wfn.org | Tolen Tells WARC Africa Needs "Time And Space"

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

19-August-1997 
97314 
 
    Tolen Tells Warc Africa Needs "Time And Space" 
    to Address Its Own Problems 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
    World Alliance of Reformed Churches Newsroom 
 
DEBRECEN, Hungary--Confronted with seemingly endless predictions of its 
demise, Africa needs "time and space for self-examination, for the 
recognition of its complicity in its own problems and for denouncing 
injustice in all its forms in order to exorcise it," Aaron Tolen of 
Cameroon said Aug. 9. 
 
    And when the 23rd General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed 
Churches (WARC), meeting here through Aug. 20, addresses its theme -- 
"Breaking the Chains of Injustice" -- to Africa, it must ask itself, "Can 
WARC really define its place in the changes that must take place in 
obedience to God's will rather than simply describing what is wrong?" 
 
    Tolen, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and the fourth 
of four speakers to address the theme Aug. 9, said, "Experts and observers 
have depicted Africa as a continent without a future, without hope, in a 
word: doomed."  However, he continued, in spite of injustices, corruption 
and mismanagement, "it is a continent where resistance and hope have been 
the very foundations of its peoples' survival." 
 
    And churches are not exempt from criticism, Tolen added.  "Even 
salvation announced in Jesus Christ has been used to alienate and exclude 
Africans.  Is it necessary to alienate oneself from one's own culture in 
order to be saved in Christ?  Cultural prostitution through religious and 
ideological invasions make up one of the most harmful injustices ever 
inflicted upon Africa." 
 
    External injustice in the forms of slave trade, colonial occupation, 
cultural prostitution and natural resource expropriation and internal 
problems of fraud, corruption, mismanagement and fratricide must not be 
forgotten, Tolen said, "but we must quickly move on in order to mind what 
really counts -- namely, the history of our resistance in order to survive 
and our hope of a life abundant." 
 
    Instead, he complained, "we spend all our time following other people's 
watchwords -- the United Nations or the international monetary authorities 
-- today it's population; tomorrow environment; the day after, women; the 
day after, children and so on.  How can sustainable and self-maintained 
development be organized under such conditions?" 
 
    Tolen admitted, "it is with the complicity of many so-called leaders 
amongst us that the resources from Africa are not being used primarily to 
solve problems in Africa."  Also, he noted, other chains of injustice -- 
most predominantly, oppressing women -- are a result of various African 
traditions and customs. 
 
    In this complex situation, Tolen said, "the African churches must 
examine their role in promoting governance which covers adequate services 
offered to the public, good management, wise use of natural and human 
resources, integrity, compassion and justice."  To break the chains of 
injustice in Africa, he added, "the church must take on the role of [the] 
guardian who takes care of the interests of the weak, the vulnerable and 
the poor in society." 
 
    By God's grace, Tolen concluded, "There are no continents or nations 
that are condemned.  Africa has overcome the slave trade, many epidemics, 
colonialism, one-party states, apartheid.  It is capable of overcoming, it 
will overcome this present crisis." 

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