PART TWO THE FIRST PHASE OF PARTNERSHIP AFTER THE NGKA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1963 Introduction to Chapters 16 to 22 Now that the congregations were established, the grouping of full-time workers and the determination of congregational borders had to be planned. This was the work of the Planning Commission of the presbytery of Burger. The purpose was to lead the young churches to become self-sufficient. It is clear that these guidelines which the commission had to follow were based on partnership and eventually full responsibility by the young church. Rev P Conradie, who was one of the members of the Planning Commission, was a strong supporter of the idea that the NGKA must become self-sufficient and independent. He was the missionary of Lepelle congregation from 1961 to 1975. When he became the new minister of the DRC of Marble Hall in 1975, he guided his church council to terminate the missionary post, which indeed happened in 1995. 16. GUIDELINES BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE PRESBYTERY OF BURGER The Planning Commission requested each congregation to submit a report concerning their position, according to the guidelines given. At the following session of the presbytery at Klipspruit in October 1966, the commission’s report was completed and in the introduction the commission stated the following: In the report that was presented to the Presbytery on 18 June 1965, the Planning Commission declared that the planning of the congregations within the borders of the Sekhukhuneland geographical areas was a necessity for the following reasons: 1. The grouping of full-time workers and the determination of congregational borders. 2. The placement of full-time workers and the organization of the different congregations. This planning would be divided into two phases, the first phase being to establish the borders as it was suggested in 1965, and the second phase was to consider the full-time workers, buildings and properties. Also to arrive at some deeper purpose-driven aims for each congregation. The NGKA was a young 149 denomination and the church needed to look at some guidelines in planning to become self-sufficient. The following guidelines were taken into consideration: a) Bantu ministers: Each congregation should have a post for a minister from their own ranks, speaking their language and sharing their cultural background. b) Missionaries and evangelists: Missionaries and evangelists should be used primarily for reaching out to the non-believing nations and should concentrate on the enlargement of the congregation. The Black ministers should concentrate mainly on the upliftment of the congregations. As it was at the moment, the routine work of the congregation was a stumbling block in reaching out to other people. c) Members and specifically the deacons should be activated to manage the congregations and take full responsibility in congregational management. The commission felt that if members, church council members, leaders of the women and youth movements were fully equipped, the challenge of working amongst the non- believers would be more effective. This was also the way forward for a living church to become self-extensive and self-governing and eventually also self-supporting. To be able to reach this goal, a period of five years should be given in order to organize each congregation in reaching this goal. d) General Remarks and Recommendations 1. The training of Black ministers was very expensive i.e., R400,00 per month for a married couple and R288,00 for a single student. A special fund had been established, called a Presbyterial fund for Theological Students. A savings account had been opened and each congregation should make a yearly contribution of R20,00 (NGKA 1966). It was suggested that a trustee should administer the funds and that rules should be drawn up for this purpose. Donations for the training of students were welcome. 2. The accommodation and transport situation of Black ministers were sometimes very bad and this was a great hindrance in the execution of ministerial duties. A suggested solution to this problem was that proper houses be erected for the ministers and that 150 their salaries be paid according to synodical scale. The transport allowance was increased from R40,00 to R45,00 per month. 3. The work of evangelists was appreciated. The commission noted that the work of evangelists may inspire many to become ministers. They therefore requested the evangelists in the presbytery of Burger to consider seriously enrolling for the ministers’ course, and that the available funds be awarded to them. 4. The commission’s recommendation was that evangelist and missionary posts should not be increased, and that vacant evangelist posts be left unfilled. 5. The church also had to strive for financial responsibility in each area. To start with, it was suggested that each congregation should endeavour to take responsibility for the yearly increase of salaries for their workers and that the salaries of the lay-evangelists be paid by the congregations themselves. The congregations should also contribute and plan for the erection of new buildings. 