Opinion

ELCIN, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, succeeded ELOK, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Owambo-Kavango, which in turn succeeded the work of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) when the first local church leader, Dr Leonard Auala, was consecrated as Bishop in 1963. After Bishop Auala retired, Bishop Emeritus Kleopas Dumeni assumed the helm in 1978 during a difficult time for the church and Namibians in general. These were years of great internal political strife, hardship and great tests upon the faith of many Christians. During that time, many in society took refuge in the church for emotional and spiritual solace. When it was seen that the youth needed particular direction and counsel, a young pastor was put in charge to mobilise them and kept them engaged across the parishes of the church. The church established schools, given the introduction of the notorious Bantu Education System in the Cape, which applied to the Territory, as Namibia was then known. Many were sent for education abroad by the church, in particular by ELCIN. Hospitals and clinics were established with the first such established at Elim before moving to Onandjokwe, my birthplace. Institutions of the church were destroyed. Bombing on three occasions destroyed the ELOK/ELCIN printing press. Church leaders’ homes were raided. Church services were interrupted. Pastors, deacons, evangelists and others were tortured, arrested and assaulted. Names such as Rev. Junias Vaino Kaapanda (Tsandi), Rev. Aino Kapewangolo (Rundu), Rev. Frederik Nghihalwa (Ohalushu), Rev. Mika Iilonga (Okahao), Rev. Andreas Shomagwe (Etilyasa), Rev. Hendrik Dengeinge (Ongwediva), Bishop Sindano (Rundu), Rev. Johannes Kalenga (Etilyasa), Rev. Asser Lihongo (Rupara), Rev. Mathias Shikondombolo (Nkurenkuru), Rev. Shangheta (Okongo), Rev. Hosea Namupala (Oshigambo), Rev. Sebulon Ekandjo (Oniipa), Rev. Petrus Shipena (Oniipa) Rev. Titus Ngula (Oshitayi), Rev. Matti Endjala (Eengolo), Rev. Josephat Kashindi Shanghala (Nakayale) Rev. Stefanus Mvula (Oniipa) Rev. Salomo Elago (Oshigambo) are living or deceased pastors who were imprisoned and tortured. Their courageous work will never be erased from the annals of history. Many more could be listed here, and many of their honourable feats could be recited here, yet that is not the purpose of this piece. These sons and daughters of this country need to be celebrated and not scorned, and one of them undoubtedly is Bishop Shanghala, born to a war veteran, Vendelinus ya Kashindi ya Aipinge ya Nakatoni, and daughter of a pioneering FELM/ELOK preacher, Helvi Ayeheyamwe ya Sakeus Nangombe Mholo ya Iihuhwa yaNepaya lyaNtinda. Having graduated as a teacher, having worked as a radio presenter at the then SWABC, the makings of a politician were evident for the likes of Late Rev. Amakutuwa, Bishop Auala and Bishop Dumeni, who started collaborating with the young Pastor Shanghala so that the church could play its role in the liberation of Namibia. Many of the young men and women who were to be in Swapo’s camps and training centres were ushered into exile by men like Bishop Shanghala, Rev. Kaapanda and others. Many of the operators of PLAN during the years of the insurgency were transported, housed, fed, clothed and morally guided by him and his peers. Contrast that to the events of the past year, culminating in the standoff with the ELCIN congregation at Okahao (if in fact this congregation still forms part of ELCIN, or perhaps falls part of the Eastern Diocese where it presents its so-called petitions) and you beg the question: what went wrong? Since I am the son of Bishop Shanghala, people might call me biased, but I would be the first to say that Bishop Shanghala is no saint. Neither is Bishop Dumeni. Neither is Bishop Kaulinge. But for as long as they live by the church statutes, for as long as they guide Swapo and its leaders, then we know that they are still on the path they have set for us. Any deviation, spiritually, politically or otherwise will have repercussions upon the followers. No one can contest that these humble men have not deviated from their course hitherto. Yet there has also been no deviation on the part of the Okahao congregation since time memorial. Nothing is new. Circa 1870s, Martti Rautanen, affectionately known as Nakambale, is recorded to have lost some teeth on account of malignant and heathen Ngandjera crowds, leading to his hasty departure from Okahao back to Olukonda. Whilst the present-day congregation of Okahao cannot be classified as heathen, something serious lurks beneath their chanting. Their verbal insults of Bishop Shanghala confirmed the suspicion that their souls and minds are in need of some attention. Those cannot be the actions of mature men and women, some of whom are educators, law enforcers, upstanding men and women in society – or so we thought. As an elderly clergyman in the North put it recently, the challenge is that the church is consumed by leaders whose self-conceit is no longer a whispered secret confined to Oniipa. What more can be said when bishops are pronounced even before consecration and if seeing is believing, page 40 of the new Ondjalulamasiku (Daily Devotion Calendar) can speak for itself. When congregations break away from the centre, in times when the church is faced with competition from what I call happy-clappy churches, when the clergy is part of the mob and not united at the altar, then for sure, your guess is as good as mine in determining the longevity of this once gallant institution of our society. I say this because I learnt with shock that Bishop Dumeni had to relinquish his church attire, chain, hat and staff for no apparent reason other than envy and jealousy. Why now after 18 years? Was it not Bishop Dumeni who steered the church into an independent Namibia as the sole bishop? Did he really deserve this treatment? Who is sowing the seed of disunity in the church and among its congregation? When the day arrives, I wish to be alive to attend Bishop Dumeni’s final send-off and hear the recitals by hypocrites. The same applies for Bishop Shanghala. How many congregations did Bishop Shanghala not establish in his career as he toiled for the word of God? Let’s count to thirty. One fears that with the departure from its ranks of the likes of Bishop Shanghala, one of the few evangelists from the Bishop Auala and Bishop Dumeni era, one who has spent many a year in the church councils, synods and leadership, our beloved Bethesda is running out of leaders of quality, steadfast in their principles, devoted to their calling, consecrated into an everlasting selfless service. What is to become of ELCIN if pastors can no longer be relocated to congregations and stations? Never did I think that during my lifetime a congregation would stand up against a bishop, chant insults and close their doors on account of this issue. It’s like reading a script from the Old Testament. Bethesda is no longer a place for healing and ELCIN faces a daunting future. Niccolò Machiavelli writes in his work The Prince (1532): “They must consider not only the dissension which is already present, but that which lies in the future, and do their utmost to avert it; if they foresee it when it is still far off, it can easily be remedied; but if they wait for it to arrive, the medicine comes too late, because the illness is by no incurable.” The question for the ELCIN Church Council, Synods and bishops is whether the leadership acquiesces to the mob, or does it take resolve? Previous conduct reveals a very lacklustre leadership. Only time will tell if Bethesda will fill its pool again for our healing. For now, the flock looks to the sky in prayer. Such is the sadness that is ELCIN. OSHAKATI SAKEUS E. SHANGHALA