We give heartfelt thanks to Bishop Geoffrey Mwakihaba, the Rev. Neema Mwakihaba, Dr. Lee Mwakalinga, and the Rev. Emmanuel Mchomvu from the Konde Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania for spending time with us this October. During their visit, we affirmed our covenant to deepen the partnership between the Konde Diocese and the Lower Susquehanna Synod.

Their visit included several special gatherings across our synod:

  • On Sunday, October 12, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, York, hosted an afternoon of fellowship and vespers, which included a reaffirmation of the LSS-Konde Covenant with Bishops Mwakihaba and Herr.
  • On Wednesday, October 15, the delegation joined synod staff for worship, conversation, and a meal, learning about the different ways our staff serve congregations, leaders, and ministries across the Lower Susquehanna Synod.
  • On Thursday, October 16, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Chambersburg, welcomed the delegation for an evening of dinner, music, and conversation.
  • On Tuesday, October 21, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Lancaster, hosted a meet-and-greet, offering another opportunity for fellowship and learning more about our shared ministry in Christ.

They participated in the installation of Bishop Stephen R. Herr at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hanover, on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Throughout their stay, our guests also met with representatives from United Lutheran Seminary at the Gettysburg campus, synod staff, and two of our conferences and various congregations, sharing in times of education, worship, and fellowship. They also expressed an interest in encouraging 1:1 congregation scholarships for the Manow Lutheran Junior Seminary, a meaningful way to strengthen Christian education and shared mission. Congregations interested in learning more are invited to contact Deacon April Trout at atrout@lss-elca.org or Pastor Emmanuel Mchomvu at mchomvuemmanuel@yahoo.com.

We give thanks for the enduring relationship between our synod and the Konde Diocese, trusting that God will continue to bless this partnership with mutual learning, prayer, and hope.

Learn more about the Konde Diocese.