Br Robert Pangani's Consecration as Bishop of the Moravian Unity on Sunday 2nd June 2024

The election of a bishop takes place at a synod.

The synod of the South-Western Province of the Moravian Church in Tanzania came together in November 2023 with one item on the agenda: the election of a bishop. Br Robert Pangani received 317 votes out of about 400. So, the planning of the consecration began.

Before I give a taste of the bigger picture, let me come straight to the main event.

As Moravian bishops from Europe Br Volker Schulz from Switzerland and myself were able to take part in the service of consecration of Br Robert Pangani as bishop of the Unity. The service took place in the grounds of the Teofilo Kisanji University in Mbeya. When we met with our fellow bishops from Tanzania on the day before, I asked how many people they expected to attend the service. The answer was: up to 4,000! I don't know if this number was quite reached, but there were definitely many, many people. The Moravian Church in this part of Tanzania is one of the major churches. Accordingly, the service can only be described with superlatives: a six hour celebration with thousands of people worshipping under big gazebos which protected everyone from the sun, a good number of choirs singing and dancing, a music group playing, Bible passages being read and prayers offered, a sermon given and many greetings conveyed. The central part of the service was the act of consecration: 'Reverend Robert Yondam Pangani, today, on the second Sunday after Pentecost, the second day of the sixth month, the year of the Lord two thousand and twenty-four, we lay hands on you to bless and ordain you to be a Bishop in the Church of God, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.' All Moravian bishops present, laying hands on Br Robert, said, 'May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord shine the light of his face on you, and give you peace. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.' 'Let all the people sing: Amen Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen Hallelujah!' What a solemn and blessed time!

Bishops Conrad Sikombe and Kenan Panja were leading the service. Bishop Ezekiel Yona preached on some verses of Joshua chapter 1: As God was with Moses so he will be with Joshua. As God has guided his people throughout history, so Br Robert can be sure of God's guidance and promises.

High-ranking officials of the Tanzanian government attended the service. One of them was the Honourable Dr' Doto Mashaka Biteko, deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Minerals. He emphasised how important it is that church and government work together for the good of all. He was very appreciative of the Moravian Church's contribution towards improved education and health in society, and of the role the church plays in promoting peace and nourishing people spiritually. He said that Br Robert Pangani is known to the President of Tanzania, Mrs Samia Suluhu Hassan, for his efforts to bring people of different backgrounds and religious persuasions together. Br Robert told me afterwards that, if the church would engage in conflict, the whole region would be in conflict (this is because of the size of the church and its influence), therefore the government keeps a close eye on it. At the end of his address Dr Doto Biteko was leading in a Christian song!

Sr Roberta Hoey, chair of the Unity Board, and Br Jørgen Bøytler, Unity Board Administrator, have sent greetings from the world-wide Moravian Church. Br Volker Schulz brought greetings from the European Continental Province of the Moravian Church (which is the Partner Province of the South-Western Province of the Moravian Church in Tanzania) and also from 'Mission 21', a Mission organisation in Switzerland with the Moravian Church being a main stakeholder in it.

I was able to bring greetings from the British Province of the Moravian Church, the British Mission Board, from Hornsey Moravian Church in London (which has a special relationship with Br Robert Pangani) and also from the South Asia Mission Province.

I included a basic outline of the history which Br Robert and I share together. Here is a shortened version, which is also part of the 'bigger picture' that I mentioned at the beginning of this article:

'Dear Br Robert, dear Sr Bahati, with your children Demetria, Amani, Aruni and Placseda; dear Sisters and Brothers, distinguished guests.

It is a joy and privilege to be with you on this special occasion. Br Robert, God has connected our paths in 2001 and we are in contact ever since. We met for the first time in person in the village of Nkangamo in 2006, then at your graduation, and on two other occasions. You wrote in one of your letters after your graduation, 'We shall always remember each other in prayer. The word of God says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always, and I say rejoice.' (Philippians 4:4-5). Today I would like to echo these words: Rejoice! We can rejoice even in the face of big challenges, because we know that God is at work, bringing healing and joy that the world cannot take away. When you finished your theological studies the Principle of the University wrote, 'Student Robert Pangani is proceeding well. He will become a good pastor. Let us continue praying for him.' And a lecturer wrote at the beginning of your studies, 'We know Robert Pangani as a very serious person, Christian and student. He has the capacity. At the same time, he is humble and has a heart for other people. And he is brave. We like him very much. This will lead to blessings.'

It is your humbleness the lecturer mentioned that attracted many people including myself, and your ability to step into the shoes of others. You live with people on eye level. You know what hardship is. The role of a bishop in the Moravian Church is a pastoral role, and I know that you do this very well. May God bless you, your wife Bahati, your children and all those in your care.'

I felt blessed to be with our sisters and brothers in Tanzania. Br Volker Schulz and myself had many more encounters, including a visit to Rungwe, where the Moravian Church in Tanzania began in 1891. We learnt something about remote communities receiving water provision by 'Mission 21', and could meet local people in different settings. 'Rejoice in the Lord always!'

Br Joachim Kreusel

Bishop of the Unity