SOUTH AFRICA – The Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA) held its 21st General Synod from December 9-12, 2024, in White City, Jabavu, Soweto, during which time the church elected a new bishop: Rev. Dr. Sibongiseni Elliot Sithole.
In June 2024, Dr. Sithole was installed as Head of the Department for Biblical Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa, where he also serves as student support coordinator. He previously served as a part-time lecturer with the seminary for many years. He also served with the Bible Society of South Africa on the revised isiZulu translation of the Bible.
Dr. Sithole holds a S.T.M. and a Ph.D. in Missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his doctoral supervisor was Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz. “It is a joy to congratulate Elliot on his recent election,” said Dr. Schulz, who also serves as General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). “Elliot and I spent our childhood together at Enhlanhleni, KwaZulu Natal. I’m very happy for him, and pray that God will bless his ministry on behalf of the church in South Africa.”
Bishop Elect Sithole succeeds Bishop Modise Maragelo, who did not stand for reelection. Bishop Maragelo was first elected to serve as head of the LCSA in 2015, and was reelected to a second five-year term in 2019.
A service of installation for Bishop Elect Sithole is scheduled to take place on February 23 in Salem (Piet Retief/Mkhondo).
Among other business during its General Synod, the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa also heard reports and conducted elections for other positions on the LCSA’s church council.
The Lutheran Church in Southern Africa is a member church of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies and groups which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Holy Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions.
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