The Rev. Dr. Shirilele Patrick Nyambi (center) meets with Dianna Wright, interim director of Ecclesial and Ecumenical ministries within the Office of the General Assembly, and the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA). Photo by Randy Hobson.
The Office of the General Assembly recently played host to the moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa. The Rev. Dr. Shirilele Patrick Nyambi spent several days meeting with church leaders, including the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and Dianna Wright, interim director of Ecclesial and Ecumenical Ministries.
“This is my first visit to the United States and the PC(USA). I am impressed by the warm reception I received from church leaders,” Nyambi said. “As I came to this building, I visited with several ministries, including World Mission and Compassion, Peace & Justice. I can see that the church is very committed to the affairs of the world. You have concern about what is happening in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. The church has spread its wings and is going to the far reaches of the globe.”
Nyambi says he hopes the visit will result in a stronger bond between his church and the PC(USA).
"My presence in the United States is to strengthen the cooperation. There was a point when our relationship was very warm and we attended several General Assemblies over the years,” he said. “But we haven’t been as close as we want to be, and by coming here and meeting with Dr. Nelson, we are renewing that friendship.”
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa was organized in 1875. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it boasts a membership of more than 48,000. It is a member of the World Council of Churches as well as the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Nyambi says he hopes his church can learn something from the PC(USA) and find ways to grow the denomination.
“When you look at the history of the Presbyterian Church, you have built hospitals and other institutions in South Africa. We are a nonprofit organization and haven’t had the means to do that. We are aiming high now,” Nyambi said. “We want to find new ways of generating revenue for the church, not just relying on the contributions we receive. We want to start something that will generate jobs for local people. It’s not just about the spirituality of the person, but the well-being.”
While in Louisville, Nyambi also visited the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
“We want to check on the possibility of students coming here for further studies,” he said. “Outside of a bachelor’s degree, we want to see our ministerial students pursue a master’s.”
Nyambi has served two three-year terms as moderator and steps down this week with plans to return to his parish and continue his ministry.
“I am hoping that one day Dr. Nelson can visit us in South Africa. We would love for him to come and share his ideas and see what we can do together,” he said. “We have a lot to learn from the PC(USA) and we think we stand to benefit a lot by working with the church. We don’t have a lot of money, but we do have love to give and that is much more precious than gold. We need you; we need each other.”