18th June 2008
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ
I recently quoted the words of President Nelson Mandela: "Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another" and went on to say that "never again" is happening again and that we are the oppressor. The events of the past weeks have been a source of immense pain not only for those who were victims of the violence, but also for all of us who have held the dream of a Rainbow nation.
One of our priests has been actively involved both in the first places of refuge at police stations and now in the more formalized shelters pending re-integration. He said "as I have seen what has been going on and the terrible pain that has been inflicted on so many innocent people I have felt a deep shame at being a South African. For the first time since Liberation I have felt the same shame at being a South African as I felt during the dark days of Apartheid."
Many of us would echo that sense of shame and I believe that we as South Africans need to repent not only of the actions of the past few weeks, but also of our failure to address poverty, inequality, sexism, violence, and the prejudices that are so deeply ingrained in our beings that we judge people who are different from us. Only through true repentance, and a commitment to change is healing and forgiveness possible
We are all created in the image of God and as stewards of Creation we are to honour, love and cherish what our God has created and holds dear in his sight. Our brothers and sisters from Africa are our neighbours. Not to reach out to another who is created in the image of God is a rejection of God. As St James says "How can we say that we love God and we have not seen what he looks like, yet we cannot love our neighbour and we have seen what s/he looks like?".
I am aware that there are many factors that have contributed to the outbreak of violence, but if we are honest we have to recognize that without exception they are the consequence of the failure of leadership, both that of our religious communities and of our government. We have failed to address poverty, housing, crime, rising unemployment and the breakdown of educational services. The anger we feel at the failure of our government with regard to these issues, should be addressed to them and not projected on those not responsible for the state of current affairs.
I and many others believe and feel that it is time that our church demonstrated its willingness to stand for God and oppose all that which is evil. I am therefore calling upon us as a Diocese to join together in our Cathedral at 09h30 on Sunday, 20th July 2008 for a Service of Repentance. Such a Service needs to be a powerful statement of the Anglican Church’s rejection of the prejudice that threatens to de-stabilise our society and our determination to stand in solidarity with those whom God has created and loves.
It is also a statement to our political leaders that it is incumbent upon them to correct the problems that helped give rise to the violence.
I am therefore ordering that all morning services on that day be cancelled and asking all parishes to hire buses to bring their congregations to the Cathedral. I fully realize the difficulties of what I am asking, both for the Cathedral and the individual parishes, but I truly believe that we as a Church need to confess our sins and humbly ask pardon of those whom we have wronged. If we can gather thousands of people together, I believe it will send a powerful prophetic witness to our country. A service of this nature not only speaks prophetically to those in authority, but also to those who perpetrate violence. It is a visible sign of love and solidarity with both those who came to our country for refuge, and the South Africans, who have been affected by the violence.
In calling for this service of Repentance I am saddened by the fact that I will not be with you on the day. Nevertheless, I will still be with you in spirit and our Archbishop and I will endeavour to ensure that the whole of Lambeth joins with us in prayer and repentance that Sunday.I am writing this letter before my departure to Lambeth and the Vicar-General will keep you informed of plans and arrangements for the event.
I hope and pray that all of you will share my conviction that such a service is not only necessary, but something which God is laying upon the hearts of all who love him.
Yours in Christ
Brian
Germond
Bishop
of Johannesburg