20.12.2023

Spiritual Growth, Holistic Work

As son of Rev. Gehaz Japhet Malasusa und Subilaga Timothy Mwakimi, he grew up in a Moravian-Lutheran Surrounding. Later he studied in Arusha, Paris, Dar Es Salaam and Douala. Photo by: ELCT/ECD

“UEM Council member, Bishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa, Bishop of the ELCT/ECD* is very committed to his church’s spiritual and physical growth. He was recently been elected as the 4th Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The ELCT/ECD is a very committed UEM member. As a sign of ownership and participation, in August 2022, the church gifted to UEM a piece of land in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania where it is planned to build the Africa Regional Office. The UEM Africa Region is very grateful to all supporters who in solidarity promote the holistic work, especially for the most needy people in our society”, says the Rev Dr Ernest Kadiva, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UEM Africa departement.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, in its 21st General Assembly, held at Tumaini University Makumira (TUMA) in Arusha from 21st – 24th August 2023, celebrated its 60th Anniversary of the establishment of ELCT, deliberated many issues related to the growth of the church and elected Bishop Dr. Alex Gehaz Malasusa to lead the church for the next four years according to the constitution. Bishop Dr. Malasusa will be sworn in as the new Presiding Bishop of ELCT on 21st January 2024.

The 28 Dioceses of the ELCT unite an estimated 8,9 million congregants, with Bishop Dr. Malasusa’s Eastern Coastal Diocese being the home of about 212.000 members. As Presiding Bishop, called “Mkuu” in Kiswahili, Malasusa is both head of his Diocese and of the church consisting of 28 Dioceses.

He comes from a family of pastors and evangelists, studying Management, Accounting and Theology at what is today Tumaini University Makumira. As a Bishop, he worked as a leader to inspire pastors to invest their time in holistic mission. His efforts to create visible governance systems saw the diocese growing physically and spiritually. In 2007, Bishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa was elected as Presiding Bishop of the ELCT for the first time, until 2011. In honour of his outstanding service to the church and community, three universities, Trinity Lutheran University, USA, Helsinki University, Finland, and Finlandia University, USA, awarded him honorary degrees.

Rev. Dr. John Wesley Kabango, Executive Secretary of UEM Africa Department, says about him: “Bishop Dr. Malasusa’s experience working with corporate government institutions and pastoral engagement in the Eastern and Coastal Diocese is a candid verification of his church's leadership competence. He also served in various international organisations, including Youth coordination of the United Evangelical Mission, Africa Desk from 2000 to 2004. He is also the husband of Mrs Ericah Nkonoki-Malasusa. They have three grown-up children, a sign that he is also a responsible parent.”

We wish Bishop Dr. Alex Gehaz Malasusa God’s blessings for his second term as ELCT Presiding Bishop and ask all Christians in UEM member churches to support him in prayer.

*ELCT/ECD = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Eastern Coastal Diocese