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.