Among Rt Rev Peter Langerman’s reflections in his final letter as Moderator of The Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (UPCSA), were his observations on how congregations have been faring recently.
The Moderator commended congregations for rising to the challenge of COVID-19, ministering to and providing for the hungry and poor in their communities in areas where governments were simply overwhelmed or unable to do so. At the same time, he reiterated the importance of vaccines, and for senior church leadership to lead the way by getting vaccinated early and making that known in public and on social media.
He also referred to their financial difficulties as a one with a spiritual root, stemming from a lack of respect and obedience towards “God-ordained authority structures” and urged them to address this issue for the survival of the church in future.