6. The work and responsibility of members should receive special attention, in order to improve growth and co-operation. To this end, it was suggested that conferences for church council members, Sunday school and the youth be organized, updating them on the work of the congregations. 7. The Commission for the Presbytery should take the lead in the above recommen- dations. e) Remarks 1. Salaries for ministers to start at R864,00 per year. 2. Salaries for evangelists to start at R432,00 per year. 3. Transport per year for ministers to remain at R540,00 per year. 4. Salaries for lay-ministers to start at R336,00 per year. 5. In all cases any increases should be the responsibility of the congregation. (Author’s own translation.) 151 17. BURGER CONGREGATION: The Planning Commission of 1965 reported as follows: 17.1 REMARKS a) The congregation overarches the congregation of Sekhukhuneland over an extended area between the Steelpoort River in the east, the Olifants River in the north and the Leolo Mountains in the south-west. b) The borders of the congregation are not clearly indicated. c) Practically, the congregation is divided in two because of the bottleneck in the area of Maliptsdrif at the Olifants River. 17.2 RECOMMENDATIONS a) That the section around the main post, Mphahlele, west of the Olifants River be added to the congregation of Potgietersrus East. b) That the farms Blauwbloemetjeskloof 428 and Dal Josephat 461 be added to the congregation of Marble Hall. c) The borders of the congregation is to be as follows: Northern border From the point where the south-western border of the farm Diamant 422 meets the Olifants River, all along the Olifants River eastward as far as the spot where the Steelpoort flows into the Olifants River. Eastern border From the point where the Olifants and the Steelpoort Rivers come together, all along the Steelpoort River southerly up to the southern border of the farm Steelpoortdrift 365. 152 South-western border From the point where the southern border of the farm Steelpoortdrift 365 meets the Steelpoort River on its southern and western borders and further all along the Leolo Mountains in a northerly direction, i.e., along the western borders of the following farms: Landsend 364, Corndale 330, Het Fort 329, Nooitverwacht 324, Hoepakranz 291, Garatau 282, De Kom 252, Dsjate 249, Hackney 116, Twickenham 114, and the south-western border of Pascahaskraal 466, Klipfontein 465, Brakfontein 464, Umkoeanestad 419, Middelpunt 420 and Diamant 422 up to the Olifants River. d) In co-operation with the church council of Potgietersrus East, the church council of Burger must fill the vacant post at Penge. e) The placing and moving of evangelists of the Mphahlale ward to be done by the two Church councils of Potgietersrus East and Burger jointly. (Author’s own translation.) 153 Chart 6: CONGREGATION: BURGER 1966 After the consolidation the congregation’s borders are as follows: +: Church =: Minister’s Post о: Evangelist Post ^: Residence 1. Mphayaneng 9. Mashabela 2. Moeijelyk (Kwano) 10. Kromellenboog 3. Waterkop 11. Groothoek 4. Diphala 12. Naboomkoppies 5. Masethe 13. Praktiseer 6. Mašhira 14. Mooihoek 7. Shai 15. Driekop 8. Mašiši 16. Hoepakrantz 17. Steelpoort 17.3 STATISTICS A population of 70 000 within the borders, consisting mainly of Bapedi and a small group of Swazi people at Hoepakranz and Steelpoort. There were also mine workers from Malawi at Penge and other mines. Since mission work started here, these mine workers have played an important role in establishing the congregation of Burger and of mission work in general in Sekhukhuneland. 154 Congregational statistics Outposts children teachers Women’s Members movement Catechumen Sunday school Sunday school Youth members Maandagshoek 100 31 106 6 10 25 Diphala 5 - 44 2 - Hoepakranz 65 4 136 2 17 3 Kromellenboog 16 2 30 1 -- Kwano (Moeijelyk) 4 1 195 3 2 - Mašiši 20 3 30 1 4 8 Mashabela 8 - - - - - Masethe 6 4 40 1 -- Mooihoek 16 18 - - 5 - Mašhira 13 2 - - - 2 Naboomkoppies 1 - - - - - Penge 20 2 - - - - Praktiseer 1 3 30 1 -- Shai 2 - 20 1 -- Steelpoort 30 2 - - - - Waterkop 2 - 50 2 -- Mutlani 2 2 20 1 -- 155 Weltevrede 1 - - - - - Mphayaneng 10 2 60 2 3 - TOTAL 322 76 761 23 41 38 Labourers Ministers: Rev IM van der Merwe : Maandagshoek Rev ES Ramaipadi : Penge Evangelists: P Moatshe : Maandagshoek P Phahlamohlaka : Penge S Ramaipadi : Steelpoort H Maphanga : Kwano (Moeijelyk) Lay workers: J Mashabela : Hospital Buildings Maandagshoek Church Evangelist Residence School Hoepakranz Evangelist Residence School Krommellenboog Evangelist Residence School Kwano Church Evangelist Residence Mašiši Evangelist Residence School Masetho School Penge Church Ministers Residence Shai School 156 17.4 PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE CONGREGATION Staff 1) The Missionary’s post is to be kept.