The main reason for the meeting was to find common grounds of action among the religions, such as keeping government focused on people and the environment. It also provided a forum for people of different backgrounds to talk to one other. In the wake of this, Cape Town's Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane and South Africa's Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris voiced criticism that witches were present at the meeting.
Witch is a loaded word in the world of religion.
In this case, the concern was understandable but likely misplaced. It was no doubt na ve of the American organizers not to consider the implications of witches in Africa. The witches seen at the parliament were none of these. In fact, the church could learn a great deal from observing the ones who were there. These witches were adherents of Wicca, a modern religion that draws heavily on 19th and 20th century romantic reinventions of various pre-Christian religions, especially the Druids.