SouthAfrica

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa represents a union of numerous Lutheran churches in the
region. These churches were begun by various European Lutheran mission agencies -- German, Swedish,
Finnish, and Norwegian -- during the 19th century. The work which American Lutherans joined was begun in Natal
in 1844 by a Norwegian missionary, Hans Schreuder, and spread to what was then Zululand. In 1927, the
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America (later part of The American Lutheran Church, an ELCA predecessor) took
over support of the Schreuder Mission. In the following decades, a number of American Lutheran missionaries
served in South Africa. Despite the policies of the apartheid government aimed at dividing the people of the
country the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa was constituted in 1975 by the merger of four
autonomous regional churches.

The ending of the apartheid system in 1994, the inauguration of a non-racial democratic political order, and the
adoption of a progressive constitution have caused far-reaching changes in South Africa. In a post-apartheid era
the focus of the church must be on spiritual, moral and material reconstruction and transformation. The ongoing
need for repentance, confession, forgiveness, and restitution must be addressed by the church in concrete ways
now that the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has drawn to a close.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa has a membership of 700,000 with 460 active pastors, 26
evangelists and 24 deaconesses. Seven bishops lead the church’s seven dioceses in South Africa, Botswana, and
Swaziland. Pastoral training is conducted at the Lutheran Theological Institute located next to the University of
Natal in Pietermaritzburg.

The ELCSA is involved in mission, education and development activities through its seven dioceses in cooperation
with the Lutheran World Federation and other partners. ELCSA congregations in both rural and urban areas have
strong organizations known as leagues for youth, women and men’s ministries. The church is also involved in
various community outreach programs including soup kitchens and home-based care groups for those infected
and affected by HIV/AIDS. ELCSA is a member of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the Lutheran
Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA). ELCSA is involved in ongoing unity discussions with two predominantly
white Lutheran churches.

Through the Division for Global Mission the ELCA supports theological education, leadership development and in-
country scholarships as well as the ongoing outreach programs of the dioceses. ELCA Global Mission also
supports South-South scholarships. Education and advocacy efforts in the ELCA are supported through the
Division for Church and Society, the Africa Network and the Washington Office on Africa.

For your ACTION South Africa

Campaign for a Basic Income Grant

The greatest threat to South Africa's new democracy is the unacceptable level of poverty and inequality. At least
22 million people in South Africa - well over half the population - live in abject poverty. On average, they survive on
$24 per person per month.

A number of organizations, churches and trade unions are campaigning for the introduction of a universal Basic
Income Grant as a key intervention to alleviate the conditions in which the majority of South Africans live.

The Basic Income Grant Coalition calls for the introduction of a Basic Income Grant which would:

* provide everyone with a minimum level of income
* enable the nation's poorest households to better meet their basic needs
* stimulate equitable economic development
* promote family and community stability
* affirm and support the inherent dignity of all.

For more information contact:

The Basic Income Grant Coalition www.big.org.za/

The South African Council of Churches http://www.sacc.org.za/

The AIDS Consortium http://www.aidsconsortium.org/