Namibian member churches of the United Evangelical Mission celebrated 50 years of independence

Bischop Dr Zephania Kameeta

Wilfried Neusel, Dr Ulrich
Möller and the
former Bishop
of the ELCRN Dr Hendrik Frederik

Wilfried Neusel and Bishop
Dr Zephania Kameeta laid a
wreath at the grave of Andreas Kukuri.

Numerous guests from
ELCRN member churches
and political VIPs, including
the Namibian President,
attended the celebrations
between the 4th and 7th October.

Namibian member churches of the United Evangelical Mission celebrated 50 years of independence

As a gift, the Archives and Museum Foundation of the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) brought a touring exhibition portraying the 50 year history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) celebrated its 50 years of existence on 4^th October 2007at a special service of celebration in the Kreuzkirche in Okahandja. This former Rhenish Mission church, about 70 kilometres north of the Namibian capital Windhoek, was the setting exactly 50 years previously for the inaugural synod of the ELCRN.

Numerous guests from ELCRN member churches and political VIPs, including the Namibian President, attended the celebrations between the 4^th and 7^th October.

The second largest Namibian Church emanated from the Rhenish Mission, one of the predecessor organisations of the UEM.

The anniversary celebrations were also attended by representatives from the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR), the Evangelical Church of Westphalia (EKvW) and the Evangelical Church of Hesse-Waldeck (EKKW) as well as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana (ELCB) – all member churches of the UEM. In his official greetings on behalf of the UEM, Managing Director Jürgen Borchardt emphasised the outstanding role played by the ELCRN in the internationalisation of the UEM. As current UEM Moderator, the Namibian Bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta is also Chairman of the UEM Council.

The major significance of the ELCRN for Namibian society was underlined in the speech made by Namibian President Pohamba. He also officially opened the touring exhibition outlining the history of the church, “Fifty years of ELCRN independence”, which was prepared and organised jointly by the Archives and Museum Foundation and the UEM.

Bishop Kameeta and Oberkirchenrat Wilfried Neusel (EKiR) laid a wreath at the grave of Andreas Kukuri, who as pastor remained loyal to his church in the 1950s, even though many other pastors from his own ethnic group, the Herero, defected from the church.

A book published by the Church in Rhineland, delineating the role of the ELCRN during the apartheid era, was presented during the celebrations. And a large marquee gifted by the Church of Westphalia was dedicated as part of the closing service.

In his sermon, Bishop Kameeta, who only a few weeks ago was re-elected as Bishop with an overwhelming majority by the church synod, exhorted the almost 1,000 worshippers to continue to stand together in future with regard to parish development and facing up to social and diaconal responsibility.