Good to be Back at LTS and UP

From 2008 to 2012, I was commissioned to teach classes in church history, and/or systematics at LTS in Tshwane. After an interruption of two years’ time, I was now able to resume this task from February 14 to 28 this year. Although those former students in the meanwhile all have graduated from the seminary – some of them were even grated a master’s degree by the University, many things seemed very familiar to me. This holds true for the campus itself, the daily devotions, contacts with the rector, Dr. Wilhelm Weber, jun. and pastor Nathan Mntambo. Meeting Deaconess Grace Rao, director of the LCMS deaconess Ministry, was again a special pleasure.

It was a challenge, of course, in the first days to get to know the new students – and for them to get to know me. But then it turned out a pleasure to discuss with them the theology of the church, the congregation, and the office of the ministry along the lines of confessional Lutheran standards. Some of the teachers at LTS, like Dr. Kalr Böhmer and pastor Jacob Corzine, used to be my students for a while at Lutherische Theologische Hochschule (Lutheran Theological Seminary), Oberursel, Germany. It is really a delight to see the upcoming generation engage in instructing future pastors and deaconesses for the great work that lies ahead of our churches.

In the course of two weeks that I was staying in Pretoria, a meeting of the Trilateral Research Commission on Apartheid, established by LCSA, FELSiSA and MLC/SELK in 2012 was held; the work is making progress, and may be linked to studies done by senior students od LTS in the future. The University of Pretoria, where I am appointed as extraordinary professor in the department of church history and church polity, invited me for a guest lecture. Contacts with the new head of department were made, and a reappointment envisioned.

With regard to the nearby congregations, on request of pastor Martin Paul I took the opportunity to preach on Sunday Invocavit in St. Paul’s church down the road, and in addition gave a short presentation in both their youth group and the students’ group led by pastor Jacob Corzine.

I am looking forward to coming back to south Africa again, God willing by the end of July/beginning of August, and then a third time this year in September. May God continue to bless the formation of confessional Lutheran pastors and the scholarly education of our post graduate students out of His abundant mercy.

Oberursel, March 6^th, 2015, Werner Klän