Synod calls for special ‘Day Against Xenophobia’

Provincial Synod has called for the declaration of a Day Against Xenophobia, using resources such as a special liturgy, readings, sermon material and posters and social media materials.

“We should show publicly that the Anglican Church is a safe space for all,” Synod said in a resolution.

The resolution, proposed by the Revd Canon Shearsby Mupfudzapake of the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist, and seconded by Mrs Helena B. Simone of the Diocese of Niassa in Mozambique, read as follows:

Whereas

• South Africa has been hit by a wave of xenophobic attacks
• Recognising that we have the day of 20^th June as a day of refugees in our lectionary, but it is often not used as it clashes with June 16^th
• We need to identify the cause of these attacks and identify the role of the Anglican Church as a multi-country church

We ask for the Church to

• Declare itself strongly against Xenophobia
• Declare a special Day Against Xenophobia, with readings, liturgy and sermon materials, as well as posters, hash tags etc.
• We should show publicly that the Anglican Church is a safe space for all.