ELCSA celebrates its 50th anniversary
Dr Joe Lüdemann travelled to Thlabane as a representative of the Ev.-luth. Mission in Lower Saxony.
50 years of ELCSA - an anniversary full of hope and community
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a festival lasting several days. Around 18 December 2025, thousands of people came together in Thlabane near Rustenburg to look back with gratitude on the history of the church and to look to the future with hope. Thlabane is a place steeped in history: This is where the church was founded on 18/19 December 1975 - and even the furniture from the meeting at that time has been preserved to this day.
From regional churches to a common church
The ELCSA came into being when several regional Lutheran churches in South Africa came together and adopted a common constitution. This event marked an important step towards church unity and still characterises the identity of the church today. The anniversary has already been celebrated in various congregations throughout the year, culminating in the four-day central celebrations in Thlabane.
The leading bishop of the ELCSA, Nkosinathi M. Myaka, opened the jubilee week by blowing a traditional African horn, which calls people together on important occasions. In his interpretation, he referred to the biblical jubilee year - a year of liberation, new beginnings and hope.
Review, present and future of the church
As is usual on such anniversaries, the focus was both backwards and forwards: on the history of the church, on its tasks and its significance for the community and society - and not least on praying together for God's blessing for the coming years.
An important item on the programme was the presentation of the book "The Road to Unity" by Prof. Philippe Denis (University of KwaZulu-Natal), which traces the path of the Lutheran churches in South Africa towards greater unity. An accompanying exhibition illustrated the history and diverse work of the ELCSA.
International partnership and ecumenical solidarity
Numerous international guests took part in the celebrations. Dr Joe Lüdemann, consultant for South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini, travelled to the event together with Dirk Stelter, Head of the Mission - Ecumenism - Religions Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, as representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Society in Lower Saxony (ELM). The ELCSA is a church that has been associated with the ELM for many years.
At the opening service and in many meetings, they exchanged views with visitors from all areas of ELCSA work - from women's, men's and youth work as well as from church leadership structures. These encounters made the vitality and diversity of the church impressively visible.
An ecumenical partnership meeting with guests from Europe, Africa and the USA - including the newly elected leading bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - emphasised the global connection. The focus was on the question of how partner churches can support the ELCSA even more jointly in future, particularly with regard to theological training at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Umphumulo.
Music, celebration and grand finale
A festive gala dinner with high-ranking political guests, including the South African Vice President, was another highlight of the week. A prayer service centred on the theme of hope.
Saturday is dedicated to church music: choirs and music groups from all dioceses put on a varied programme. The festive finale will be a large church service in the stadium in Rustenburg.
A sign of hope
The 50th anniversary of the ELCSA is an expression of deep gratitude for the path we have travelled so far, of lived international fellowship and the hope that the church will continue to connect, strengthen and guide people in the future.
