Sunday May 9, 2010

 

Consecration of SWS Sihlangu as Bishop of ELCSA Northern Diocese

 

The consecration service was held in the civic hall in the town of Witbank east of Johannesburg now called Emalahleni (The place of coal).  The town is in one of the main coal producing areas in South Africa.

There were about 3000 people at the consecration service which was followed by a program. 

 

Bishop Sonnyboy William Sikhwarana Sihlangu was born in 1953, is married to Dikeledi with 4 children and one grand child.  He received a diploma in theology at Lutheran Theological Seminary LTS at Umphumulo in 1978.  He served as a parish pastor since 1979 and as Dean of Mphome Circuit for one term of 6 years from 2000 to 2006. 

 

Bishop Sihlangu is the 7^th bishop of the Northern Diocese and the 4^th in the last 7 years. 

 

The new bishop preached on the Gospel text for the Sunday, John 14 ( Jesus' farewell discourse) and stressed the need for faith and obedience.  He said the problems in the Northern Diocese could be resolved if people were not controlled by “bad-thought love” but “good-thought love” based on God’s gift of peace which is unlimited.

 

Acting presiding bishop of ELCSA NP Phaswana in his address, based on Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem, exhorted the new bishop to be a servant of the church which belongs to God.  He stressed obedience, teamwork, visiting every member without discriminating, providing for pastor’s wellbeing (salaries), accommodating the many cultures and languages in the diocese, overcoming HIV & Aids, human trafficking, substance abuse, crime and poverty. He called for the new bishop to support strong Lutheran teaching and to be constant in prayer.

 

Greetings were given by bishops of several dioceses as well as previous ND bishops Molefe, Moila and Matsibatlela.  Bishop J Ramashapa brought greetings from LWF and the 16 member churches of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) and a representative of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) congratulated the new bishop and called on ELCSA to provide leadership and good theology to the SACC as it had in the past. 

 

I brought greetings on behalf of ELCA, Global Mission and Northeastern Ohio Synod and presented a book as a gift to the new bishop.

 

The program ended with the benediction and liturgical procession out of the hall. 

 

Report by:

Philip J. Knutson Rev. Dr.

ELCA Global Mission

Regional Program Assistant - Southern Africa

Cape Town