15th Episcopal
District
Namibia
Annual Conference's 1st Board of Christian Education Convention
Bishop
Ingram leads the procession at the Board of Christian Education Convention
By Rev. Willem Simon
Hanse
The
Board of Christian Education of the Namibia Annual Conference in the 15th
Episcopal District held its first Convention during the weekend of February
23rd to 25th, 2001 at the ZTT AME Church, Keetmanshoop.
Bishop Gregory G M
Ingram made history to become the first bishop to attend an convention in the
more than
5 decades we are part of the AME Connection. He had already arrived the Friday
afternoon at 17h00, driving about a 1000 kilometres from his official
residence in Cape Town. And many Namibians who travelled from all over the
country were surprised to be received by an bishop.
The ZTT and St.
Nicholas A C E Fellowship and Junior Church Choirs entertained us in the
Welcome Reception, and the bishop was on stage dancing with the local
youth.
The Saturday morning
devotions were held by Licentiates S Herero and L Leukes, after which the
following lectures were presented:
1.
Rev. Hendrik /Gariseb presented the paper on "The composition and
function of the Board of Christian education on all connectional
levels"
2. Rev. Albert E Biwa
presented the paper on "The attributes of Christian Youth
Leadership", and
3. Rev. W Simon Hanse
launched the "Sunday ChurchSchool Curriculum 2001 - 2003" that was
dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. W M Jod and Mors. J O Jod.
The Hour of Power was
led by the Rev. J C Lewis and the powerful sermon was delivered by the Rev.
Anitha Apollus.
The choirs spent the
afternoon rehearsing the Contemporary Decalogue and a mass choir item under
the leadership of Bro. P E Topnaar and the Rev. Dr. Hendrik Witbooi (Namibian
Deputy Prime Minister). During this time the bishop met with the Presiding
Elders and the ministers separately, and many a pastor was satisfied with the
informal manner in which the bishop dealt with their concerns.
The evening session was
the Choir Musical Extravaganza, led by brother Francis Kooper and sister Diana
Dausab. and eight choirs from A E Koopman Memorial AME Church, Moriah AME
Church, St. James AME Church, St. Nicholas AME Church, Purity AME Church,
Ebenezer AME Church, and Z T Trinity AME Church. "Hallelujah for the
Cross" was the competition hymn and the overall winner was:
* PETRUS A JOD AWARD
for the overall Interpretation and Presentation by the ZTT AME Church.
We are thankful to Rev.
Dr. H Witbooi, Rev. Pezzi and Ms. Van Dyk who acted as judges, and for ishop G
G M Ingram who handed over the certificates.
The Sunday Church
School was led by sister Valerie Isaacks, after which the Closing Worship
Celebration was led by the Rev. A E Biwa. The services was attended by more
than 1000 worshippers and bishop G G M Ingram was on fire with the theme,
"Don't Bow" from the story of the 3 Hebrew boys. The worshippers
were literary on their tip-toes throughout the sermon and at times the
interpretor has difficulty to interpret for those unable to understand
English.
Indeed a blessed
weekend, for the close to 300 registered delegates were equipped for their
role in christian education. In my capacity as BoCE Director, I am thankful to
God, Bishop G G M Ingram, Rev. H /Gariseb and all the clergy, laity and
Christian educators in the Namibia Conference for their presence and support.
God bless African Methodism.
