The installation of Rector Dr. Walter Winterle (LTS) was held on February 4, 2018 in conjunction with that of Rev. Kurt Böhmer, pastor of the Afrikaans members of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (in partnership with the Lutheran Theological Seminary)
by Bishop Dr. Dieter Reinstorf (FELSISA)
It does not happen often that two installations are held in one service. The date was 4 February 2018 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Pretoria, held in both English and Afrikaans. Dr. Walter Winterle was installed by Bishop Modise Maragelo from the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA) as the rector of the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Tshwane and coordinator for the mission work in Mozambique. Bishop Dieter Reinstorf installed Pastor Kurt Böhmer as the pastor of St. Paul’s congregation, primarily responsible for its Afrikaans speaking members.
After two brief installation sermons, one held by the Mission Representative of the Mission of Lutheran Churches (MLC), Missionary Christoph Weber, the other held by Bishop Reinstorf, the sermon for the divine service was held by Dr. Winterle on 2 Corinthians 3:5: Not that we are competent in ourselves … but our competence comes from God.
Dr. Winterle, to whom this new calling seems like an overwhelming challenge, shared both his fears and his trust in God with the assembled congregation. These words of the apostle Paul comforted him in the knowledge that he who calls us into his service, also gives us the competence to fulfill the task. Dr. Winterle replaces Dr. Wilhelm Weber as rector of the seminary, who with great foresight had helped that the LTS becomes an institution for theological training not only for the two local confessional Lutheran Churches, in South Africa, but many Lutheran Churches throughout Africa. It is our prayer that under the leadership of Dr. Winterle the LTS will continue to be a blessing to many.
