|
|
Lutherans in Arusha to contribute 10,000/- per yearby Valentine Marc Nkwame
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Diocese in Arusha Region (ELCT-DAR) will now have to contribute Tsh.10,000 each annually to rescue the denomination from its current financial hardships. According to the ELCT Diocese Bishop, Thomas O. Laizer, the church’s financial woes result from foreign donors’ decision to cut down their funding by 50 per cent. Bishop Laizer was speaking during the launching of the Church’s 100th Anniversary, at the ELCT-DAR town cathedral (Mjini Kati) last Sunday. The Bishop pointed out that, there are over 140,000 adult members of the diocese whose total contribution is set to amount to Tsh.1.5 billion per year, enough to keep the church afloat. Like most Christendom organizations, the ELCT church in Tanzania, has also been highly dependent on donations from mother or sister churches in Europe and the United States. The first Lutheran mission station was established at Ilboru in 1904 and since then, the denomination has grown to become one of the largest Christendom sects in the country whose roots are mainly in Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions but with various dioceses located countrywide. The Lutheran Church, has a series of community development projects under its auspices and these cover health, education and poverty fighting strategies. The Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) of Moshi, the Selian Hospital of Arusha are some of the big names under the Lutheran health services. The climax for ELCT centennial celebrations is set to be held at Ilboru on the 15th of August this year. Last year, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church also held a week long, 100th anniversary for the denomination at the Tanzania Adventist College (TAC) in Usa River.
|
