The role of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) as a pioneer of social development through Education in Ovamboland (1870‐1970): A Church Historical Study Eino M. Nangula Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Theology in Church History in the Faculty of Theology University of Stellenbosch Supervisor: Prof. R.R. Vosloo December 2013 I Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the authorship owner thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: ................................................ Copyright © 2013 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved II Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract This study is a historical investigation of the role of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) regarding social development with special attention to education as an agency of social change. ELCIN is the largest Lutheran church in Namibia, which was born out of the Finnish missionary activities after their arrival in the former Ovamboland in 1870. The Finnish missionaries became the first missionaries to do mission work in Ovamboland. This qualifies them to be regarded as pioneers of social development and of the transformation of society through education among the Ovambo people. ELCIN’s humble beginnings started as a mission field and developed into mission congregations; thereafter as a mission church and finally as independent church in 1954. The study shows that since its inception ELCIN has been committed to serve her members holistically (spiritually and socially). The focus of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the role ELCIN played to bring about development through education. The study therefore attempts to answer questions regarding the role the Finnish missionaries played in education and should be understood within the broader context of the history of ELCIN, for example, what arrangements were made and what developments took place during the indigenization process. Further, the study points out the educational challenges ELCIN encountered during the time of social development through education. In answering these questions, the study demonstrates how ELCIN played a decisive role in social development in Ovamboland, especially by way of education and training. The study refers to both informal (Christian) and formal (general or inclusive secular) education and the role each of these forms of education played in social change. The study also reflects on the engagement between ELCIN and the context resulting from the South African mandate in Namibia (then South West Africa). Finally, it is recommended that, in light of the positive contribution made by ELCIN to the social development of its members and communities by way of education in the past, it should continue this role in an independent Namibia. This could be done by way of intensifying Christian education among its members in order to educate and inspire people to remain faithful to their Christian values. In this way, ELCIN will continue to play a meaningful role in the life of communities and their members. III Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstrak Hierdie navorsingstudie is ‘n historiese ondersoek na die rol van die Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) ten opsigte van sosiale ontwikkeling met spesiale verwysing na opvoeding as ‘n agent vir sosiale verandering. ELCIN is een van die grootste Lutherse kerke in Namibië, wat ontstaan het uit die aktiwiteite van die Finse sendelinge na hulle aankoms in die eertydse Ovamboland in 1870. Die Finse sendelinge was die eerste sendelinge wat sendingwerk in Ovamboland onderneem het. As gevolg hiervan word hulle beskou as pioniers van sosiale ontwikkeling en transformasie in die gemeenskap deur die opvoeding van die mense van Ovamboland. ELCIN het sy nederige ontstaan gehad as ‘n sendingveld en het ontwikkel tot sendinggemeentes; daarna tot ‘n sendingkerk en uiteindelik in 1954 tot ‘n onafhanklike kerk. Die studie dui aan dat ELCIN sedert sy ontstaan toegewyd was aan die taak om sy lede op ‘n holistiese vlak (geestelik en sosiaal) te ontwikkel. Die fokus van hierdie studie is om ‘n bydrae te lewer tot ‘n dieper begrip van die rol wat ELCIN gespeel het ten opsigte van hierdie ontwikkeling. Die studie het dus gepoog om vrae te beantwoord oor die rol wat die Finse sendelinge in opvoeding gespeel het en behoort verstaan te word binne die breër konteks van die geskiendenis van ELCIN. Watter reëlings is getref en watter ontwikkelings het plaasgevind gedurende die inheemswordingsproses? Die studie dui verder op die opvoedkundige uitdagings wat ELCIN gedurende die tyd van sosiale ontwikkeling deur opvoeding ondervind het. Ter beantwoording van hierdie vrae word deur die studie aangedui hoe ELCIN ‘n deurslaggewende rol in die sosiale ontwikkeling van Ovamboland gespeel het, veral deur middel van opvoeding en opleiding. Die studie verwys na beide informele (Christelike) en formele (algemene of inklusiewe) opvoeding en na die rol wat elk van hierdie vorms van opvoeding gespeel het ten opsigte van sosiale verandering. Die studie kyk ook eers na die verhouding tussen ELCIN en die Suid‐Afrikaanse regering gedurende Namibië (die destydse Suidwes‐Afrika) se jare as mandaatgebied en daarna word aanbevelings gemaak. In die lig van die positiewe bydrae wat ELCIN in die verlede gemaak het tot sosiale ontwikkeling, word aanbeveel dat hierdie bydrae in ‘n onafhanklike Namibië voortgesit word. Dit behoort te geskied deur ‘n intensifisering van Christelike onderwys onder lede ten einde die mense op te voed en te inspireer om getrou te bly aan hulle Christelike waardes. Op hierdie wyse IV Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za sal ELCIN voortgaan om ‘n betekensivolle rol in die lewe van die gemeenskappe en hul lede te speel. V Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication I dedicate this thesis to my mother, Johanna Simon, and my father‐in‐law, Johannes Ndimuedi, who both passed away while I was busy with this study. VI Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements Firstly, my gratitude goes to God our Father and Creator, who made it possible for me to finish my study and my research. I believe and confess that without God’s guidance, wisdom and grace this thesis would have been impossible. A special word of thanks goes to my supervisor, Prof. R.R. Vosloo, for the valuable advice and professional encouragement. It was an honour to be under the guidance of a person with so much knowledge and experience. I enjoyed the good working climate, which resulted in fruitful discussions. This dissertation is evidence of hard work that resulted from on‐going support and encouragement from a dedicated mentor. In the same breath, my sincere gratitude to Dr L Hansen for his support and professional work I got from him. Further, it is a great honour and privilege for me to extend gratitude and thanks to the editor, Ms Nan Muir, who proofread and edited my work. Her dedication and professionality is much appreciated. I further owe sincere thanks to both libraries’ staffs at the University of Stellenbosch, the Theological and the JS Gericke, for their support and readiness to help. God bless you. My thanks also go to the leadership of my church, The Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Namibia (ELCIN), for giving me an opportunity for a study leave to pursue this study. Similarly, I want to thank the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) for financial support in the form of a scholarship and the University of Stellenbosch for supporting me during my time of study. I would like to express my gratitude to my two colleagues and fellow students, Rev Johannes Haufiku and Rev Gideon Niitenge, for their moral support and willingness to help me through my study. I would also like to thank the parishes, church members, individual friends and family members who supported me in many different ways during my study. Finally and most importantly, I am deeply indebted to my family for all their support. I therefore would like to thank my beloved wife Hilka‐Mukwaudimbe, who provided much needed support, prayers and endless encouragement, which made it possible to complete this huge task. Further, for looking after our children and taking care of the household while VII Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za I was away. To my lovely kids, Johanna Hilka, Festus, Eino, Musika and Nande, thank you for your understanding, patience, support and prayers, you kept me going! I love you all. VIII Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Acronyms CCN ‐ Council of Churches in Namibia ELCIN ‐ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia ELCRN ‐ Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia ELOC ‐ Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo‐Kavango Church FELM ‐ Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission FMS ‐ Finnish Missionary Society GELK (ELCIN) ‐ German Evangelical Lutheran Church ICJ ‐ International Court of Justice LMS ‐ London Missionary Society LUCSA ‐ Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa LWF ‐ Lutheran World Federation OPO ‐ Ovambo People Organization RMS ‐ Rhenish Missionary Society SA ‐ South Africa SWANU ‐ South West Africa National Union SWAPO ‐ South West Africa People’s Organization WCC ‐ World Council of Churches WW II‐ World