09.12.2020

ELCT-NED has a new leadership

The Northeast Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT-NED) met for a special synod from 25 to 27 November 2020 to discuss and decide on the formation of a new diocesan leadership.

The result: Pastor Dr. Msafiri Mbilu was elected as the new bishop of the diocese, Pastor Michael Kanju was appointed as his deputy. Both will lead the diocese for the next four years.

Pastor Dr. Msafiri Mbilu is not a blank slate in the UEM. On the contrary, until shortly before his election, the designated bishop worked on behalf of UEM as a lecturer at Silliman University in the Philippines. Prior to this, the Tanzanian theologian taught the subject "Old Testament" at the Tumaini Makumira University College of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. He also held the position of Deputy Vice Rector for Finance and Administration at Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University. The new bishop of ELCT-NED is also well remembered at the Mission House in Wuppertal: In 2012, he received a UEM scholarship to study for his doctorate in "New Testament" at the Church University of Wuppertal/Bethel in Germany.

In view of his upcoming term of office, the designated bishop of ELCT-NED sets out the goals:

• to heal the broken souls of the people within the diocese;

• to reconcile the hostile parties in order to restore peace within the diocese and to build mutual understanding;

• to maintain and stabilize the relations of NED to UEM and all other partners in Germany and other parts of the world;

• to participate as a full member in the ELCT and to recognize the strength of this important church association;

• to maintain and further develop all social service facilities of the diocese such as hospitals, universities, colleges, schools, children's homes and other institutions;

• to act with honesty and integrity to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest in personal and professional relationships;

• and to act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and conscientiousness in all areas of the Church.

Dr. Msafiri Mbilu is married to Teacher Mary, who received her doctorate in Education Management from Negros Original State University (NORSU) in the Philippines. The couple have three children: Sara, who is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in medicine at Wuhan University in China, Joseph, who is pursuing his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Silliman University and Jackson, who is in the tenth grade of junior high school at Silliman University.    

The following new district pastors were also elected for a four-year term at this special synod:

• Pastor Anderson Kapande, Northern District

• Pastor Isai Mweta, Southern District

• Pastor Frank, Mtangi District Tambarare and

• Pastor Thadeus, Ketto coast district.          

The new leaders of ELCT-NED will soon be officially introduced to their offices. The UEM communion asks God to use them faithfully for his work.

Pastor Dr. Ernest Kadiva (Deputy Executive Secretary and Head of UEM regional office in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania)