Church & Guyana News
Report of the 68th Annual Convention
May 1-3, 2011
The 68th Annual Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana was held from May 1-3, 2011. The opening service, held at Ocean View Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara attracted many members from across the Church. At this service the Rev. Paul D. Moonu, President of the ELCG, was the preacher.
The theme for the Convention was Arise - Go - Preach.
The following persons serve on the Executive Council of the ELCG:
The Rev. Paul Moonu - President, Ebenezer
Ms. Sandra Kurtzious - Vice President, Redeemer
Mr. Samuel J. Goolsarran - Secretary, Redeemer
Mr. Michael Davy Ram - Treasurer, St Andrew
The Rev. Diana Liverpool, Member, Transfiguration
The Rev. Sugrim Joseph Gobin, Member, St Matthew
The Rev. Leroy Nicholson, Member, Advent
Mr. Dyanand Mohandatt, Member, Ebenezer (resigned 15 March 2011)
Mr. Joseph Bedessie, Member, Transfiguration
Deacon Babsie Pierre, Member, Calvary (from 16 March 2011)
News of the Guyana Mission Network
BIBLES AND STUDY PROJECTS: GMN has focused, among other things, on providing Bibles and study materials for the ELCG. Upon the publication of the new Lutheran Study Bible (LSB), the Guyana Mission Network promptly sent 40 copies this summer for the pastors, deacons/deaconess, and lay leaders-in-training for the ELCG diaconate. The Rev. Dr. Winston D. Persaud, born, baptized, confirmed and ordained in the ELCG in Guyana and now an ELCA pastor and professor of systematic theology at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, wrote the article in the LSB entitled "The Bible and God’s Mission" (pp. 1547ff). Dr. Persaud, who is co-director of the Guyana Mission Network along with the Rev. Paul A. Tidemann, begins the article by saying, "God’s Word in the Bible has come to us shaped by and bearing the marks of a diversity of cultures, competing religious worldviews, and tribal and ethnic distinctiveness and intermixing."
In addition to providing Lutheran Study Bibles, in 2009, over the last several years, including 2011, the Guyana Mission Network provided about 300 NRSV Bibles each year for use of the members of ELCG congregations. In 2011 GMN is also providing 70 Sparks Children's Bibles for use in the church. GMN is also providing 20 privvate Communion sets for use by pastors and deacons and 30 copies of the theological book by Dr. Bo Giertz, "The Hammer of God,"for use in the ELCG Lutheran Lay Academy. The church’s Christian Education Department has seen to the distribution of Bibles to those who need them.
Guyana Mission Network is also providing $1,200.00 to support the ELCG National Youth Camp which takes place in August 2011. We are grateful to many persons who have provided financial support for the youth camp this year! The camp costs $3,500 Guyana dollars per person - which may not seem like a lot in U.S. dollars, but given the Guyana economy, the support of GMN contributors for the camp means a lot!
Historical Information
We have received a wonderful History of the St. Andrew Parish, East Coast Demerara. It was written by Pastor Peter Debra and Michael (Davy) Ram, with significant input from retired Pastor Samuel Pillay. If anyone would like an electronic copy of this history, write to Ptidemann@aol.com. It can be sent as a PDF attachment. We also receive other historical documents about the Lutheran Church in Guyana such as: A Brief History of Advent Lutheran Church, West Coast Berbice by the Rev. Dr. R. John Singh, who now lives in Minnesota, retired from years as a psychologist; reflections by John Hayner about his days in Guyana when his father, the Rev. Claire S. Hayner was a missionary pastor; and many other documents and stories which we will list in detail later.
The Guyana Mission Network is compiling historical information about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana, its pastors (both Guyanese and missionaries), catechists and congregations. We think it is critical that before more of us get any older that we collect as much of this information as we can.
Just as an example, we were asked to search for any information that we might have about The Rev. Wylock J. E. Scott. We have uncovered a lot of information about him. He was a missionary of the United Lutheran Church and lived with his family at Lutheran Courts from 1951 to 1954. He was a mission developer, among other things. He died suddenly in Georgetown Hospital of a heart attack after having been transported from New Amsterdam. His wife, Viola, died in Minnesota in 2002. He is survived by two daughters and a son. We have received quite a bit of information from one of his daughters and reflections from some others.
So, if you have any memories, letters, documents including issues of "The Southern Cross" please make copies and/or send them to:
The Rev. Paul Tidemann
Guyana Mission Network
1079 Goodrich Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105-3135
or by email: Ptidemann@aol.com
FROM: Pastor Errol Inshanally - President Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana
TO: Pastor Paul Tidemann – Guyana Mission Network
SUBJECT: My Study Leave
IN NOMINE JESU!!
As we continue the Lenten journey that leads us to the Cross, it is my prayer that you will be drawn to both the experience and the expression of His Grace in a new way that Lent 2010 will enable you to be stronger and closer to the Lord.
I feel it is my privilege to write to Guyana Mission Network since my term as President of the E.L.C.G ends at Convention 2010. I can’t begin to tell you how delightful it has been to work with the members of the Executive Council, especially with Mr. Goolsarran, who has been a mentor.
I am pleased to inform Guyana Mission Network that I am the recipient of a LWF Scholarship to study at U.T.C.W.I in Jamaica for the Master’s Degree programme which begins in August, 2010 and ends in July, 2012.
This scholarship has been approved by the Executive Council of the E.L.C.G. My study leave is in recognition of the 25th year of my ordination. Since September, 1985, I have been on duty in my parish and the National Church, and I have never been able to go on study leave.
So, in anticipation of my study leave now due, I am excited to return to my alma mater and to study this time around with Dr. Kuck who is a dear friend of the E.L.C.G. Currently, he is working on all the needed preparations for my arrival in August.
As it stands, I will be in Jamaica alone, while my family remains in Guyana. However, whenever possible, I hope that my family will get to make a brief visit. I refer to my wife – Christina and my children – Albert (17) and Ann-Marie (14).
SOLI DEO GLORIA!!
Yours gratefully,
………………………
Errol Inshanally