A Threefold of Lutheran Theological Institutions in the Midst of Theological Education in South Africa: 1960–1993

Kenokeno Mashabela; Mokhele Madise

doi:10.25159/2412-4265/10063

Authors

Kenokeno Mashabela University of South Africa
Mokhele Madise University of South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1583-860X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/10063

Keywords:

Lutheran Theological College, Oscarsberg Lutheran Theological College, Umphumulo Lutheran Theological College,, Marang Lutheran Theological Seminary, ecumenical education, African Independent Churches Association Theological College, South African universities

Abstract

This article explores the undocumented history of theological institutions belonging to the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA) which contributed to South African theological education. The establishment of these institutions was initially managed by the mission societies of the LCSA and later the regional leadership. This development created the necessity for centralised theological training since 1910. Due to the political landscape of South Africa, theological education was adversely affected. The LCSA looked at ways to sustain theological education and as a result of the church’s passion, Lutheran Theological education was established. However, the LCSA worked in collaboration with other Christian denominations to achieve its ecumenical vision and establish a solid foundation of theological education.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Kenokeno Mashabela, University of South Africa

Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

References

Becken, H-J. 1972. A Survey of Current Theological Education Methods in Southern Africa June 1971. Pietermaritzburg: Lutheran Theological Institute (LTI) Archives.

Berglund, A-I. 1970. Possible Merger/Closer Cooperation/Unification of Umpumulo and Marang Theological Institutions 13 November 1970. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Beyerhaus, P. 1964. “Lutheran Theological College: Annual Report 1964. Presented at the CCLF Eleventh Meeting 2–3 March 1965.” In Minutes of the Council of Churches on Lutheran Foundation Eleventh Annual Meeting Held in Cape Town 2–3 March 1965. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Boreš, A., ed. 1978. “Group Reports Theology.” In All Africa Lutheran Consultation on Christian Theology in the African Context Report, Gaborone, Botswana, October 5–14, 1978.

Brown, D. A. M. 1989. Report on the Theological Training Programme in Pietermaritzburg during the Year 1988 presented at ELCSA Sixth General Assembly held at Umphumulo, 5–9 December 1989. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

CCLF (Council of Churches on Lutheran Foundation). 1965. Minutes of the Council of Churches on Lutheran Foundation Eleventh Annual Meeting Held in Cape Town, 2–3 March 1965. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Hellberg, C-J. 1979. A Voice of the Voiceless: The Involvement of the Lutheran World Federation in Southern Africa 1947–1977. Stockholm: Skeab/Verbum.

Hovland, T. H., and R. E. Aaseng. 1987. Faculty Meeting of the Lutheran Theological College, Mapumulo, 12 October 1987. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Johannsmeier, W. 1960. Report of Commission for Inquiry into the Situation of the Oscarsberg Theological Seminary presented at the First Commission held at Oscarsberg Lutheran Theological Seminary, 31 August 1960. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Kistner, W. 1993. “The Contribution of the Lutheran Theology in South Africa to Ecumenism.” In Lutheran Theology in Southern Africa: Papers Delivered at the Theological Conference, Lutheran Theological Training Centre in Pietermaritzburg, 29–31 August 1993, edited by G. Scriba. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Kok, J. M. 1992. “Foreword.” In Dynamic African Theology: Umphumulo’s Contribution, edited by H. L. Nelson, P. S. Lwandle and V. M. Keding. Durban: Pinetown Printers.

Loken, A., and L. E. Dlamini. 1970. Minutes of the 14th Meeting of the Governing Board of the Lutheran Theological College, Umpumulo, 20–21 October 1970. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Loken, A., and K. Tarneberg. 1969. Minutes of the 11th Meeting of the Governing Board of the Lutheran Theological College, Swedish Hall, Johannesburg, 7 March 1969. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Mahamba, M. A. 1992. “Lutheran Theological Seminary Marang: Report for the LUCSA Consultation on Theological Training.” Paper presented at LUCSA Consultation on Ministerial Formation held on 28 July 1992. Kempton Park: Archival ELCSA Head Office Centre.

Maimela, S. 1971. Simon Maimela Letter on the South African Students Organisation at Lutheran Theological College to Lutheran Theological College Authorities, Mapumulo, 8 March 1971. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Makhathini, D. D. L., and S. R. Nthuping. 1974. Minutes of the 34th Meeting of the College Board of LTC Held at LTC Mapumulo, 12 March 1974. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Mashabela, J. K. 2004. “Buthelezi, Manas 1935 – Lutheran South Africa.” Dictionary of African Christian Biography. https://dacb.org/stories/southafrica/buthelezi-manas/

Mashabela, J. K. 2014. “Dr Manas Buthelezi’s Contribution to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa's Struggle against Apartheid in South Africa (1970s–1990s).” MTh diss., University of South Africa, Pretoria.

