017.
Gedurende die dae wat gevolg het, het ‘n konsultasie tussen die vennoot kerke van die Suide (Suid-Afrika en Suid-Amerika) en die EKD plaasgevind. By hierdie geleentheid was kwessies onderhandel en is duidelikheid verkry oor verdere samewerking met die EKD. Daarna het ek deelgeneem aan die sinodes van die VELKD en die EKD in Magdeburg, waar ek die geleentheid gehad het vir ontmoetings en besprekings met leiers van verskeie organisasies.

Teologie studie aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch
Is jy geroep om ‘n pastor te word? Wil jy graag ‘n verskil in die gemeenskap te maak? Het jy ‘n hart vir mense? Jy kan dit doen deur die diens in die kerk.
Wil jy teologie studeer? Die UELCSA bied beurse aan vir diegene wat teologie voltyds wil studeer. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is die voorkeur-universiteit vir hierdie opleiding. Indien jy dit oorweeg, praat met jou pastor daaroor.

Groete, Biskop Filter