At least 5,000 people are expected to attend celebrations to mark the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) golden jubilee to be held this month from 21 to 23.

The Secretary General of ELCT, Mr. Brighton Killewa said recently that the climax of the jubilee would be held at Tumaini University Makumira (TUMA) located at U.S. River, east of Arusha city. On the 21s June the ELCT Presiding Bishop, Dr. Alex Malasusa, is expected to open an exhibition.

On the 22 ELCT leadership and partners will attend a consultation in presentations and discussions on five papers on the strides made so far in fulfilling God's call to preach a holistic Gospel and plans on how to forge ahead in the future will be made, Mr. Killewa said.

On June 23, the climax, a procession to include choirs will precede a Church service and speeches.

The Church expects to receive 5,000 guests from inside and outside the country.

Foreign guests are from Mission Societies and Churches from Europe, America as well as Africa. Those from Tanzania include representatives of the ELCT Dioceses, Government leaders, representatives of other churches and choirs.

Tumaini University Makumira is one of the ELCT 'common work' institutions owned by the Church. It is a symbol of unity of the Church comprising 22 Diocese spread all over the country. It is also a theological training institution that has grown over the years to become a university and many Lutheran Church leaders in East Africa have been trained at Makumira.

Seven Lutheran Churches that existed in Tanzania united to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanganyika on 19 June 1963.

Lutheran Missionaries started evangelism activities almost 150 years ago and it was only in 1963 when the churches decided to unite and became dioceses/ synods of one Church.

Subsequently, the church decided to have dioceses instead of synods. By May 26 2013 ELCT had 22 dioceses when two new ones were formed. The new ones are South East Diocese formerly Mtwara- Lindi Mission Area created on 26 May 2013 and the South East of Lake Victoria Diocese formerly Shinyanga-Simiyu Mission Area created on 5 May 2013.