Ester Mbathera
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) made history on Wednesday when the synod appointed Rev. Hilja Nghaangulwa as the first female bishop for the Eastern Diocese and the mainline churches in the country.
The election took place at the ELCIN Centre in Ongwediva during the church’s synod.
In a competitive race against Rev. Dr. Johannes Haufiku and Rev. Eino Nangula, Rev. Nghaangulwa emerged victorious.
In the same synod, Rev. Dr. Gideon Niitenge was elected as the bishop of the Western Diocese, further solidifying the leadership structure of ELCIN.
Haufiku, who is also the ELCIN’s Secretary General, provided historical context on why Nghaangulwa’s election is a milestone for the church, which had previously prohibited women from leadership.
“From the beginning, when ELCIN was established, the rule was that only men could become pastors. Women were not allowed to become pastors,” he said.
Over the years, many women remained theologians but could not become pastors.
This rule was abolished in 1992, paving the way for women to be ordained.
“On 17 May 1992, the first three women were ordained as pastors,” Haufiku said.
He explained that the church’s decision is in line with the practices and expectations of the Lutheran World Federation, which has long supported gender equality in church leadership.
Female bishops are already serving in several countries, including Finland, Germany, South Africa, and the United States.
“This is not the first time in the world. We are living in a democratic context, and what happened in ELCIN is part of a broader trend within the Lutheran community globally,” he said.
Haufiku, who was also a candidate in the election, expressed his acceptance of the outcome, highlighting the importance of adhering to democratic principles within the church.
“We want to contextualise our Bible to the current democratic framework. You can’t just say it because the Bible says. The Bible was written after 600 years, and we stick to that now. This is not a patriarchal world anymore. We are living in a democratic world,” he said.
He also acknowledged the presence of more women than men in church congregations and recognised the election as a reflection of ELCIN’s commitment to inclusivity and affirmative action.
