George Whitefield Theological College in Cape Town, South Africa, has announced the appointment of its first indigenous African lecturer.
The college says the appointment of the Rev Siegfried Ngubane to the long-awaited Lectureship in African Church Planting and Leadership Ministries is an initiative to address the needs of a growing number of multi-racial churches.
College Principal David Seccombe says Mr Ngubane’s appointment will also address   issues of ‘white, western and middle-class ministry models’ and the thirst for the gospel amongst embattled black communities living with HIV/AIDS and other social problems in the troubled nation.
After graduating from George Whitefield College (GWC), Mr Ngubane, a Zulu, planted a church among the Xhosa people in Khayelitisha, Cape Town. There is now a steady flow of Xhosa men entering GWC for training, the first two graduating in 2003.
The new lectureship at George Whitefield College aims to train the next generation of student ministers for church planting ministries in Africa’s black townships.
“It has long been the desire of the Church of England in South Africa to develop the leadership of its non-white majority,” Dr Seccombe said. “How does an African church whose educated leadership is overwhelmingly white transition to the new South Africa of the 21st Century? Critical to this endeavour is the theological training at graduate and post-graduate level of potential black leaders.”
Since its formation in 1989 George Whitefield College has been addressing this need with a measure of success. Many of its non-white graduates are now serving in strategic ministries in Southern Africa. Last year, with funding provided by St Swithun’s, Pymble, the Rev’d Brian Koela, a Sotho, began postgraduate studies. This year with help from Australia the College took the step to address the problem of its all-white faculty through the appointment of Mr Ngubane.
Funding for the lectureship was provided by Overseas Council Australia, an organisation that aims to provide evangelical theological education in the developing world.
GWC is the theological college of the Church of England in Southern Africa. Two Anglican denominations, the evangelical CESA and the larger Church of the Province of South Africa (CPSA) have existed in South Africa since 1870. The founding Principal of the college was Canon Dr Broughton Knox, Principal of Moore Theological College from 1959 to 1985.
The College today has 80-100 students with an approximately 50/50 racial mix. It had been seeking to establish a lectureship in pastoral training for two years.
The cultural diversity of South Africa makes pastoral training problematic, Dr Seccombe told Southern Cross.
“Ministry in traditionally white areas is very different to that in black communities. Many churches are becoming multi-racial, but in most areas people tend to be one or the other,” he said.
“There are substantial cultural differences even between Zulus, Xhosas, Sothos, Tswanas and Cape Coloureds. A white lecturer unconsciously presents ministry models to his students that are white, western, and often middle class.”
“The bulk of South Africa’s people live in the so-called “townships”, which tend to be poor, crime-ridden, full of social problems, teeming with children and young people – many of them unsupervised and at risk, families with no father, HIV-AIDS and more. Yet there is an openness to and respect for Christianity and an abundance of opportunity to preach, pastor, train and uplift.”
“Siegfried is highly respected for the courage and determination of his Christian commitment, as well as for his ground-breaking work,” explained Dr Seccombe.
He said Mr Ngubane is well known at the college and will serve as an encouragement to the students and academic staff.
“He will be a great encouragement to students, black and white, and to the faculty who know him well. We expect he will have a strong pastoral role at the College.”
OCA has raised half the first year’s costs for Mr Ngubane’s work. Further donations are welcome and can be made out to Overseas Council Australia and directed to the Rev Stuart Brooking, PO Box 429 Croydon Park 2133. Donations are tax deductible. Details: ocaustralia@bigpond.com or 9745 6024.