Rev. Pieter OberholzerOn Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 1999, the congregation voted to extend a call to Rev. Pieter Oberholzer as our missionary to the lesbian and gay community of Cape Town, South Africa.Rev. Oberholzer was ordained in the Reformed Church of the Netherlands in 1978. After seven years serving as pastor there, he returned to South Africa to work in community development in the poverty-stricken areas in and around Cape Town. In 1992, he returned to the Netherlands, during which time he received a call to start the Gay/Lesbian Christian Outreach (GLCO) in Cape Town. For the past five years he's been working as project manager of GLCO, lobbying and doing advocacy within the mainstream churches and also counseling gay men and lesbians who have difficulty reconciling their faith with their sexual orientation. He has a partner, Fanie, with whom he has been living for the past twelve years. They live in Simonstown, Cape Town with their two cats. Five years after he returned to South Africa, Rev. Oberholzer's credentials with the Dutch Reformed Church of the Netherlands lapsed. He became a clergyman without portfolio. This past January, 1999, Rev. Oberholzer attended a retreat at Bishop's Ranch in California for gay and lesbian pastors sponsored by Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries. He also preached that month at St. Francis. Before his return to South Africa, the Senior Pastor of St. Francis, James DeLange, extended an invitation to Pr. Oberholzer that, if it would further support his ministry, St. Francis might be interested in calling him as a missionary. In early May, as Rev. Oberholzer was about to leave on a speaking tour of the United States, he received an invitation to preach at a Dutch Reformed congregation in Cape Town. This was the first time in seven years Rev. Oberholzer had been invited to preach in a church in South Africa. As part of their invitation, the congregation asked him about his status as a called minister of the Gospel. This prompted Pr. Oberholzer to email Pr. DeLange and ask if the invitation he had extended in January was still open. After speedy action, St. Francis voted unanimously in a congregational meeting on 23 May, 1999, to call the Rev. Pieter Oberholzer as a missionary-at-large to the Gay/Lesbian Christian Outreach of South Africa, with the understanding that he apply for status as a rostered minister with the Extraordinary Candidacy Project. In a special worship service at St. Francis on 24 May, 1999, Pr. Oberholzer was installed as our missionary. (Pictures coming soon.)
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What's newUpdate from missionary Pr. Pieter OberholtzerIn early April 2004, we received this update from
our missionary to So. Africa, Pr. Pieter Oberholtzer. Pieter serves the LGBT community of Cape Town.
Dear Friends at St. Francis, Fani and I appreciate your continued prayers for our work here in South Africa. As promised we wish to tell you more of our work during the course of the year to give you the chance for specific prayers from time to time. This year we appointed 3 new part-time community workers as "advocates for the cause" in different fields. We ask your prayers for guidance and courage as they start their work on April 24.
Corine Sloots, a final year Dutch student at the University of Amsterdam will work with the LGBT folk in Namibia, under the supervision of my colleague, Judie Kotze, to assist them in starting the dialogue processes with the Namibian Churches. Corine did her internship with us in 2002 and will fly to Namibia three times in the next year to spend three weeks with the Rainbow Project in Windhoek every time.
Bulelwa Panda who has been appointed for 10 hours a week, will assist us in opening doors to congregations in her (black) township of Gugulethu, near Cape Town. This work needs a lot of courage and patience as it can entail life-threatening situations for her.
Dr. Carl Anthonissen, student pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in Stellenbosch and co-author with me of the book: Christian and Gay, has been appointed for 25% to "infiltrate" the DRC processes, establish a spiritual retreat for GLBT people and assist with the start-up of a PFLAG group.
We received this message on 31 July 99:
Life on this end has been hectic. In my last e-mail I reported that
I had extensive media coverage on national radio. Since then, there has
been a follow up on national broadcast, this time on adoption and gay marriage.
The reception on all this exposure has been excellent and invitations to
talk at churches, seminaries, local youth groups and even as far as Namibia
is streaming in. Of course there has been the occasional threat and 'obscene
& slanderous' call or letter. But we are overjoyed with the success
of this spell of exposure. The fact that I am now a 'foreign missionary'
helped -- it tickled the curiosity of all.
The two sermons on 11 July went very well. I have been forewarned that
a few members of the congregation have lodged their complaint with the
synod and that they were eagerly trying to stop me from preaching. But
the Sunday went fine and the sermons were received with much appreciation.
Several church council members even suggested that I apply for the vacancy
as pastor. Of course the 'family' turned up in full colors bringing their
partners and friends. If they could, they would have cheered for seeing
a gay person in the pulpit and that beautiful stole I received from St
Francis was admired by all.
I have now invited the whole Church council of this Dutch Reformed Congregation
to the next Symposium/Conference GLCO will be hosting in August. The theme
is "The Inclusive Church" -- what can local congregations actually do in
gay & lesbian ministry?" I will be using St Francis as an example of
defiance.
Warmest greetings, Pieter (and love from Fanie) Sorry for not writing to you sooner. I have been back in Cape Town for
nearly a month now and most of this time I spent in bed. First I just wanted
to sleep -- after 12 flights in 19 days -- the jet-lag and exhaustion got
to me! Just as I was ready to resume work a terrible flu kept me indoors
for the rest of the time.
Before my arrival here, news of the commissioning at St. Francis (what
a wonderful and joyous occasion) got to the press here locally in mysterious
ways, via internet, UFMCC and a local gay christian journalist. This meant
major coverage in the provincial newspaper of this extraordinary happening
and (also) the GLAAD award [which he received in Kansas City]. As a result
of this, I had three major radio interviews and this resulted in more work
(counseling and invitations to speak) than I could handle during this time
of illness.
The last interview was this morning (June 30) on national radio. The
interviewer was quite interested in the fact that I was commissioned by
St Francis and asked a lot of questions. His final remark was: "This commisioning
by a 'foreign' church brings shame to the South African churches and their
intolerance!" This a national broadcast -- it was quite exceptional.
I must thank you for the tremendous amount of effort and support that
you have given my request. It is really something I will never forget.
Who would have thought that our first meeting three years ago would develop
into such a strong relationship. I have a very strong sense of belonging
and 'family' now with St Francis and the love and support that I have experienced
through my contact with you all sustains me every day. It was a very memorable
service and all the participants (Ruth, Phyllis, Jeff, Mari, Jeanine, Greg
and all the members of the congregation) were present in heart and soul.
You might have heard -- I cried a lot during the laying-on of hands. I
was overwhelmed and humbled by the love.
As a result of my illness I was unable to preach in the Dutch Reformed
church on 6 June. This great event is now scheduled for 11 July (both the
morning and evening service). Do pray for me and the congregation on this
day. I so hope that a spirit of reconciliation will move through the congregation
and that the "conservative few" will not resort to legal action. I will
keep you updated.
May God bless you and keep you safe.
Pieter Oberholzer |
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| Last updated 17 Apr 04 by MP. Email mark94110 (at) yahoo.com |