wfn.org | SOUTH AFRICA: REPORT OF THE PRIMATES MEETING

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Title:SOUTH AFRICA: REPORT OF THE PRIMATES MEETING
July 21, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE
Canon James M Rosenthal, Director of Communications
Anglican Communion Office, 
London, UK
Tel: [44] (0)171 620-1110   Fax: [44] (0)171 620-1070

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SOUTH AFRICA: REPORT OF THE PRIMATES MEETING

(CPSA) Archbishops and representatives of Anglican Churches in Africa
and the Indian Ocean Islands met in Rosebank, Johannesburg, from Monday,
to discuss issues affecting the Church on the continent and to consider 
challenges and opportunities facing it. They met in the shadow of the
attack last week by security forces on people in All Saints Cathedral in
Nairobi, Kenya, and the confiscation by the Nigerian government of the
passport of the Primate of the Church in Nigeria, Archbishop Joseph
Adetiloye.

Also attending the meeting, which was chaired by the Archbishop of
Central Africa, the Most Revd Khotso Makhulu, was the Anglican Observer
at the United Nations, Bishop James Ottley. The Archbishop of Kenya, the
Most Revd David Gitari, also attended, having officiated at a service in
Nairobi during which All Saints Cathedral was cleansed after the attack
by the security forces. Archbishop Gitari arrived at the conference
after making representations to President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya with
an ecumenical delegation on 15 July.

The African Archbishops expressed their strong disapproval of the
actions taken against the people of Kenya pursuing their rightful claims
and the desecration of the Cathedral by armed forces. They also
expressed their dismay at the violation of human rights by Nigeria, and
resolved to send a letter of protest to the respective heads of state
and to their High Commissioners in South Africa. They recognised that
the Church on the continent will increasingly be challenged to speak out
against the erosion of fundamental human rights. Recognising that the
Gospel calls on the followers of Jesus Christ to support one another and
the integration of the Church in the world, the Church leaders resolved
to show solidarity with one another in all cases of attacks on their
people and on the Church. They further believed that the African
philosophy of 'ubuntu', meaning humanness, could be shared with the
world as a spiritual gift that could enrich the global community.

The Church leaders also recognised that the Church was facing unique 
challenges and tensions in the unfolding drama of Africa's development. 
Several countries were in the throes of socio-political change and
upheaval, some had just emerged from terrible civil wars, while others
were involved in various stages of transformation following their
liberation or coups d'etat.

The well-reported issues of refugees, poverty, peacemaking and 
reconciliation, and the after-effects of war were also noted. The Church
had a special ministry in all these spheres.

Refugees offered the opportunity for the establishment of new work by
the Churches in areas where it had not previously been involved. Angola
was one such example, where the Church of the Province of Southern
Africa, had started new work and Church planting was a reality. It was
anticipated that similar new work would begin in the Great Lakes region.

The meeting rejoiced in reports that countries such as Liberia were well
on the road to recovery and encouraged it to proceed with elections,
while a country such as Rwanda had seen a normalisation of Church
leadership following the upheavals in that country.

While the Church faced threats from fundamentalist interpretations of 
religion, the experience of the Anglican Church in Africa was that it
was a growing Church. However, the Church faced the consequential
problem of providing sufficient resources - both human and financial -
to service the growth. It believed it should work towards being
self-sustaining, and that countries that had previously relied on
foreign aid should move away from such dependency.

The African bishops also noted that the issue of poverty had to be
addressed with urgency, particularly given the Jubilee 2000 programme
which has as its objective the cancellation of the debt of developing
countries. They noted that the huge multi-lateral debts of the
respective countries that they represented retarded the development of
their people. In servicing their debts to organisations such as the
International Monetary Fund countries were using finance that should be
applied to social issues, such as education, housing and health. The
issue of debt will be raised at the Lambeth Conference in 1998 and
various discussions were held regarding the message that will be taken
by the African Archbishops to this international meeting of Anglican
leaders.

The Church leaders recognised that all these issues were a hindrance to
the development of the people of Africa, and to the improvement in their
quality of life. Consequently they called on all agencies to cancel the 
multi-lateral debt which was an intolerable burden and prevented the 
renaissance of Africa. The cancellation of the multi-lateral debt should
be accompanied by support of sustainable development. However, Africa's
leaders had to be transparent and accountable in their expenditure of
assistance and ensure it is for the good of the people.

Aids was also identified as an issue that required particular attention
by the Church. It was noted that programmes aimed at children between
the ages of five and 12 were particularly successful, and that the
Church should become actively involved in a ministry towards those with
Aids, and education regarding the HIV virus.

Other matters raised during the intensive discussions were those of the
sale of armaments and the effect of land mines, regionalism and
tribalism, ecology and deforestation, and the manner in which ministry
should be conducted in a changing world. The question of the ministry of
all believers - the involvement and ministry of the laity - was one that
was raised on several occasions during the conference. The matter was
understood to be imperative as the Church moves forward in a world
addressing the issues of spirituality, poverty, justice and peace. Also
of significance was an intensive debate on liturgy and spirituality.

The Churches represented also shared their different constitutions and 
debated the need for common Church governance where possible that would 
enhance the witness of the Church in Africa.