Special Hearings — Faith Community Hearings — 1997-11-17

MS B BAM: Yes, I was hoping that no one would ask that question. And when it   came towards the end, I was very delighted, because we have been asked by the   government many times, I don't know how many times, that the churches have a   responsibility in South Africa, and the religious groups to really work on the   question of the moral reconstruction and the question of values. This is a very,   very difficult area and we have not been able as the SACC, I have to say it,   to design a project, or design a programme of dealing with it, because it has   to go back to families and communities. It has also tied up very much with our   history; it's also tied up with our schools. So it is a very, very large programme.   We have tried to revive a programme, more in the area of women taking the responsibility   of what we call "holistic approach to health". That's very general.   And by health we try to embrace precisely those questions of values and spirituality.   Because we feel that as women and mothers, we have an opportunity of being with   our children at an early age, so that we can in fact begin to plant these values   at that age, even the basic social skills. But I don't know, I think that some   churches have now started programmes in their own youth groups, and that is   the hope. But we just don't have a general programme for the nation on this   issue.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much. May I just take issue with yourselves for   accepting Joyce's premise that the SACC previously didn't address the spiritual   needs. What do you mean? I want to differ very strongly! Because the needs,   I mean you would not be incarnational if you said we were not dealing with the   spiritual needs of the people, but that is not the point I wanted to make. Just   maybe two points before you step down. It may be possible in dealing with the   question of the reconciliation between the churches, which Bongani was talking   about. It may be possible to handle that by our own readiness to confess our   weakness. I was speaking about how we in the SACC were often harsh in our condemnation   of the white Dutch Reformed Church. Remember we used to say to them "Why   don't you address the government on this or that issue?" And they said   "No, we have addressed them, but agter geslote deure!" Now it struck   me on one occasion, this is not name dropping and so on, that I was sitting   very early on after Madiba became President, I was sitting with him at a meal   and I was telling him some of the things that were bugging us already. And I   stood outside of myself and said, "You see, Tutu, you are doing exactly   the sort of thing that you were criticising the other people for!" Because   it isn't easy, and you've got to accept it, it isn't easy to criticise people   you like and people with whom you have been working in the struggle. And I think   we should acknowledge that we were often arrogant in the way in which we spoke.   It may be too, that we have to acknowledge that we were somewhat self-righteous.   I mean our cause was right! But in a way, sometimes we came across; we should   say and acknowledge that we might not have made things easy for other people.   And in our readiness to be self-critical, we might get other people willing   also to acknowledge that there were things that they might have done differently.   The last point I want to make is that I am glad I am a retired Archbishop now,   because it was easy in many ways to know what was church. You know, when you   were in the against mode, it was easy. And as you say, we were able to be united   and we had no doubt about our identity. Now, we are at a loss, and God said   okay I would like you to leave it to younger people like Mgojo and others let   them now deal with what is a critical issue. What does it mean to be church   in South Africa today? And this crisis of identity is one that churches are   going to be needing help with and maybe one of your major concerns as the SACC.   But thank you very, very much and since you are stepping down as General Secretary   may we acknowledge you and give you just a special clap. Let's give her a clap!   APPLAUSE.
We are calling on - Bernard Spong you look like - no you are not there. Wesley   Mabuza and David Musomo, to speak up to about 10 'o clock. So the Institute   for Contextual Theology and Theology of Liberation. 
One of the wonderful things about this audience, this congregation, is that   they are behaving very much like an Anglican congregation. They all want to   sit at the back! It might be a help if you came to the front so that people   who come late don't have a problem and they can just slip in. I notice that   there are Roman Catholics who are also sitting at the back! Can you please very   kindly? Thank you very much. Welcome both of you gentlemen. Thank you   for being so patient and also being so generous to say you'll allow this whole   thing to be finished bywhen we have tea! Thank you.

REV WESLEY MABUZA: Thank you very much, Chairperson. I introduce ...[inaudible]   who has come in the place of Professor Musomo. He is a member of the executive   of ICT. I will do the presentation.
ADMINISTERS THE OATH.