ELCRN And Its Crisis
THIS past week we celebrated the Reformation Day around the world.
It was a week used to reflect upon the state of the church and to be reminded with the words of Martin Luther: “Here I stand”. Luther spoke out against the corrupt religious practices that then existed. His demand that the authority for doctrine and practice be the Holy Scripture, rather than Popes or Councils, echoed around the world and ignited the Great Reformation.
Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN), the second largest church group in Namibia, is finding itself in a dire crisis. Many of us members are asking ourselves as members the question: Is the ELCRN facing a crisis?
On almost a daily basis, our beloved church is in the newspapers for the wrong reasons. To defend their “innocence”, some church leaders and some members have accused others of sinning against the church, and at the same time, conveniently bestowed upon themselves the sole right of saintliness.
To accuse others as sinners and thereby regarding oneself as a saint is a manifestation of the ancient heresy of Donatism (a doctrine that only those who portray themselves as blameless or are supporters of an established hierarchy are protected while the rest be disciplined or expelled). The dictum of Martin Luther is helpful in this regard: “Pray boldly—you too are a mighty sinner.”
Today, the question facing the ELCRN is whether the direction we are following is correct? Take the following two cases: First, the presence of police at the 2011 Church Synod. ELCRN is known as one of the Namibian churches that have never been manipulated during the times of apartheid and never collaborated with any police force or secret agents. Many delegates of the 2011 Church Synod were shocked to witness that some police were inside the hall where the Church Synod met. The very presence of the police at a Church Synod casts an air of intimidation.
At the 2011 Church Synod, the delegates were told how one of the pastors was interrogated by a member of the national intelligence agency. The Church Synod did not pronounce itself on the matter and instead chose to remain silent.
This is in stark contrast to the 1971 Open Letter when the two Lutheran Churches declared themselves to “…see to it that the Human Rights be put into operation” and be protected. The use of the police and National Intelligence agents in Church meetings and the instruction of them to interrogate some clergy seriously challenge the prophetic ministry and prophetic voice of the Church. Thus, the question is not whether the ELCRN is facing a crisis but how to deal with it.
The solution is given in one of the fundamental insights of the Protestant (Lutheran) Reformation: Ecclesia semper reformanda est, Latin for “the Church is always to be reformed.” We all look forward to the 2013 Church Synod when we shall elect – in line with the Church Constitution, with special reference to and in the letter and spirit of the bylaw of Article 22 – a new Bishop as well as a new Deputy Bishop and new Deans. Let us hope this concept of reformation through free, fair and transparent processes and election shall prevail upon the dawning of new leadership for our Church.
Prof Paul John Isaak
Swakopmund