 "Friendly Critics"Some points on the role of the Church from Archbishop Thabo's latest encyclical letterWithin the wider political culture that we are attempting to nurture, it must be understood by all that there is a vital function to be performed: that of a critical friend to the other organs of national life including both government and private sector. "Critical friend" is an important concept: we are friends, on the side of all those who serve the best interests of our countries and people, and on the side of a strong constitutional democracy as a means of building up the life of our nations. But we must also be critical, in the right sense of the word. For hard truths are often best heard from those who are friends. We must not be shy of telling the truths of our communities, nor the truths of our perspectives and our priorities - which are of necessity, and by defi nition, different from the perspectives and priorities of those who govern and hold power. Mature democracy understands the place of civil society and such critical friends, just as it understands the place of a loyal opposition - the friendship, the loyalty, provide the constructive context for engaging with one another, through which we can all reach a fuller picture....We should be ready to be outspoken, and to take our full and rightful place within public debate and policy making. We must grasp the opportunities we have to address the causes of poverty and the means by which these might be alleviated. We must keep on pressing for best possible practices, for transparency, openness, consultation, and communication on the part of governments, business, civil society, and all with whom we deal. We must be unhesitating in rejecting all forms of corruption, ineffi ciency or carelessness by those whose responsibility it is to make and deliver effective policies, programmes and services. We must be equally unwavering in condemning any attempts to weaken our constitutions and the just rule of law we now enjoy. This should go without saying, but these are priorities of which it is good to remind ourselves from time to time especially when, as today, the full and free operation of every organ of society, and the functioning of robust and honest debate, can seem open to question.
Other Stories in this edition:
Meeting of Bishops
A regular meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in Gauteng reviewed the ongoing mission, ministry and witness of the Church and some of the challenges of the context in which we live. "Friendly Critics"
Some points on the role of the Church from Archbishop Thabo's latest encyclical letter Bishop Beetge R.I.P.
The Right Revd David Beetge, Bishop of the Highveld, has died at the age of 69 after a long battle with lymphoma for which he had been undergoing chemotherapy. New Dean at St. Paul's Durban
Archdeacon Ndabazinhle Sibisi, the current Rector of St. Paul's Durban has been appointed to succeed the Very Reverend Fred Pitout as the new Dean of the Cathedral and senior priest of the Diocese Ordained in 1979 he has served in the parishes of Newcastle, Wentworth, Inanda, Umhlali and fi nally St Paul's, Durban which has many points of similarity with that of the Cathedral. New ecumenical agency
KwaZulu Natal has more ecumenical/inter church agencies than any of South Africa's other eight provinces. Biblical Garden at St John's School
Inspired by a visit to a churchyard in the Karoo, St John's matric student Sarah Horner has single-handedly created a similar 'Biblical Garden' in a patch of bare earth alongside the school chapel where she is this year's senior Sacristan. The Diocesan Companion Link
Moses Thabethe Writes:As Link Officer, I was invited by the bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, George Cassidy, for a month long visit to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham in the UK. Underberg tragedy
Near the conclusion of the Sunday Eucharist in Himeville a clearly distraught parishioner hopped over the altar rail into the sanctuary and approached the priest (who is also a highlt trained paramedic) telling him of the collapse of a tent at the Underberg Farmers' show. New area of pastoral ministry for Dean Fred Pitout
Dean Fred Pitout, who retires from the Cathedral at the end of the year, has decided after much prayer and consultation to move into a different area of ministry by taking up a post at Michaelhouse as Secretary to the Old Boys' Association and Community Partnerships Manager
This will include, as a non-stipendiary priest, involvement in the school's programmes of social action for boys and staff such as AIDS Hospice in Lidgetton, Sunfi eld Home in Howick and Asithithuke School near Nottingham Road, as well as seeking and developing new partnerships and programmes in underprivileged and under-resourced communities. |
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