Report-back on the 2nd Ordinary Meeting of the XIVth Synod Stellenbosch
01-03 September 2017
Thirty-nine delegates (W and E Cape) attended – including all the pastors. A pleasant and harmonious atmosphere persisted. In almost all cases consensus was reached and decisions generally ended with a unanimous vote.
Gilbert Filter was re-elected as Bishop for another period of four years. Likewise, Pastor Felix Meylahn was re-elected as vice chairman of Church Council. Since Pastor D. Trümpelmann is leaving for St. Peters by the Lake, another pastor had to fill the post of “Theological member to Church Council.” The Synod elected Pastor Michael Denner for this post.
The traditional, cordial Synodal letter to the president of the country was reformulated and strongly worded to bring out the grave concern the Cape Church has on the disasterous results caused to our country by the president’s actions. The issues of poverty and corruption were particularly addressed. This letter will also be made available to our congregations. A listening team comprising four delegates under the guidance of Pastor Walter Schwär compiled 8 points which stood out during the course of the Synod. These will be shared and discussed with church committees and congregations.
All-in-all, it was a blessed and wonderful get-together which also gave opportunity to get to know one another better. Some of the people I met for the first time and it was encouraging to see and hear that many congregations grapple with similar issues. Each congregation had a poster displayed under the topic of “Tell your story” – an endeavour driven by Karin Kastern from the Eastern Cape. The Kreuzkirche is indebted to Christiane Duwe who had made our poster. The excellent and effective manner in which the chairman, Dr Christian Johl, conducted the proceedings was much appreciated. The hospitality of the Stellenbosch congregation was overwhelming and the catering (example: A meal as in Luther’s time) was original and most enjoyable. The topic of the Synod was: “The Reformation then and now.” Blended into the proceedings were several “Dwelling in the Word” sessions led by the well-known Lutheran theologian, Prof. Patrick Keifert, from the USA. These were most inspiring and gave us renewed hope that God’s Spirit is at work – also within the Cape Church – and that a new commission is in store for us. We are all encouraged and called to partake in the listening process to discern where and how our Lord wants to lead us in these challenging and difficult times. It was generally accepted that the focus for future Synods should be more future orientated, i.e. where is God taking us?
E-G B
