The contents of this dissertation is about the authoritarianism presently found in Lutheran churches in general and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) in particular. In contradiction to the Roman Catholic Church, Luther advocated the participation of the laity in decision-making processes. However, strong offices of authority have been established in ELCIN and excessive powers have been granted constitutionally to the clergy against the laity, with the result that lay leaders are made to believe that the decision-making procedures belong to the higher authorities at all levels of the church. There is a lack of willingness among the higher authorities to motivate lay leaders to take up leadership responsibilities in their presence. The danger of this attitude is that most of the decisions made in the church are initiated by the clergy and are therefore not representative. The leadership style of ELCIN can be described as partially democratic and partially authoritarian. The authoritarian leadership style of ELCIN was not derived from the original Lutheran heritage. This situation is due largely to a combination of the leadership patterns of the Finnish missionaries and the prevailing Owambo traditional culture. Authoritarian attitudes remain an urgent challenge to ELCIN in particular, and to Lutheran churches in general. The formulation of a new concept of leadership in the church must embrace the collective participation of all male adult members of the community in decision-making processes as observed in positive elements of Owambo traditions and Luther's concept of the priesthood of all believers. This dissertation recommends that lay leaders must be allowed to chair decision-making bodies at all levels in the church and that clergy and lay leaders participate equally in these bodies. ELCIN theologians also have to formulate concepts which contextualise church leadership and dissociate it from foreign vessels of culture. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

This dissertation examines the contribution that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) can make to poverty alleviation at local community level, through research in the Otjimbingwe rural community two hundred kilometers north-west of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It is clear from the historical background and current situation that the impact of poverty is severe on the lives of indigenous people. The question posed by the research is: How can the Church contribute to poverty alleviation in a rural community such as Otjimbingwe? To answer this question, this thesis analyses the real life situation that the people of Otjimbingwe experience daily. It further looks at the coping strategies of the people. The thesis identifies the capacities, skills and assets that the Church can develop and build on in its poverty alleviation process. The study argues that the Church has a vital contribution to play as both an 'insider' and an 'outsider' to the community at Otjimbingwe. It then suggests some strategies that the Church can utilize to ensure maximum participation of the local people and to mobilize and encourage co-operation of all concerned individuals and organizations in the process of development. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

It is the feeling of the author of this thesis that in Oshiwambo society power and authority in families is invested on the male head. This act has caused the society to be a patriarchal society. In most cases women and children are taken for granted by men that they are there to serve men's interests. This patriarchal society emerged from culture and tradition of Oshiwambo people. Women discrimination starts at birth, when every member ofthe family is sorry that the baby is a girl. Also the way a baby boy is raised is different from the way of a girl. The boy is treated with a great respect while a girl is not. When the church came in the area, did not change this situation. In stead it gave more power to men than to women. Until 1992 women were not allowed to lead the church. Nowadays, there is a general feeling that this patriarchal system is good for nothing. As a response to that feeling the state has taken a stand in the present government that women must be well represented in leadership and holding important positions than before. Still, there have been opposition from some people who are not happy with these changes. They want women to be looked as inferior beings. The author of this thesis is of opinion that there are enough texts in the Bible which say about gender equality. Unfortunately, in most cases, the Oshiwambo men have failed to read these texts in the light of elevating the status ofwomen in their society. Therefore, the problem is not women discrimination as it may sound to the reader, but the real problem is the conservative ideology of men towards women. Men must be liberated from it. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.