A four day ‘Pastors and their Spouses’ Seminar has been opened this morning at the Lushoto Cathedral.

The seminar aiming at meeting together all pastoral couples will be facilitated by Retired Bishops, Dr. Erasto Kweka from ELCT - Northern Diocese, Dr. Elinaza Sendoro from ELCT Eastern and Coastal Diocese and the ELCT – NED Dean Emeritus, Rev. Amasiah Mwetta. It will be partipated by pastors from all diocesan parishes.

The head of ELCT – NED, Bishop Dr. Stephen Munga, while welcoming the clergypersons this morning emphasized that pastors, like other people, need time to share their daily personal experiences, including marital life, with their colleague theologians in order to attain healthy performance in their duties.

“It is true that we pastors normally do not help our colleagues during the time they most need our advice. But this does not mean that we do not want to help; the nature of our service is a short back. We are always occupied...” the Bishop told the participants.

During the opening speech, pivoted to the exodus of Israelites from Egypt, Bishop Dr. Munga pointed out that Moses was working hard to free tough non-God-believing Israelites from the kingdom of non-believing Pharaoh. God wanted to show His power to the Israelites and Egyptians; thus He gave Pharaoh a hard heart and used miracles to display his mightiness.

“There are times when we work in very hard situations which frustrate and depress our spirit. We are held back again by the faith that God is always working with us”, concluded the Bishop.

Until this afternoon already 37 couples and five single pastors have shown up for the seminar.