Category: News

Members of the ANC top executive who initially repudiated President Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle were blind to the truth which South Africans can see of the need for a corrupt-free and stable society with a secure future.

This was the gist of a strong address given by the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, the Right Revd Dr Steve Moreo, as part of the march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria today [April 7].

Bishop Steve said that the country’s leadership had descended into a state of ghastly immorality and unethical behaviour.

He added that when some of the acolytes of the President had had the courage to repudiate him, South Africans had seen some hope for a stable future.

“But just a few days later, those same acolytes emerged from behind closed doors, where they had debated in secrecy, with no transparency. They emerged to proclaim again that the President is clothed even when they had revealed him for all his duplicity and nakedness just a few days before. Then we knew that the moral compass that was our legacy in 1994 had been destroyed,” Bishop Moreo said.

The full text of his address during the march is:

When the Mandela government swept to power in 1994, it took South Africa and the world by storm with its high moral compass. This was a government composed of diverse people, all of whom had come to their new positions of power in this beacon of democracy with moral backbone of long-standing or recently acquired. They did so as people with high ethical values and sound political morals for that age – no matter what anyone said about their past. These were the people who led the nation on that colourful day in April, up the road here at the Union Buildings, with the rainbow colours of the national flag flying. We and they became what Archbishop Desmond Tutu called the rainbow nation.

None of us here today, in our heart of hearts, can see those bright colours in the rainbow anymore. The flag still flies and we are proud of it. Our beloved country still exists, and we love it. That is why we are here. But the colours of the rainbow have faded.

We are here today because, like our forebears in that bright April sunlight of 1994, we value moral and ethical norms and practices. We see ourselves as a people of the 21st century, not of old divisiveness or the graft, corruption and deceit of cynical politicians. By and large, we see ourselves as people who hold the truth dear.

I am a Christian priest.  In a week from today, I will be commemorating the words in the Jerusalem court of Pontius Pilate when he said to Jesus Christ: “What is truth?”

Christ remained silent. And Pontius Pilate, was too blind to see that “truth” stood before him and had him killed. In this way, Pilate was like governors of states before and after him. He was blind to the needs and will of the people.

Like Pontius Pilate, our present government in South Africa, from the President down, is too blind to see the truth. Since 2009, with few exceptions, government has failed South Africa. They treat us, their people, as if we have no rights and no intelligence. They treated us as if we have no interest in a secure future for our country.

We have all of those.

That it is why it is important to state clearly that this past week has seen our leadership descend into a state of ghastly immorality and unethical behaviour. It is the behaviour that leads to much of the confusion among many of our people. It is the behaviour that has caused us to gather here in Pretoria and in cities, towns and villages throughout our country today to say, Enough! It is an immoral behaviour.

When some of the acolytes of the President had the courage to repudiate his Cabinet reshuffle, people saw some hope for a stable future.

But just a few days later, those same acolytes emerged from behind closed doors, where they had debated in secrecy, with no transparency. They emerged to proclaim again that the President is clothed even when they had revealed him for all his duplicity and nakedness just a few days before. Then we knew that the moral compass that was our legacy in 1994 had been destroyed. Those lieutenants, the acolytes, surrendered at that moment the high moral ground they had so briefly occupied at the beginning of the week. They shamed us and themselves by their actions.

Those who hold the power of government in this country are now living a lie. Pontius Pilate could not live that lie. Old South African governments could not either. Neither will this government be able to continue to do so.

Our call to any men and women with a sharp and honest conscience in the caucus of the African National Congress and its governing structures, is to stop living the lie. Now. The people of South Africa are watching you and they will not lie down. It may go quiet for a while, but they will not lie down. The people of South Africa are not fools. They are good, honest, moral and truthful people.

The answer to the question, “What is truth?” will always overcome the lies of those who wish to double cross, to hurt the poor and marginalised by their actions, and to conduct their government business in the deep shade of duplicity.

It is time for the truth. And that is why it is time for a movement such as this.”

Faith in the Real World – Pastoral Letter from the Synod of Bishops

(A PDF version of this letter is available at the end of the statement.)

Dear People of God,

We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA), we met in Synod in Benoni from Monday 20th until Saturday 25th February 2017. The full bench of Bishops was present, including:

– Those from all the countries that make up our Province of the Anglican Communion – St Helena, Angola, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa;

– Those who were Consecrated Bishop on Saturday 25th February – Rt Revd William Mostert, Bishop of Christ the King (southern Gauteng) and Rt Revd Vicente Msosa, Bishop of Niassa (northern Mozambique).

As always our meeting took place in a framework of worship and warm fellowship as we shared our lives and worked on issues facing the church and our communities. At our opening Eucharist we heard the words of Jesus, “All things can be done for the one who believes!” (Mark 9:23) and the response, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). We met as church leaders and people of faith who are deeply aware of the challenges facing our churches and communities and the desperate need for leadership of the highest quality.

