COVID-19 – what can we do on congregational level?
Dear sisters and brothers, the spread of the virus is causing much uncertainty and panic in many regards. The medical fraternity, politicians and business have shared much information that is available in different forms of the media. But, can we do something on congregational level? To me there are two important aspects how we can be involved: creating awareness of appropriate hygiene and providing for that in practical ways at our facilities. And, we can speak out against victimisation.
Congregations and Pastors
Vacancies in the congregation are always an opportunity for the members to use their gifts more to build up the Body of Christ, but it also brings with it un- certainties and more responsibility for the leadership on different levels. Thank you for all who are so involved, serving to the glory of the Triune God.
Church of the Cross, Bellville
Ds Schalk Treurnicht, an ordained minister from the Dutch Reformed Church has been assisting during the vacancy and wishes to become a Lutheran pastor. He will do a colloquium (seminar) on 20 May 2020. After completion, he will become one of our pastors and be eligible to be elected for the post in Bellville. Thus, by July the vacancy can come to an end. In the meantime, he has been appointed on a Fixed Short-Term Contract from February to end of June 2020 to serve in the congregation. We thank him for his dedicated service.
St Crucis (East London)
Pastor Frank Schütte from NELCSA has been elected by the St Crucis Congregation at their AGM on 1 March. He will hopefully move to Beacon Bay in December and start his ministry at St Crucis. We wish him and his family God’s blessing for the work in the current congregation and then the upcoming move.
Southern Cape
the discussions are ongoing as we seek to find ways to fill the vacancy through a shared post with the ELCSA-Cape Orange Diocese.
