"Mission means reaching out to people – not just supporting programmes"

Bishop Zwanini Shabalala on the challenges facing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA), social responsibility and the future of church work

The following text is taken from an interview with Pastor Zwanini Shabalala. He is Bishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA). This diocese straddles national borders and encompasses both Eswatini and a region of South Africa. We met him at the end of June during a visit to the ELM’s office in Hermannsburg.

A church spanning a national border
The Eastern Diocese of the ELCSA is a church that spans borders: it encompasses Eswatini and part of the South African province of Mpumalanga. For Bishop Zwanini Shabalala, this situation is more than just a geographical peculiarity – it shapes the everyday life of the congregations, their ways of life, their financial circumstances and their pastoral work.

Most congregations are located in rural areas. Many people live on meagre incomes or casual work, whilst unemployment remains high – particularly amongst young people. In Eswatini, a large proportion of the population is under 35. “Yet it is precisely this generation that often leaves their homeland,” says Shabalala, because they are seeking work and opportunities elsewhere.
According to him, the diocese comprises around 57 parishes and numerous smaller preaching stations, served by some 14 priests. A priest is therefore often responsible for several parishes, some of which are far apart. As many parishes have little financial leeway, the Church relies on solidarity: contributions are pooled so that even weaker parishes can be supported.

Between tradition and change
Parish life is also changing. Whilst there are still many registered members, the number of people who attend services regularly is declining. Young people and those in employment, in particular, are moving to the cities or abroad. “We’re not necessarily losing members on paper,” says Shabalala, “but we’re losing active members in the congregations.”
Nevertheless, he describes church life as vibrant. Alongside Sunday services, there are youth groups, women’s prayer groups, men’s groups, young adults’ groups and Sunday schools. These groups hold communities together and take on tasks that go far beyond the church service – such as visiting the sick, the elderly, those who are bereaved, or people who have lost touch with the church. And this responsibility does not end at the church door: If someone needs support, their religious affiliation often plays no decisive role.

Pastors caught between pastoral care and practical obstacles
Expectations of pastors are high. Their duties include church services, pastoral care, home visits, school devotions and supporting families. At the same time, long distances and poor transport links make day-to-day life difficult. “Even the journey to the nearest parish is a challenge in some areas,” says Shabalala.
In many places, there is no reliable public transport network, which is why pastors cannot always plan when they will arrive at a particular location. Rising petrol prices place an additional strain on the Church’s work; sometimes pastors have to use their own funds just to reach their congregations at all.

It is precisely in urgent situations – such as illness, bereavement or other crises – that personal closeness becomes crucial. “People expect the Church to be there,” says Shabalala. This also applies when a visit cannot be planned far in advance.

The Church amidst social crises
The Eastern Diocese operates in an environment marked by several crises: poverty, unemployment, the consequences of HIV and AIDS, and political tensions. For the congregations, these are not abstract debates, but part of everyday life for many families.
The HIV/AIDS crisis, in particular, has left a deep mark. Families have lost loved ones, children have grown up without parents, and communities have been weakened. Today, medication enables many people to live longer with HIV – yet the social consequences remain evident.

Political instability is also a concern for the Church. Eswatini is an absolute monarchy; many people have been waiting for years for change, according to the bishop. The unrest of 2021 left deep scars – people lost loved ones, jobs and economic security.

Added to this is gender-based violence. The Church sees it as its duty to raise awareness of this and to prevent violence against women and other forms of abuse – not only through public statements, but through practical support and education within the congregations.

Should the Church be political?
Shabalala gives a clear answer to the question of whether the Church should stay out of political issues. For him, politics is not just about political parties, election campaigns or parliaments. “Politics affects people’s daily lives,” he says.
When people suffer from rising prices, poverty or injustice, these are also political issues. The Church cannot remain silent when human rights are violated or people are marginalised – its mission is to stand alongside those whose dignity is under threat.

Shabalala refers to the biblical tradition: prophets and spiritual leaders have time and again addressed those in power and called on them to take responsibility. That is why the Church must also stand up for people’s welfare today – not in a party-political way, but publicly and audibly.

Education as a task for the future
Another priority for the diocese is early childhood education. Shabalala reports that previous pre-school programmes are to be re-established. The aim is to provide children with better educational opportunities and to support teachers.
During the HIV crisis, many educational provision collapsed. Later, government and church initiatives attempted to fill the gaps through community centres – but such models were often dependent on external funding and were therefore difficult to sustain in the long term.

Today, the church is attempting to establish more sustainable structures: initially, the aim is to strengthen a number of existing pre-schools, with the programme to be expanded at a later stage. Education is not merely a social project, but part of the church’s responsibility for the children’s future.

The message remains the focus
Ultimately, Shabalala returns to the core of the church’s work: the mission. Proclaiming the Gospel remains the church’s central mandate. Social projects, educational programmes or initiatives against violence are important ways of reaching people – but they must not replace this mandate.

“Mission means reaching people – not just supporting programmes,” says the bishop. It is about encounter, about closeness and about passing on a message of hope. The Church must therefore continually ask itself how it can fulfil this mandate under changing circumstances. Forms and priorities may change, says Shabalala: “But the message remains the same.”