Mashabela, J. K. 2018. “Future of Lutheran Theological Training in South Africa.” Personal interview. Pretoria, 20–24 May 2018.

Mashabela, J. K. 2019a. “An Establishment of a Recent Lutheran Varsity in Southern Africa.” Personal interview. Centurion, 8 September 2019.

Mashabela, J. K. 2019b. “Lutheran Theological Training in South Africa.” Personal interview. Roodepoort, 10 November 2019.

Mashabela, J. K. 2019c. “Missiological Institute at Umphumulo Lutheran Theological College.” Personal interview. Pretoria East, 26 November 2019.

Mashabela, J. K., and M. Madise. 2016. “Manas Buthelezi: The Church Leader, Liberation Activist and Scholar in the South African Context.” Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 42 (1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/506 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/506

MLTS (Marang Lutheran Theological Seminary). 1996. Ad-hoc Committee Report on Marang Theological Seminary March 1996. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Msomi, V. V. 1988. “Theological Education and Preparation for Ministry in Africa.” In Theology and the Black Experience: The Lutheran Heritage Interpreted by African and African-American Theologians, edited by A. Pero and A. Moyo. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House.

Msomi, V. V. 1989. “Lutheran Theological Seminary Umphumulo.” Paper presented at ELCSA Sixth General Assembly held at Umphumulo, 5–9 December 1989. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Nielsen, S. 1972. Annual Report of the Governing Board of the Lutheran Theological College, Umpumulo, 1971. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Nielsen, S., and H-J. Becken. 1971a. Minutes of the 15th Meeting of the Governing Board of Lutheran Theological College, Mapumulo held at Johannesburg, 24–25 March 1971. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Nielsen, S., and H-J. Becken. 1971b. Minutes of the 16th Meeting of the Governing Board of Lutheran Theological College, Mapumulo, 10–11 November 1971. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Nielsen, S., and H-J. Becken. 1972. Minutes of the 18th meeting of the Governing Board of the Lutheran Theological College at Doornfontein Church Centre, Davis Street, Johannesburg, 13 October 1972. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Nsibande, A. E. 1992. “The Founding of Umphumulo Seminary.” In Dynamic African Theology: Umphumulo’s Contribution, edited by H. L. Nelson, P. S. Lwandle and V. M. Keding. Durban: Pinetown Printers.

Nürnberger, K. 2000. The Future of Lutheran Theological Training in South Africa: Report of the Joint Committee on Lutheran Theological Training of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA), the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (UELCSA) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) 11 May 2000. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Nürnberger, K. 2012. “Lutheran Ministerial Training for the 21st Century: A South African Case Study.” In Between the Real and the Ideal: Ministerial Formation in South African Churches, edited by M. Naidoo, 106–114. Pretoria: Unisa Press.

Rindahl, W. O. 1967. “Governing Board of the Lutheran Theological College: 1966 Chairman’s Report, Durban 14 March 1967.” Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Rohwer, N. 1992. “Greetings.” In Dynamic African Theology: Umphumulo’s Contribution, edited by H. L. Nelson, P. S. Lwandle and V. M. Keding. Durban: Pinetown Printers.

Scriba, G. 2014. Credo 2014: A Booklet of Faith, What Lutherans Believe Teach and Practise. 4th ed. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Scriba, G., and G. Lislerud. 1997. “Lutheran Missions and Churches in South Africa.” In Christianity in South Africa: A Political, Social and Cultural History, edited by R. Elphick and R. Davenport. Cape Town: David Philip Oxford.

Serote, S. E. 1994. “Answer to LUCSA Questions on Theological Education.” Paper presented at the LUCSA Consultation on Lutheran Theological Education in Southern Africa, June 23–28. Polokwane: Archival Northern Diocesan Centre.

Voges, H. 2000. Vision: Global Congregation: The Task in the Southern Africa. Pretoria: Ev.luth Missionswerk in Niedersachsen.

Wittenberg, G. 1993. “History and Challenges of Lutheran Theological Education in Pietermaritzburg.” In Lutheran Theology in Southern Africa: Papers delivered at the Theological Conference, Lutheran Theological Training Centre, Pietermaritzburg, August 29– 31, 1993, edited by G. Scriba. Pietermaritzburg: LTI Archives.

Zulu, B. 2011. “The Lutheran Churches in Southern Africa: History, Development and Challenges.” Paper presented on the occasion of the visit by the School of Theology from the Lutheran Seminary Philadelphia, United States of America, at the Lutheran Theological Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, June 2.

Zulu, P. B. 2009. “Reformation the Lutheran Heritage in South Africa to Date 2009, Acts 1:8.” Paper presented in Hermannsburg, Germany, June 12–17.

Zulu, S. P. 1992. “Greetings.” In Dynamic African Theology: Umphumulo’s Contribution, edited by H. L. Nelson, P. S. Lwandle and V. M. Keding. Durban: Pinetown Printers.