~ Aaron Bamuwamye, Samuel Ogwang, & Jerome Wamala ~ Today the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU) celebrated the ordinations of three men, more than doubling their clergy roster!  The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from Kenya, Sudan, and Ghana. Presiding over the ordination service was the guest of honor, the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Doctor Paul Kofi Fynn. The LCMU was originally planted by missionaries from Ghana, so it was fitting that the bishop of that church body come to celebrate with the LCMU. Ordained today as pastors in the LCMU are: Reverend Jerome Wamala, Reverend Aaron Bamuwemye, and Reverend Samuel Ogwang.

These three pastors were trained at Lutheran Theological Seminary of South Africa. During Seminary training their families remained behind in Uganda. The Seminary in South Africa holds class from February to November, with "summer" break over Christmas. Ugandan students at the Seminary cannot afford to travel home for any of the short breaks during the year so they go 10 months at a time without seeing their families. These three men returned to Uganda to serve their "time of probation" about the time I arrived in January 2009. Now that they have successfully completed their probation/vicarage/internship, they celebrate with their families and the whole church here at their ordination.

The ordination service was a festive affair, with red (the color of ordination) being the predominant color. Led by a processional choir, the three candidates entered the service wearing their white albs - those full-length coverings worn by most Lutheran pastors in traditional services. Men who are not yet ordained generally do not wear the stole - the colorful strip of cloth that drapes around the neck.  The ordination vows are administered, and laying on of hands is accompanied by Scriptural exhortations from the clergy in attendance. Stoles are then placed upon the men during the service as a mark of their formal entry into the Office of Public Ministry and additional gifts are given to the men - a new Bible and a cross to wear as they execute their office. Since I'm not yet ordained I excused myself from much of the service but I did read one of the Scriptures for the day in a regular ol' shirt and tie ~ Laying on of hands during the Ordination Service ~ (no need to confuse the issue by wearing a clerical this particular day).

After the service itself, our three new pastors were the guests of honor at the reception. There was great food, speeches from all sorts of dignitaries, and Krista's cakes. Personal gifts were given to the men and congratulations were shared all around. Jerome, Samuel, and Aaron join Rev. Charles Bameka and Rev. Moses Lokong to bring the clergy roster for Uganda to 5 Seminary-trained ordained men. Five men to serve the more than 80 congregations and preaching stations across the country. Praise the Lord for His bounty in this place and pray that He will be even more bountiful in the years to come!  -Shauen