Most of our time this week was devoted to receiving training in the basics of Economics and Management, and reflecting on how God is calling us to exercise leadership in today’s economic climate. We were ably led by Prof Martin Büscher (Institute for Diaconic Science and Diaconic Management (IDM), Protestant University of Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany) and Dr Bright Mawudor (Deputy General Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches). They helped us to understand the prevailing economic theories; challenges of globalisation; the New St Gallen Management Model; financial management and accounting; personnel management; innovation and creativity; and church and property development as mission.

We had an informative and challenging time wrestling with the interface between economics and theology: profit-making and the prophetic; the market place and mission; self-interest and compassion; market value and Kingdom values; personal wealth and community-building; corruption and integrity; free trade and fair trade.

Dr Mawudor said, “When money is lost, something is lost. When health is lost, more is lost. When integrity is lost, everything is lost”. We accepted the challenge to live and lead with integrity ourselves as we demand integrity in our political, business and community leaders. We also recognised the need to work ecumenically in this area.

In our own leadership structures, we affirmed Archbishop Thabo’s appointment of his Management Team:

• Bishop Stephen Diseko: Dean of the Province
• Bishop Dino Gabriel: Theological Education
• Bishop Martin Breytenbach: Provincial Finance Board
• Bishop Brian Marajh: Provincial Trusts Board

We were saddened by reports of loss of life, injuries and devastation caused by tropical cyclone Dineo, especially in Mozambique. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba wrote a pastoral letter to those who were affected in the Dioceses of Lebombo, Mpumalanga and St Mark the Evangelist. We are working with H.O.P.E. Africa to find ways to assist those who are most affected.

As Bishops we continued to debate, with great concern, the state of higher education in South Africa in the light of the ongoing “Fees must Fall” campaign. We call for the release or charging of Bonginkosi Kanyile who has been incarcerated since September 2016, insisting that there should be no detention without trial. We agreed to write to the government and other stakeholders expressing our concerns.

We gave attention to a number of areas of mission and ministry.

1) We heard about steps taken and progress made on issues in the Dioceses of Umzimvubu and Lesotho. We agreed on further action that will be done.

2) We received a report on Theological Education, including successes and challenges at the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown (COTT). We rejoiced in the progress that has been made and affirmed the importance of having a residential Theological College alongside other training schemes. We recognise that we will need to consider new funding models for COTT and its students.

3) We adopted a proposal for the training of new Bishops and the ongoing training of all Bishops. Training includes a course for new Bishops at the International Study Centre at Canterbury Cathedral; a course run by the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA); “Episcopal Accompaniment” sponsored by Us (formerly USPG); and mentoring of new Bishops by those who are more experienced.

4) We received a presentation on the proposed establishment of a Youth Academy to equip the church for more effective ministry to children and young people. We welcomed the idea and affirmed the importance of training those who minister to our youth. However, we identified a number of issues that need to be investigated more fully before it can be implemented, and agreed on steps to do this.

5) We received a report about the “6th Trumpet of the Global South” which took place in Cairo from 3rd to 8th October 2016. This report highlighted both the commonalities and the tensions within the Anglican Communion at present. We remain committed to being a reconciling presence in the Communion and to engaging with all those involved.

6) We committed ourselves to continue to support the training of suitable people from our Dioceses to conduct formal mediation processes – particularly people with a legal background. Retired Bishops Rubin Phillip and Peter Lee have already received advanced training in this area.

7) We were deeply disturbed by the death of about 100 mentally ill patients following their transfer from the Esidimeni Life Hospital to NGOs that were not equipped to care for them. One of those who died was the son of a priest in the Diocese of Johannesburg, Canon Joe Maboe. We commended the Bishop of Johannesburg and others who are walking alongside them, and encouraged them to continue to do so.

8) We heard about the ongoing pain of those related to the three employees of the Lily Mine in Barberton who are still trapped underground after a year. We continue to work with the South African Council of Churches to engage with the mine and all those involved.

9) We welcomed the plans of Growing the Church (GtC) to be located in the Dioceses, with the office in Cape Town as a resource and training hub, and committed ourselves to appoint Diocesan GtC Teams to work locally. We started work on identifying the values that should mark Anglican “Fresh Expressions” of Church.

10) We received with appreciation a demonstration of the capabilities of “MyAnglican”, our Provincial Church Management System. This powerful, secure system can keep all our membership records, enable bulk emailing, keep service registers, record parish finances, manage conference registrations and much more (It can be accessed at www.myanglican.org) .

11) We said farewell to Bishop Mazwi Tisani, first Bishop of Khahlamba, who will retire before the next session of Synod of Bishops, and thanked him for his long, faithful and effective service in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

12) We heard stories about the phenomenon of “Sugar Daddies” and “Blessers” and the vulnerability of young women. We are looking at various resources that will help the church to engage effectively with this social evil.

13) We discussed the Pastoral Guidelines for ministry to those in same-sex relationships, which are still incomplete. We asked Archbishop Thabo to set up a small group of Bishops to work on completing them, together with others who could help the process.

14) We received a request from the Diocese of Angola to change from a Missionary Diocese to a fully-fledged Diocese. This Diocese has grown in numbers and strength and would like to make more of a contribution to the life of ACSA. They are now in 14 of the 18 provinces of Angola, and will soon need to consider multiplication into two Dioceses. We agreed in principle to this request, subject to them submitting the required returns to Provincial Finance Board.

