Christian Leaders in Politics and Government

As SACLA II draws to a close, the tracks are starting to come up with tangible guidelines that will transform communities. The Politics and Government track yesterday produced a document that concentrated on four main issues. They first acknowledged God's hand in bringing leaders together from many different backgrounds at SACLA. They also viewed repentance as the means God uses to draw people to himself. They repented of their own sins and asked God's forgiveness.

Then they identified the four areas that included: areas of divergence; common vision; transformation process and steps of action. The group believe that SACLA should not just be an incredible event, but the beginning of a long process where communities, our country and many other countries represented here, will be transformed. Yesterday the group spent their time searching for practical steps that would transform their vision and dreams into reality. They presented their suggestions to the group and today are hoping to finalise the planning phase. Hopes are high that their communities will never be the same again after this gathering.

Nhlanhla Mchunu

Many delegates came to SACLA with very high expectations and don’t seem to be disappointed. A 25-year-old Unicity Environment Planner, Maurietta Juries, is very excited that she could attend the assembly. She says she is very encouraged to see high profile politicians and government officials taking their faith seriously. The track inspired her and she feels she has been given a Christian response to daily municipal challenges. "Being young and black made me too insignificant and easily intimidated. But now that I have seen so many Christian politicians who face challenged like us, I feel I have a role to play in the society. I have also been blessed to see a councilor who supported me when it was hard. I did not even know he was a Christian,” she said. The theme of hope within the track of government and politics, encouraged many other people - both young and old. For Mpumelelo Ntetha (24), an SU Life-skill worker, it showed him a strong need for the church to influence the government. "I think Christians and the church are letting the government down. We must stop moaning about the government and start to do something. If we do projects that uplift the lifestyle of people, the government will take us seriously." He said this after a very strong appeal by Dr Brigalia Bam to remember social action. The groups spent time looking at how the church can impact and transform not only the community but the government as well.

Nhlanhla Mchunu

Together we Stand
“Together we stand and divided we fall,” this was the statement of Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, at the first plenary on politics and government. He appealed to church leaders to unite and work together with the government for the good of the nation. "The rich are as vulnerable as the poor. So those who have, must see to it that they help those who have nothing. This will save many lives", he said. Ndungane used HIV/AIDS as an example to show how the church can work together with the government in eradicating this pandemic. He said 20% of adults in South Africa live with HIV/AIDS and thousands of children are orphaned and left to carry the adulthood responsibility. "Is this the government's responsibility alone?" asked Ndungane. "If you ignore the problem it will not go away.My proposal is that we must stand up and fight together as we did to the apartheid monster. We must focus on young people and teach them the wisdom of waiting for the right time. We also need to teach our people that AIDS is not a punishment from the Lord but a disease like others." Ndungane also challenged his audience to start programmes that will alleviate poverty. "The government must work hard at development programmes, the business people must also offer their expertise and resourses. We as a church and NGO must do our best to restore the moral fibre of our nation."
During group discussion, groups seemed to agree that the Church must take a lead in transforming the nation. "We must do something, it does not matter how small, because small actions result in great change," commented one of the small group.

Nhlanhla Mchunu

The challenges our nation is facing demand that we leave our places of comfort. The moment of truth has come and leaders are about to grab the bull by the horns. So says the excited track leader, Revd Chris Lodewyk.

“Christians in politics and government should work together with church leaders so that we can address the challenges together.” Lodewyk believes that church buildings shouldn’t be reserved for Sunday gatherings only. “We have a responsibility to make our facilities, ourselves and our financial resources available if we hope to transform our society. We hope that this track will inspire church leaders and politicians to start afresh.”