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Tanzania

Iringa Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Officially begun in 1987 as a synod to synod program with a primary focus on educating pastors for the rapidly growing Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the synod’s companion relationship with the Iringa Diocese has evolved into a grassroots movement in which congregations in the Saint Paul Area Synod are matched with congregations in the Iringa Diocese.

Bega Kwa Bega Fall Festival

The fall festival is an annual event, usually held on a Saturday in November, featuring the meaningful work of affiliate groups, a spirited worship service, and time to connect with people and congregations involved in the partnership and often, too, with special Tanzanian guests in attendance. See the flyer from the 2011 festival, held Nov. 5, for an example schedule of the day (PDF).

Companion congregations

Sixty partnerships have been formed. The companion congregation program focuses on five areas:

  • NewsletterPrayer Participating congregations agree to pray for one another regularly.
  • Communication through email, videos, letters, or photographs.
  • Scholarships for secondary and post-secondary education help strengthen the local economy.
  • Exchange visits between congregations affirm unity in mission and foster cultural understanding.
  • Financial support Saint Paul Area Synod congregations support Tanzanian congregations with up to $1,000 annually over three years, which might include the purchase of roofing and building materials, program support, cows, or bicycles for evangelists. Funds contributed above this amount are used for congregations without companions to meet specific needs.

Download list of companion congregation partnerships (PDF)

Visits

Since its inception in 1987, more than 2,000 visitors from the Saint Paul Area Synod have visited Iringa, with more than half of those visiting since the congregation partnerships began in 2000. More than 60 have traveled to this synod from Iringa, including the Iringa Choir, performing concerts in congregations throughout the area. These visits have strengthened and cemented relationships with partner parishes by enabling visitors to understand the culture, faith, and life of our brothers and sisters in Christ living in Iringa.

In addition, groups working through congregations in this synod have helped to drill wells to provide clean, sustainable water to villages; taught classes in sanitation and hygiene; provided support to two orphanages; donated livestock; funded secondary school scholarships to more than 900; roofed worship centers; provided modest pensions for retired pastors or their widows; and worked to upgrade the Ilula Lutheran Health Center to a hospital. An agricultural training center helps move farming beyond subsistence levels.

Getting involved

Contact the Rev. Don or Eunice Fultz, companion synod coordinators, at defultz@comcast.net or the Rev. Gary Langness, chair of the companion synod task force, at gcljambo@comcast.net.

Veronika, sponsored by Bethlehem in BayportPhotos

  • Sharing the Spirit: Tanzania Memories Photography Contest. Apply to host the photo exhibit by completing the request form.
  • Scholarship students. Find photos of the students your congregation sponsors. Share with others in your congregation by including the photos in church communications. Galleries are organized alphabetically by congregation. Last updated August 2011. Note: Not all students are pictured as some students may have been absent on the day that the pictures were taken.

Helpful links

Maps

Map of Iringa congregations and partner congregations from the Saint Paul Area Synod. Download (PDF)

Map of Tanzania. Download (PDF)