Dear people of God, please commit these things to prayer and offer yourselves to God to serve in God’s mission and ministry. We your Bishops will continue to lead as God’s servants and servants of the church, to the best of our ability.

Now to God who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Bishops’ Statement (2017 Feb)

The bishops have sent a letter to those affected by Cyclone Dineo in the two dioceses of Mozambique and the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist extending their prayers and concern for the loss of life and devastation caused by the storm.

In a letter written from the Synod of Bishops, they added: “The loss of human lives, livestock and crops is a tragedy to God’s creation. We pray for God’s protection for all vulnerable communities as they seek to recover their losses and rebuild their infrastructure.”

In a resolution the Synod also decided to ask HOPE Africa, in discussion with the affected dioceses, to draft a relief intervention to assist communities and to call on all parishes and dioceses to contribute financial assistance to resource the relief plan.

News 26 February

Anglican Communion Office appoints its first Chief Operating Officer

Francis becomes 1st pope to visit an Anglican church in Rome

Churches across London planting trees to make neighbourhoods more “bee friendly”

Jerusalem archbishop rededicates Israeli church closed for nearly 80 years

Rome’s Anglican pastor: Papal visit an exciting, but normal, step

Christians urged to take part in carbon fast during Lent

State of the nation: Nigerian bishops set six-point agenda for Federal Government

Diocesan Alert:  If you have news for the website please email Loraine Tulleken at: tulleken@iafrica.com

By Cynthia Botha, Publishing Secretary

Liturgies do not only offer comfort, they also serve to challenge our present context, our assumptions and presuppositions about the world, about others, God and ourselves, as we look forward to Christ’s coming again. Our understanding of  God, ourselves and the world change, and with it the way we express ourselves.

Do we have a Prayer Book today which is truly African in form and context? Does it represent the local Southern African situation? To be honest, one would say no. An Anglican Prayer Book, 1989 has been with us more than 25 years now and one may ask – does it really bear witness to the African context?   In some areas it is more successful than others.

The process to revise APB 1989 was first proposed by the Synod of Bishops in 2012. The Bishops called for a revision that would deal with the masculine and patriarchal nature of the text, in particular with the masculine pronouns for God and for people that are used throughout APB 1989.

This proposal was taken to Provincial Standing Committee, who amended the proposal to include a thoroughgoing revision of the whole book in order to make it more relevant to and expressive of our Southern African context. This task was given to the ACSA Liturgical Committee. Together with a Prayer Book Revision sub-committee, the process of revision has started.

The first publication in the series of revisions is titled Celebrating Sunday with  a sub-title  Under Southern Skies in an African Voice  and the idea of producing liturgy that is African in the southern hemisphere will govern  the process going forward.  Who we are and what we are in this Province of the Anglican Communion is important.

The whole revision project is expected to take about 10 years or more to complete.

See Provincial Notices on this website for regular updates on the revision of the Prayer Book

Statement of the Synod of Bishops on the situation on South African university campuses

Statement on the death of 94 Mentally challenged people by the Bishop Of Kimberley at the 52nd Session of the Diocesan Synod

Commentary on the death of 94 Mentally challenged people

The 52nd Session of the Synod of the Anglican Church of the Diocese of Kimberley & Kuruman expressed great sadness at the deaths of 94 mental patients who died because they were disrupted by what appears to be insensitive relocation.

We learnt that despite objections and pleas by their families their comfort thus contributing directly to their tragic deaths.

We further noted the cold and insensitive attitude of the speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon Baleka Mbete, who found it impossible to concede to a request for a moment of silence to acknowledge the tragedy.

We believe that such a gesture would have meant a lot to the grieving families. Unfortunately, this rejection reflected on the entire ruling party since none of them risked the opportunity of making such a conciliatory and sympathetic gesture.

We continue to pray for the families as they struggle to get to grips with the situation. We also pray for those in authority that they may be enabled to make good and right decisions – rather than expedient ones.

May God bless all who can and do make a difference and may we all be convicted to always take the right decisions for the benefit of the vulnerable people in our midst.

The Right Revd Oswald Swartz
on behalf of the Synod of the Diocese of Kimberley & Kuruman

NB: At the time when this statement was being prepared, it was reported in the press that the number of deceased had grown to 100 and probably beyond. We make a serious call for those in authority to address this matter with the urgency it deserves and take bold steps in putting remedial plans into place.

The Dean of Johannesburg, the Very Revd Xolani Dlwathi, addressed the city’s Mayoral Budget Lekgotla on the moral responsibilities of government to provide clean and accountable governance.

The full text of his address to the city’s civic leaders can be found by downloading the PDF below.

Dean’s Adress – COJ Budget Lekgotla February 2017 Final

Vulindlela: Open the Way 

International Anglicans Ablaze Conference

5-8 October 2016

Bishops Diocesan College, Rondebosch, Cape Town.

Registration opens from 10h00 to 13h00 on 5th of October.

Conference begins on Wednesday the 5th at 14h00 and ends on Saturday the 8th at 13h00.