Bishop is guest of Ohio Synod

The Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (NEOS-ELCA) and its bishop, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, is hosting Bishop John M. Matsebatlela of the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA-ND) through July 26.

The visiting bishop, who arrived Monday, is here as part of the Companion Synod program in which both the NEOS-ELCA and ELCSA-ND participate.

During his time in our area, Bishop Matsebatlela will meet with various groups in the NEOS, including pastors and congregational leaders who are exploring cooperative ministry, conference deans, leaders from congregations in small town and rural settings, and synod staff members.

Bishops Matsebatlela and Eaton will travel to New Orleans to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering, where more than 37,000 ELCA youth will gather together to worship and participate in other activities including many service projects in the New Orleans area.

Bishop Matsebatlela will be hosted by several NEOS congregations during his time here, participating in worship and touring the area. He also plans to attend a Cleveland Indians baseball game.

Bishop Matsebatlela enrolled as a theological student at Umpumulo for the theological diploma on 1969 and completed it in 1972. He was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1973. He graduated in 1994 with a bachelor of theology degree from the University of the North, now University of Limpopo. He served at multiple congregations.

In the 1994 Synod elections, he was elected Dean of Mphome Circuit and served from 1995-2000. He then served as pastor of Mothopong Parish in the Botshabelo Circuit.

In the 2006 synod election, he was elected bishop of the Northern Diocese and was consecrated as bishop on Feb. 25, 2007.