Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Division for Global Mission

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) mission efforts or accompaniment in Botswana began with one of its predecessors, The American Lutheran Church (TALC). Lutheran Church involvement in Botswana began with mission efforts of Lutheran churches in Germany, Finland, and Sweden. But any direct involvement of an ELCA predecessor occurred in 1970s and early 1980s through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, which had a Botswana circuit in its Western Diocese. In the late 1970s, there was tension between Lutherans in Botswana and the rest of the Western Diocese of the ELCSA. A breakdown occurred in 1978 and the Botswana circuit of the Western Diocese separated from the rest of the diocese. While attempts at a reconciliation were made, they failed. The Rev. Carl Ulrich, a TALC missionary was requested to serve as dean of the Botswana circuit in an attempt to facilitate reconciliation. The ELCSA voted in 1981 to form a separate Botswana Diocese, but in March 1981 the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Botswana formed.

In 1988, the first year of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, its Division for Global Mission (DGM) work related to mission activities regarding Botswana fell under the responsibility of the area secretaries for Africa. The Rev. James L. Knutson was responsible for coordinating ELCA mission efforts involving Botswana. Quickly a new work area that included Botswana was created in 1989 - French-speaking and Southern Africa. Pastor James L. Knutson remained the area secretary in charge of this work until 1990 when the Rev. Daniel W. Olson assumed responsibility when the work was transferred to the Area Secretary for Africa (English-speaking Africa). This program restructured again in 1992 and was renamed English-speaking West Africa and Southern Africa. Pastor Olson remained in charge of Botswana work until 1998 when the Rev. Benyam A. Kassahun assumed responsibility. In 2002-2003, there was a restructuring in DGM and responsibility for Botswana mission work was located in the Southern Africa program area. Pastor Kassahun remained the program director, a position still held as of 2008.

...